Kirk Pengilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirk Pengilly
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Pengilly in 2011
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Snore |
| Born | 4 July 1958 Kew, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1975–present |
Kirk Pengilly (pronounced pehn-GIL-ee; born on July 4, 1958) is an Australian musician. He is a well-known member of the famous Australian rock band INXS. Kirk is a talented musician who plays the saxophone and guitar. He also sings backing vocals for the band.
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Early Music Journey
Kirk Pengilly moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1966. There, he became best friends with Tim Farriss. They went to Forest High School together. In 1971, they formed their first band, Guinness. Kirk was the main songwriter and lead singer for this high school group.
The band Guinness played a mix of country rock and concert-style rock music. They had some success in Sydney. However, their music was not very commercial. The band found it hard to get a steady following. In late 1976, Guinness broke up.
Joining INXS
The band that would become INXS started in 1977. It was first called The Farriss Brothers. In 1979, they changed their name to INXS. Kirk Pengilly became a key part of the band. He was the main backing vocalist, saxophonist, and guitarist.
Kirk has helped create many songs for INXS. He has written and produced some of their B-sides. His main instrument is the guitar. Kirk recalls, "My oldest brother, Mark, gave me a beat-up acoustic guitar when I was about nine. I taught myself by playing along to records."
INXS's Global Success
INXS became a very popular band around the world. They played for huge crowds. In 1983, they performed for 250,000 people at the US Festival in California. They also played with the band Queen at Wembley Stadium in 1986. INXS even performed for Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Melbourne in 1985.
The band headlined the Rock 'n Rio Festival. There, they played for over 150,000 fans. They also had their own sold-out show at Wembley Stadium for 75,000 people. INXS received three American Grammy nominations. They were also inducted into the Australian ARIA "Hall of Fame."
Kirk was often the band's main spokesperson. He also kept detailed diaries. These diaries recorded daily events from the very beginning of INXS.
After the passing of lead singer Michael Hutchence in 1997, the band continued to play. They performed with different singers. INXS officially stopped touring in 2012. In 2020, their album "The Very Best" reached Diamond status. This means it sold a huge number of copies in Australia.
Other Creative Work
Kirk Pengilly has worked on other music projects. In 1982, he was part of a special EP project with a band called The Igniters. He also worked with Andrew Farriss and Garry Gary Beers on a 12-inch record in 1983.
In 1987, Kirk appeared in a music video for Australian singer Jenny Morris. He played saxophone for Richard Clapton's album Distant Thunder in 1993. He has also been a session guitarist for Shona Laing. A session musician plays on recordings for other artists.
Kirk has also produced albums for other bands. He produced an album for his brother Drew's band, Coo, in 1999. In 2002, Kirk helped write and produce the album "Still in Bed" by Hughie Murray.
In 2009, Kirk starred in the first season of Celebrity MasterChef Australia. He made it to the finals and came in second place. In December 2016, Kirk and his wife Layne became Brand Ambassadors for Inner Origin. This is an online health and wellness company.
Personal Life
Kirk Pengilly has one daughter, April Rose Pengilly, who is an actress. She was born in 1988. April Rose's mother is Kirk's ex-girlfriend, Karen Hutchinson. Karen toured with the band for ten years. In December 1993, Kirk married singer Deni Hines. Their marriage lasted ten months.
Kirk is now married to Layne Beachley. She is a seven-time world champion professional surfer. They started their relationship after a friend set them up on a date. After dating for seven years, they got married. Their private ceremony was held on October 10, 2010. It took place at their home in New South Wales. They renewed their wedding vows in 2014. This happened after Layne lost her original wedding ring while surfing.
In 2020, Kirk and Layne celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary. They took a trip to the Blue Mountains. They said that the pandemic lockdown helped them feel even closer. Kirk and Layne currently live on the northern beaches of Sydney.
Kirk Pengilly is an ambassador for Glaucoma Australia. He experienced glaucoma, an eye condition, in 1987 when he was 29. In 2015, Kirk had surgery for prostate cancer. He had noticed signs of the condition starting in 2012. Kirk plays an SG1820 Yamaha guitar. He was inspired to play this type of guitar after hearing Carlos Santana use one.
See also
In Spanish: Kirk Pengilly para niños
