INXS: The day the music almost died

I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died
– from Don McLean’s American Pie

Oh, well, the day when the music almost died for INXS was on Nov. 22, 1997 when vocalist Michael Hutchence was found dead in a Sydney hotel room, an apparent victim of suicide.

"It hit us so badly that we could hardly cope with it," admitted INXS drummer Jon Farriss during an exclusive phone interview with Conversations the other day (he was calling from Sydney). "It took us some time to play again the same way we did when Michael was with us."

Oops! We’re getting ahead of the story.

But first. let me remind you that the INXS is coming for a show called Switch On! Manila Tour on Aug. 15 (Tuesday), 8 p.m., at the Araneta Coliseum, with Mig Ayesa as special guest. (Mig is the Filipino-Australian who placed third to J.D. Fortune in last year’s 12-week search/competition on the CBS reality show Rock Star: INXS, to replace Michael Hutchence.)

The concert’s title is derived from the group’s new album Switch, released by Sony BMG Records.

The INXS (pronounced In Excess) needs no introduction. The Australian rock group was formed in l977 and originally comprised of, besides Michael Hutchence and Jon Farriss, Jon’s brothers Andrew (guitar and keyboards) and Tim (lead guitar), Garry Gary Beers (bass) and Kirk Pengilly (saxophone and guitar).

After Michael’s death, INXS alternately used Terence Trent D’Arby, Suze DeMarchi and Jimmy Barnes as temporary lead singers. New Zealander and Celebrity Treasure Island host Jon Stevens began singing with INXS in 2000 and was officially named a member of the the band in 2002. However, he left INXS in 2003 to pursue a solo career. And then came J.D. Fortune.

In November last year, INXS released Switch, its first album in eight years.

Meanwhile, some trivia:

• In 2001, INXS were inducted before a standing ovation into the Australian ARIA Hall of Fame.

• In total, the band has received three Grammy nominations over a 29-year career, sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, scored 17 Billboard hits, 23 UK hits, 33 Australian hits and six consecutive Top Ten UK and US albums, and performed in more than 4,000 live shows for more than 25 million people in more than 50 countries.

• INXS is an informal abbreviation for "in excess," used in chemistry. For example, "HCI is INXS."

(Note: Presented by SMART and, among other sponsors, The Philippine STAR, the INXS Araneta Coliseum concert is produced by Ovation Productions and Solar Entertainmenrt Corporation. Tickets are priced at P4,500, P3,500, P2,500, P1,000 and P500. For inquiries, call the Ticketnet at 911-5555.)

Here are excerpts from my exclusive Conversation with Jon Farriss:

This is your first concert tour in eight years. How does it feel to be back on the road?

"It feels really good. We’ve been getting a great audience reaction and we’re playing really well. It’s a great, fantastic world tour. It’s incredible!"

Does it feel like starting all over again?

"Ah, a little bit. But then again, not really. After all these years we’re still the same band, still the same members except for J.D. Fortune, our new member."

The title of your latest album is Switch. Why Switch? How different is it from your previous albums, especially with a new vocalist in J.D. Fortune?

"Well, we’re switching tempo and switching gears, so the title is perfect. It’s the right word that best describes where INXS is now – switching."

How’s J.D. Fortune doing so far?

"He’s good; he’s really good. He’s blending very well into a band that has been together for many years, that has been touring for nearly 30 years. You know, it’s not that easy to do that but J.D. is doing very well. He loves performing with us."

Is he stepping into the shoes of Michael Hutchence pretty well, too?

"You know, Michael is Michael and J.D. is J.D. They are two very different people. Both are talented."

Of course, you know that the Philippines is where Mig Ayesa comes from. He almost made it to INXS, didn’t he?

"Yes, I know that."

I wonder, is he coming with your group and maybe he’ll perform with INXS as a guest?

"I don’t think so. He might be coming by himself I think. He’s in America at the moment, I think." (Surprise, surprise! Mig is, indeed, appearing as "guest" in the INXS Araneta Coliseum show and he’s advertised as such. – RFL)

I understand that INXS was organized in 1977. Pardon my ignorance, but why did you call your group INXS?

