INXS: Access All Areas

Welcome to 2024 to all of our wonderful bronze, silver, gold and platinum patrons and loyal listeners. We kick off the new year (pardon the pun) with Part 2 our important deep dive into Michael Hutchence’s posthumous solo release with a song-by-song review. Following part one, we see how Michael stretches his musical capabilities and range both lyrically and sonically to great effect. Haunting, op...

After 2 years of mourning, copious amounts of gossip innuendo and grief, finally INXS and Michael Hutchence fans have something meaningful and strangely healing to celebrate. This posthumous release of 13 unique and varied tracks were originally the brainchild of a phone call (make that two) from Michael in 1995 to legendary UK Gang of Four band leader Andy Gill. With the duo residing in the comfo...

Having had over 18 months to process the passing of Michael Hutchence, INXS were presented with the unique opportunity to spearhead the opening of Stadium Australia. The venue that would in the year 2000, be the home of the Sydney Olympic Games. With ex Australian cricketing icon Dean Jones putting the deal together, INXS were proud to be the lead musical act that preceded the Australian Socceroos...

This week's INXS podcast, episode 170, welcomes the uproariously funny British comedian Leigh Francis. He's famously known as Keith Lemon among his myriad of other characters, including 'The Bear.' A riotous fusion of humor, and heartfelt INXS fandom unfolds as Leigh takes center stage, sharing anecdotes that'll leave you in stitches. What makes this episode a gem is Leigh's unabashed adoration fo...

When a family, a band and a fan base lose somebody as omnipresent as Michael Hutchence, it’s inevitable that a period of uncertainty, angst and healing are required. That’s what 1998 was for INXS as each member had to come to terms with their lives irrevocably changing forever.   So in today’s INXS AAA podcast episode, we examine the environment and circumstances that faced the band, management, t...

        It’s that unfortunate time of the year where we pause, commiserate and commemorate the passing of Michael Kelland Hutchence. Iconic singer, loyal band mate, friend, father and idol to many.   Unlike other years, our anthology podcast has caught up with the 1997 period and as difficult as it is for us and our loyal listeners, we need to recount the events that preceded and proceeded that fa...

Having spoken with Hall of Famer, Nile Rodgers last week, we are pleased to examine the career legacy, influence on generations of artists and the technical prowess that is funk/dance music.   Harking back to James Brown, George Clinton’s Funkadelic and Sly and The Family Stone, Nile and Chic took the baton in 1977 and created a soundscape that inspired hundreds of artists most notably “our INXS”!...

----more----Episode 166: Nile Rodgers Interview Songwriter, composer, producer, Hall of Famer and living legend; with over 500 million albums sold worldwide, true music royalty comes to INXS: Access all Areas. From the dance funk, riffs and rhythms of Chic to the production genius with Bowie, INXS, Duran Duran, Jagger, Thompson Twins, B-52’s, GraceJones , Bryan Ferry, Jeff Beck, Daft Punk and Beyo...

With two weeks off, Bee and I are back with renewed vigor and passion as we welcome to the show Shaun and Scott from Voxneon. Shaun just happened to be part of “The Keep,” a Davidson High band that included iconic INXS members Michael Hutchence, Garry Beers and Andrew Farriss.   We take listeners back nearly 50 years ago when the early genius of Andrew was on full display, to Shaun and a raw, broo...

In this episode of INXS Access All Areas, we zero in on Australian Made with Mark Pope, who along with Chris Murphy planned, coordinated and executed the biggest array of Australian musical talent on stage in each capital city.   With further anecdotes and insights, what shines through when chatting to Mark is his true love of Australian music, the live touring scene and assisting bands and acts b...

They say behind every great band, there is a great team, and this is definitely the case with INXS. The world knows about the profound influence Chris Murphy had on the band becoming an international juggernaut.   What is less known is the immense workload and influence that Mark Pope had on supporting and creating an infrastructure and pathway to allow INXS to do what they do best: play live and...

With a quick turnaround between episodes, we want to get back to basics and pay homage to the songs that make INXS music so fantastic and memorable.   In our first ever “Song Showdown”, Bee takes the red corner and myself the blue corner as we face off in our first musical debate about the virtues of these two songs that represented the third singles released, respectively, from Shabooh Shoobah an...

