Michael Kelland John Hutchence (January 22, 1960 - November 22, 1997) was an Australian singer, songwriter, and actor best known as the lead vocalist and principal lyricist of INXS. With his distinctive voice, magnetic stage presence, and instinct for combining rock attitude with danceable rhythms, Hutchence became one of the most recognizable frontmen of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Born in Sydney, Hutchence spent part of his childhood in Hong Kong before returning to Australia with his family in 1972. At Davidson High School in Sydney, he became friends with Andrew Farriss, a meeting that shaped both of their careers. Farriss invited Hutchence to join his band, and the musicians later formed The Farriss Brothers with Tim and Jon Farriss, Garry Gary Beers, and Kirk Pengilly. The group eventually changed its name to INXS and began building a following through constant touring and energetic live performances.
INXS released its self-titled debut album in 1980, followed by a series of records that gradually established the band's sound. Early albums such as Shabooh Shoobah and The Swing combined post-punk guitar, funk, new wave, and pop influences. The Swing produced "Original Sin," a major Australian hit written by Hutchence and Farriss and produced by Nile Rodgers. By the time of Listen Like Thieves in 1985, INXS had begun to gain a substantial international audience, with "What You Need" becoming an important breakthrough.
The band's worldwide success arrived with Kick in 1987. The album's polished but forceful mixture of rock, funk, and pop turned Hutchence into an international star. "Need You Tonight" became INXS's first and only US number one single, while "Devil Inside," "New Sensation," and "Never Tear Us Apart" also became major hits. Hutchence's performance style was central to the band's appeal. He could project swagger and sensuality without losing the impression of danger and spontaneity that had defined INXS in its earlier years.
Hutchence also explored work outside the band. He acted in Richard Lowenstein's 1986 film Dogs in Space, playing the central character Sam, and contributed vocals to the film's music. In 1989, he formed Max Q with musician Ollie Olsen. The project's self-titled album moved away from INXS's commercial rock sound toward darker, more experimental electronic and post-punk textures. Although Max Q was short-lived, it revealed Hutchence's interest in less conventional musical settings.
INXS continued recording throughout the 1990s, releasing X, Welcome to Wherever You Are, Full Moon, Dirty Hearts, and Elegantly Wasted. These albums did not repeat the enormous commercial impact of Kick, but they reflected the band's willingness to change direction rather than simply reproduce its earlier formula. Hutchence was also working on a solo album with collaborators including Andy Gill, Danny Saber, and Tim Simenon when he died in Sydney in 1997, aged 37.
The unfinished album, Michael Hutchence, was completed with the help of friends and released posthumously in 1999. Hutchence's legacy rests not only on INXS's major hits but also on the individuality he brought to them: a deep, expressive voice, a powerful visual presence, and a lyrical style that helped bridge the worlds of rock, pop, and dance music.