“FAREWELL AND DO NOT FORGET ME after I am gone. O men, I have deserved that you think of me, for in my life-time I have often thought of you to make you happy. May it ever be so!” – from the last Will and Testament of Ludwig Beethoven.
How fitting it was that Australian rock icon, Billy Thorpe, should be the presenter of Michael’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” bestowed at the recent Australian Music Industry Awards. Billy told of a heart warming story which he will never forget. When INXS were at their dizziest heights in the US, playing to packed arenas across the country, Michael and INXS were booked to appear in LA , Billy’s home town. Michael had heard that Billy’s little girl was bananas over INXS and so he arranged for a limo to pick up Billy and his whole family to come to the concert that evening. They were taken back stage and there Michael and the other guys made a fuss over Billy and his starry eyed daughter, giving them VIP treatment. But the best was yet to come according to Billy Thorpe who though a relatively unknown in the USA, had enjoyed huge success in the 60’s and 70’s in Australia. At the beginning of the show, Michael encouraged Billy to join him on stage where the band did a rendition of Billy’s 70’s Australian hit, “Some People I Know Think That I’m Crazy”.
“Here was Michael, a mega star,” said Billy Thorpe, “And me, a relatively unknown, but in his finest hour, Michael used that opportunity to honour me. Michael really honoured me that night and I will never forget it” he said.
And so we today honour back a man that gave his heart and spirit to entertain, and to make others happy. And around the world those fans remember Michael Kelland Hutchence on this day, 22nd November. Networked through www.michaelhutchence.org , fans will gather at his Memorial Stone in Sydney from 3:00 pm (on Saturday, November 24) having travelled from Japan, Britain, Canada, the United States and many other parts of the Globe.