INXS: Australia's Global Rock & New Wave Phenomenon

INXS was a rock band from Australia that achieved worldwide fame in the 1980s and 1990s. The group sold over 50 million records globally, with their 1987 album Kick alone selling more than 10 million copies and producing multiple international top 10 hits.

Early career

The band formed in Sydney in 1977 under the name The Farriss Brothers. The core lineup featured the dynamic trio of Andrew Farriss on keyboards, Tim Farriss on guitar, and Jon Farriss on drums, alongside Kirk Pengilly on guitar/saxophone, Garry Gary Beers on bass, and the charismatic Michael Hutchence as frontman.

They signed with Deluxe Records in Australia and released their self-titled debut album, INXS, in 1980. Their early sound blended pub rock with new wave and danceable rhythms, building a strong domestic following.

Breakthrough

International success built steadily through the mid-80s with albums like The Swing (1984) and Listen Like Thieves (1985), which went platinum in the United States. Their true global breakthrough, however, came in 1987 with the release of their sixth studio album, Kick, on Atlantic Records.

Kick was initially rejected by their American label but became a monumental success, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard 200 and achieving 6x platinum certification. It spawned four US Top 10 singles and dominated charts worldwide, defining the era's rock-pop fusion.

Key tracks

Need You Tonight — This funk-rock track became the band's first and only US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single in 1987.

New Sensation — A quintessential anthem from Kick, it showcased their polished, energetic sound and received heavy MTV rotation.

Never Tear Us Apart — A powerful, soulful ballad that demonstrated the band's musical depth and Hutchence's emotive vocal range.

What You Need — This song from Listen Like Thieves was their first major US hit, breaking into the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986.

Suicide Blonde — The lead single from 1990's X album, it continued their chart success, reaching number 2 in Australia and number 9 in the US.

The band continued to release albums and tour successfully through the early 1990s, with X (1990) and Welcome to Wherever You Are (1992) both achieving platinum status. Their creative and commercial momentum was tragically halted by the death of lead singer Michael Hutchence in November 1997.

INXS attempted to continue with different vocalists, including a publicized search via the reality television series Rock Star: INXS in 2005, which led to several years with J.D. Fortune as frontman. The band performed its final concert in November 2012.

Fans of the INXS sound often appreciate the work of similar Australian rock acts. Midnight Oil shares their Australian roots and socially conscious rock energy. Crowded House offers another Antipodean take on sophisticated, melodic pop-rock. Hunters And Collectors delivered a similarly anthemic, rhythm-driven rock sound from the same era. The style of The Police was a clear early influence on INXS, blending rock with reggae and new wave textures.

The music of INXS remains a staple on classic rock FM stations, alternative rock radio stations, and dedicated 80s hits channels. Their catalog provides essential energy for online rock radio streams and independent music radio stations focusing on iconic albums.

You can hear the timeless rock and new wave hits of