I don’t know if you remember when INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence died, but I do. I loved INXS – they were one of my favorite bands of the 80s. And I thought Michael Hutchence was so sexy. He just had that young Jim Morrison thing going on.
But around the mid 90s, the band stopped having radio hits. I mean after all, music had changed. The pop bands of the 80s were out and everyone was into grunge. To add to the fact that his band had fallen a bit from popularity, Michael Hutchence was having problems at home as well.
In 1994, Michael met and fell in love with British television personality Paula Yates. There was one problem – she was still married to Bob Geldof – yes, Sir Bob Geldof of Band Aid and Live Aid fame. Once the British press found out about the couple, they hounded them. Eventually Paula divorced Bob, but not without a custody battle of their children, Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom, and Little Pixie. Hutchence and Yates never married, but remained a couple and in 1996, Yates gave birth to Hutchence’s only biological child, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.
Everything seemed to be going well for Hutchence. He had a beautiful new daughter and in 1997, INXS released a new album and was touring. But, on the morning of November 22, 1997, Michael was found dead in his hotel room at the age of 37. Several rumors circulated once the public found out he died by hanging. One rumor was the Michael had accidentally hung himself due to autoerotic asphyxiation. Another rumor was the Bob Geldof hounded the couple after the divorce and drove them both to the brink. Yates herself died of an accidental heroin overdose in 2000, with Geldof being given custody of all the children, even Heavenly Hiranni Tiger Lily. Most say Yates never recovered from Hutchence’s death.
The band faired a bit better, despite the loss of Hutchence. He was so recognizable as the band’s lead singer, but the band set out to find a replacement. They did when they partook in the reality television show “Rock Star: INXS.” J.D. Fortune won the competition and still remains with the band today.
The band paid tribute to Hutchence on the tenth anniversary of his death. On the band’s web page, drummer John Farris said, “Michael will always be remembered as a young, vibrant, gifted, and passionate person. Michael will live on through his brilliant melodies and lyrics. I feel proud that INXS can continue to play the music he helped create.” Bassist Garry Beers encouraged the fans of INXS to make a charitable donation in Hutchence’s memory. New lead singer J.D. said, “Michael Hutchence defined rock and roll when I was younger, and continues to be an inspiration for me today.”