"It used to be called the Farriss Brothers. But when we heard the name INXS (as in In Excess), we thought that that was a better name. It’s a cool name, isn’t it?"

And you spell it in such a unique, eye-catching way.

"Yes, iconic. A play on words. A nice name for the group because we are in in excess of so many things anyway..."

...in excess of so many things such as...talent?

"You think so?"

So you and your brothers Andrew and Tim have been making music together since you were kids, am I right?

"Yeah, you’re right. I was 10 when I joined a band for the first time and they kicked me out because I was too young."

What sort of music were you making at that time?

"Ah, we were playing, you know, songs by Eric Clapton...that sort of thing. But then, we expanded into other genres and started playing other types of music – you know, Chicago, Bob Marley, the Beatles and a lot of others."

What does it take for non-family members, such as Kirk and Garry, and now J.D. Fortune, to blend beautifully into INXS? You’re a family making beautiful music together, you know.’

"Well, I think that Kirk and Garry have been like members of the Farriss family way back when. And now, J.D. is like that, too. Kirk and I were together in school. Garry has been playing in a band with Andrew for years. When we were setting up a group, which was very difficult at that time, Kirk and Garry were like members of the Farriss family. My mom and dad treated them like their own sons; my mom would cook food not only for Andrew, Tim and me but also for Kirk and Garry. We’ve been a family since then."

Did the sudden, tragic death of Michael Hutchence kind of catch the INXS by surprise?

"Yes, it did. Nothing could be more shocking than finding out that one of your best friends has died."

Micheal’s death was untimely, wasn’t it?

"Yes, it was."

How did Michael’s death impact on the group? How did you cope with such a great loss?

"You know, it was very difficult for us understanding what happened. We didn’t really know what happened. We were crushed! It was very painful for us. The tragedy hit us so badly that it took a long time for us to start playing together again. But we discovered that playing together helped heal the wound a bit, although we know that the wound will never be totally healed. It’s a part of us that will never, never heal."

Did it ever occur to you to disband the INXS after the death of Michael – you know, for you to stop performing altogether?

"Maybe we almost did. But for a while, we just couldn’t start singing together again. Then, we realized that we are alive, we are living, and our fans out there were waiting for us...waiting for us to start playing again."

Yes, of course. The show must go on. The music should never die.

"Yeah, you’re right. I don’t think it’s disrespectful to Michael for us to go on playing. In fact, we are perpetuating and honoring his memory through our music."

Why did it take INXS more than seven years to launch a search for a new member?

"It is now actually two and a half years ago when we started on the search. It took about a year to organize it. We wanted to document our search for a new singer and, judging from the success of the search, I think we did it the right way."

Was it hard to find a qualified vocalist? What were you looking for in a vocalist?

"Well, we were looking for someone who could sing, who has the ability to sustain a good performance and who has the chemistry with the band members. That’s the most important thing – the chemistry. We were looking for a girl but it turned out that a boy, J.D. Fortune, fitted the bill perfectly."

Oh, the new member could have been a girl!

"Well, we were looking for a girl but she just wasn’t there."

Of course, the qualified one – J.D. Fortune – should have that distinct INXS sound.

"Well, I think that should come naturally. J.D. just happens to have all the qualifications."

How demanding is it to be an INXS member?

"Oh, it’s great! It’s a privilege. Speaking for myself, I’m very fortunate to be an INXS member. I’m very lucky to be in a band with such an amazing sound. We’ll celebrate our 30th anniversary next year."

The INXS has a high survival rate. How do you plan to celebrate your 30th anniversary?

"I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it. How do you think we should celebrate?"

Maybe you should have a party in various parts of the world. That would be great!

"You think so?"

Of course, your music has evolved through the years. How do you think the INXS sound now differs from what was 10 or 20 years ago?

"For one thing, we have to adjust our style to modern technology – you know, the synthesizers and all. You have to grow with the times, go with the flow."

Which of the INXS songs is very closely identified with your group?

"Oh, let me see... probably What You Need. It’s the very classic INXS sound, isn’t it?"

Do you have anything to say to your fans in the Philippines waiting for you at your concert?

"Oh, we are very, very excited to go there and perform for you. We promise you a great show. We’ll have a really, really good time. Be ready with your dancing shoes! The INXS loves you!"

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