Michael Hutchence
January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997
There were very few bands in the late 1980’s and early ’90’s that were bigger than INXS. The Australian group owed a decent portion of its success to its dynamic, sexy and troubled lyricist/lead singer, Michael Hutchence. Hutchence met keyboardist Andrew Farriss while in high school and joined Farriss’ band, Doctor Dolphin. Doctor Dolphin eventually became The Vegetables which eventually became INXS. INXS went on to sell millions of records across the world. Their biggest success, 1987’s Kick, was certified 6x Platinum in the United States. Hutchence mostly handled the success well…save a bit of depression from time to time. His personal life attracted rigorous tabloid attention, particularly in his native Australia. He was romantically linked to model Helena Christensen, singer Kylie Minogue and a host of others – including, most famously and tragically, British TV host, Paula Yates. It was his relationship with Yates and Yates’ heated custody battle with ex-husband Bob Geldof, that likely proved to be the final straw for a man who was in a pretty dark place. Alone, intoxicated and half a world away from his love and their only child, Michael committed suicide at the age of 37 in a Sydney hotel room on eve of the Australian leg of INXS’ latest tour. Speculation over whether it was intentional or accidental was rampant. Some believed he went the way of David Carradine. Others, including the official coroner’s report, that he had just reached a breaking point and that was it. Either way, Hutchence was gone and rock music had lost one of its brightest stars.
Hutchence was cremated and his ashes were divided into thirds. The portion that went to his mother in California was buried at…
Burial
Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills, CA
Specific Location
Eternal Love, Lot 4648, Space 3; Next to the curb along Valley Dr., Across Evergreen Dr. from the Church of the Hills.
July 16, 2013 at 3:22 am
RIP Michael and thanks for the music