INXS

INXS were an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers during 1977, in Frenchs Forest, Sydney, New South Wales. The band's founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist Tim Farriss, lead singer and main lyricist Michael Hutchence, and guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. INXS was fronted by Hutchence for 20 years, whose sultry good looks and magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the group. At first known for their new wave/pop style, the band later developed a harder pub rock style that included funk and dance elements.INXS had their first chart-topping hit in Australia with Original Sin. The group later had international success in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s with the hit albums Listen Like Thieves, Kick, and X, and the singles What You Need, Need You Tonight, their only US # 1 single, Devil Inside, Never Tear Us Apart, and Suicide Blonde.Michael Hutchence was found dead in his Sydney Ritz-Carlton hotel suite, on 22nd November 1997. Following his death, INXS made appearances with several guest singers, before touring and recording with Jon Stevens as lead singer from 2002. Members of INXS took part in Rock Star: INXS, a reality TV series that led to the selection of Canadian J.D. Fortune as their new lead singer during 2005. Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Gribbin replaced Fortune as their lead singer in 2011. INXS stated during a November 11th, 2012 concert that the performance would be their last, though they didn't announce a permanent band retirement. INXS won 6 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards, including 3 for 'Best Group' during 1987, 1989 and 1992, the band being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. INXS has sold over 55 million records worldwide.