Michael Hutchence facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Hutchence
Hutchence in 1986
Born	Michael Kelland John Hutchence (1960-01-22)22 January 1960 Sydney, Australia
Died	22 November 1997(1997-11-22) (aged 37) Sydney, Australia
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter actor
Years active	1977–1997
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Rock alternative rock new wave
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	Atco Atlantic Epic Mercury V2 Warner
Associated acts	INXS Max Q

Michael Kelland John Hutchence (born January 22, 1960 – died November 22, 1997) was a famous Australian musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as the lead singer and main songwriter for the rock band INXS.

INXS became very popular around the world, selling over 75 million records. The band was also added to the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. Michael Hutchence was with INXS from 1977 until he passed away. He also worked on other music projects, like the group Max Q, and acted in movies such as Dogs in Space (1986) and Frankenstein Unbound (1990).

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Michael Hutchence was born in Sydney, Australia, on January 22, 1960. His father, Kelland Hutchence, was a businessman, and his mother, Patricia Glassop, was a make-up artist. Michael had an older half-sister named Tina and a younger brother named Rhett.

His family moved around a lot because of his father's work. They lived in Brisbane, Australia, and then in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, Michael showed talent as a swimmer. He also started to love poetry and even sang his first song in a TV commercial for a toy store.

When Michael was 12, his family moved back to Sydney. He went to Davidson High School, where he met Andrew Farriss. Andrew and his brothers, Tim and Jon, loved playing music. Michael joined their band, which was first called Doctor Dolphin. Later, with Garry Gary Beers on bass and Kirk Pengilly on guitar and saxophone, they formed a new band.

In 1977, this new group was named the Farriss Brothers. They played their first show on August 16, 1977, near Sydney.

Michael Hutchence's Music Career

Forming INXS and Early Success

After playing as the Farriss Brothers for a while, the band changed their name to INXS in 1979. Their first show as INXS was on September 1, 1979. In May 1980, they released their first song, "Simple Simon." Their first album, INXS, came out in October of that year.

Michael Hutchence quickly became the main voice of the band. He worked closely with Andrew Farriss to write almost all of INXS's songs. Their second album, Underneath the Colours, was written very quickly. Michael said this helped them stay focused.

Michael also started working on solo music. In 1982, he recorded a song called "Speed Kills" for a movie soundtrack. This was his first song released as a solo artist.

Becoming a Star and Acting

In 1985, INXS released an EP (a shorter album) called Dekadance. It included a duet Michael sang with Jenny Morris called "Jackson." This EP was very popular in Australia.

INXS won many awards at the 1984 Countdown Music and Video Awards. Michael and Andrew won 'Best Songwriter,' and Michael won 'Most Popular Male Performer.'

In 1986, Michael Hutchence starred in the Australian movie Dogs in Space. He played the main male role, Sam. He also sang four songs for the film's soundtrack. Later that year, he joined other famous Australian musicians like Jimmy Barnes for a big concert tour called Australian Made. Michael and Jimmy sang a song together called "Good Times," which became a hit and was used in the movie The Lost Boys.

In October 1987, INXS released their album Kick. This album made them famous all over the world. Kick reached number one in Australia and was a top 10 album in the US and UK. It included four huge hit songs: "New Sensation", "Never Tear Us Apart", "Devil Inside", and "Need You Tonight". "Need You Tonight" even reached the top of the US charts! In 1988, the music video for "Need You Tonight/Mediate" won five awards at the MTV Video Music Awards.

In 1989, Michael worked on a side project called Max Q. They released an album and several singles. This project allowed Michael to explore a different, darker style of music. In 1990, he acted in another movie, Frankenstein Unbound, playing a poet named Percy Shelley.

Michael Hutchence on stage in January 1994

INXS continued to release successful albums, including X in 1990, which had hits like "Disappear". Michael also won 'Best International Artist' at the 1991 BRIT Awards. In 1992, INXS released Welcome to Wherever You Are, which was very popular in the UK.

Later Career and Solo Work

After a few years, INXS's albums were not as commercially successful, especially in the US. The band took a break, and Michael started working on his own solo album in the mid-1990s.

In 1996, INXS released their 10th album, Elegantly Wasted. This was one of their last albums with Michael as the lead singer.

Michael's Singing Style

Michael Hutchence had a deep, powerful singing voice known as a baritone. His vocal range was very wide, allowing him to sing both low and high notes. In 2013, he was ranked among the top 15 greatest Australian singers of all time.

Personal Life

Michael Hutchence had one daughter, born in July 1996.

Death

Michael Hutchence passed away on November 22, 1997, in Sydney, Australia. He was 37 years old.

After Michael's Death

After Michael's passing, INXS continued to make music and perform until 2012. INXS has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of Australia's most successful music groups. They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001, recognizing their huge impact on music.

Michael Hutchence's solo album, Michael Hutchence, was released in October 1999. He had been working on it since 1995. The album includes a song called "Slide Away" with Bono from the band U2.

Two documentaries have been made about Michael Hutchence's life. Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar aired in 2017, and Mystify: Michael Hutchence was released in 2019.

Discography

Posthumous Albums

Singles

Awards and Nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards celebrate Australian composers and songwriters. They started in 1982.

Countdown Australian Music Awards

Countdown was a popular Australian TV music show. It gave out music awards from 1979 to 1987.

Images for kids

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  Michael Hutchence memorial

See also

In Spanish: Michael Hutchence para niños