November 11th, 2012, otherwise known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth countries, was the last time INXS performed live. Bowing out in their hometown of Perth, it was with much regret and sorrow that INXS, the live touring entity, was no longer.   That aside, after thousands of electrifying performances across the globe over 35 years, INXS has inspired countless tribute acts in America, Argen...

It was cool in the 1980s as a rock star to loudly proclaim and attach yourself to worthy causes—think Sting (Brazilian rain forests, Russian leaders), Little Stevie (Artists Against Apartheid) and Bono/U2 (Chile, Ireland, drugs, September 11, Greenpeace, and the vegan hippos of Botswana North, East and South 😜).   Less virtue-signalling were INXS, who quietly attached themselves to the people of...

  August 16th, 1977, was a pivotal day in world music as one legend Elvis Presley passed, whilst another was born: with 6 guys from the Northern Beaches of Sydney playing their first-ever gig as the Farriss Brothers!   So, this episode is a special one where, in fan engagement, we acknowledge and highlight this fantastic 46-year anniversary; but, in the topic today, we help out a dear friend to Mi...

Hear Stories that you haven't heard before...   INXS Access All Areas doubles down with the coda episode of ex-Hunters Collectors and best friend Greg Perano diving deep into his longtime friendship with kindred spirit Michael Hutchence.   With a friendship dating back to pre-stardom INXS and the superstar status of Michael Hutchence, Greg fondly takes us back to a time and journey when true frien...

Hear Stories that you haven't heard before...   Greg Perano, a former member of the iconic Australian band Hunters and Collectors opens up about his long-time best friend Michael Hutchence in a revealing and heartfelt deep dive.   As we commemorate Michael's legacy to INXS we are fortunate to have Greg for two episodes who goes behind the public image and occasional facade of Michael's persona to...

Only 4 days before the legendary Australian frontman for INXS took his own life, he conducted his final interview with an emerging writer and journalist for the Herald Sun newspaper, Nui Te Koha.   Before boarding a flight from Los Angeles to his native hometown of Sydney, Michael carved a far different portrait as a man than the one Nui interviewed some 4 years earlier—all on the backend of some...

As we tie our final bow on what was 1997’s Elegantly Wasted album release, we are delighted to be joined by video producer of the title track and first single release, the fantastic Bruce Haymer-Coleman.   Having worked with other artists including Elton John, Depeche Mode, Donna Summer and The Cranberries, Bruce coordinated at very short notice the shoot for “Elegantly Wasted” in Los Angeles with...

As we step back in time to 1997, we rejoice in both the fan and band experience as they share their experiences of being on tour again after a nearly 3-year hiatus.   With patrons and listeners diving deep on what was the Elegantly Wasted Tour, we hear insights from gigs in Scotland, and Los Angeles amidst several prominent tour destinations but excitedly hear from the band as they did the media r...

Fresh from a two-and-a-half year touring hiatus, INXS were back, refreshed and vital, with a new World Tour and all ten studio albums to draw from as eager fans got their first chance to hear tracks off their latest album, Elegantly Wasted.   Commencing with the fantastic INXS Rocks the Rockies in Aspen, Colorado, filmed for VH1, and taking in countries such as South Africa, France, Netherlands, E...

We are privileged to have both author and publisher Neil Cossar on our latest episode regarding the pending release of Calling All Nations: “An extended love letter to fans” around the globe whose experiences are chronicled in a 300-plus-page compendium for all to enjoy.   Neil and his team have done a fantastic job in collating mountains of source material and fan experiences, along with never-be...

Memorial Day weekend 1983 was the second coming of the US Festival in Southern California, the brainchild of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak who, after 1982’s test run, continued the mission of creating a community event combining technology with rock.   With a 4-day festival over 7 days, the format commenced on Friday with the “new wave” acts as a theme. Australia was highly represented with The D...

Having unearthed some first-to-be-heard gems regarding Michael, MAX Q and Ollie Olsen, part 2 of our Bruce Butler interview shares more updates and provides legacy to an important musical partnership: a union that combined Ollie’s avant garde with Michael’s pop sensibilities. Bruce shares wonderful anecdotes about a young Andrew Farriss’ insatiable appetite to absorb and borrow from his 10,000-dee...

We at INXS Access All Areas love producing every episode and sharing them with you, but sometimes a guest comes along that literally blows it “out of the park”. Bruce Butler, a true music heavyweight and Australian national treasure, is that guest!   This two-part deep dive pays particular homage to the greatness of Ollie Olsen, who currently faces the biggest health fight of his life, plus the ex...