INXS' Soulful Rock Aussie group again invades the charts and tours the U.S. with a blues-y, hybrid sound ALL EDITIONS

• Published in: Newsday
• Main Author: Marisa Fox. Marisa Fox is a free-lance writer
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Long Island, N.Y Newsday LLC 10.02.1991
• Edition: Combined editions
• Subjects: Farriss, Tim; Hutchence, Michael

WHEN INXS first brought their punchy pop tunes here seven years ago, the Aussie invasion was just getting under way, and pop music was all about totally self-conscious trendiness. But they weren't a rowdy pub group and they weren't a new wave novelty act, either. Something about Australia's remoteness, though, allowed INXS to develop an internationally successful hybrid style. "I grew up going to see groups like ACDC play, but my hero at fifteen was Curtis Mayfield," says Tim Farriss, INXS' guitarist. "Radio wasn't segregated the way it is here." From day one, the group managed to convey something more soulful and sensual than competing garage bands. INXS melded their raw rock roots with danceable rhythms, topped off funky basslines with a polished high-tech production, and lead singer Michael Hutchence voiced something personal, and, at times, very urgent. And he also looked good on MTV, sort of rock's Mel Gibson. Is INXS a rock band? A pop band? "We're a rock band that got very popular," he says. INXS became so popular that it was rumored Hutchence would leave the band because the pressure was too constricting. But Hutchence just went off to dabble in new projects including an experimental dance / pop group Max Q, and an upcoming Roger Corman movie. After a year off the six members - Andrew Farriss (songwriter, keyboards, guitar), Hutchence, Garry Gary Beers (bass), Kirk Pengilly (guitar, saxophone, vocals), Jon Farriss (drums and keyboards) and Tim Farriss (guitar) - regrouped and worked on their most intimate work to date, the LP "X."