Kelland Hutchence, beloved father of Michael and Rhett, husband to Susie and grandfather to Tiger, left us on this day in 2002.

Six years have passed by so rapidly, but it seems like yesterday when you would take time out to meet with Michael’s overseas fans for lunch at Dee Bee’s. You always had a smile on your face and an encouraging word to those who were feeling the sorrow of loss.  Their loss was small in comparison to yours, yet you never let that unspeakable loss take away your own heart of compassion and love for others.  Is it any wonder that you had the love and respect of Michael and so many of his closest friends.

For those of us who had the privilege of knowing you, you were such an inspiration and a delight to be with.  But it was your dear wife Susie who supported you, stood by your side in the darkest of hours.  Your love and devotion for her was obvious to all and it is to her, on this precious day that we ask God’s blessing and providential care. Susie too carries on with that same hope and strength in spirit that rises above the sorrow of the past and looks ahead in hope to when every tear will be wiped away.

This week I played several INXS tracks to my London junior high school music students. They watched with great interest, many bopping up and down to the infectious groove of “New Sensation”. Many revealed a familiarity with the music no doubt brought on by a current UK TV commercial that uses the track as an underscore. Some of the girls commented that “the singer is buff, Sir” (in London terms that means, “very cool!”). What seems amazing is that these young teens on the verge of adulthood were barely two years old when Michael died, yet they were tuning in as if he was the latest MTV star to hit the airwaves. Such is the appeal of Michael Kelland Hutchence who left us suddenly 11 years ago today on Saturday, 22nd November, 1997.

With each year that passes it seems the endearing charm of Michael Hutchence continues to grow on the hearts of people from a wider age group and from all walks of life around the world. We seem to keep saying this every year, but unique is unique. The loss of Michael’s creative input into the pop music world, both as a writer and performer, seems to have left a void that we have long suspected will never be filled in quite the same way as Michael did it. His band mates in INXS have re-taken up the torch and continue to bring Michael’s music to audiences around the world. U2, possibly the greatest rock band of our time, also continue to pay their respect to Michael in sell out concerts around the world. Michael is still dearly remembered by other great artists of our time too such as Kylie, Duran Duran, Gang of Four, Talking Heads to name a few. He is also held in high regard by the great producers of our time such as Brian Eno, Chris Thomas and Bob Clearmountain.

Michael and his creative talents will continue to be honoured and missed for many years to come. On this day may God bless his family, band mates, close friends and fans around the world as they reflect upon and remember with great affection, one of the world’s greatest rock performers, Michael Kelland Hutchence.

Love and peace,
Ian Patterson
for the team at MichaelHutchence.org
Susie Hutchence, Mario and Jacqui Ferrari

We sadly report the passing of Michael’s beloved auntie and Tiger’s great auntie, Iris Croy Magee (nee Hutchence), who was laid to rest at Sydney Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens on Monday 27th October 2008, following an extended illness. Croy was an enthusiastic supporter of Michael and INXS and attended many concerts with her dear brother, the late Kelland Hutchence, and sister-in-law, Susie Hutchence. Croy was a bright and intelligent lady who spent her early years in adventurous travel. She was a tremendous support to Kell and Susie following Michael’s passing. She will be sadly missed by Susie and Croy’s nephew, Rhett.

July 22nd is always a very special day for a very special girl. Happy Birthday Tiger Lily and may God bless and protect you today and always.

We so fondly think of you everyday but this day particularly holds precious memories. You are always in our hearts.

During 2007 a team of professional musicians, engineers and producers combined forces to produce a unique version of one of Michael Hutchence’s final and finest compositions, the beautiful “Possibilities”. This is now exclusively presented as a very special tribute to Michael on his birthday in the tenth anniversary of his passing.

Visit the project page

 

Kell and Susie Hutchence, Erana Clark and Dennis Ian Patterson on board the “Ambience”, 22.1.1998

Ten years ago today we were preparing a special birthday gathering for Michael. Emotions were very raw as reality was still sinking in that Michael was not going to be there. Kell had arranged for us to meet at his and Susie’s apartment for a drink and snack before moving down to Double Bay where we would board a yacht and sail around Sydney Harbour. Many of Michael’s family, band mates and closest friends were invited. The details of this can be read in the “Ashes Ceremony” on this site.

What isn’t well known is that Kelland had expressed a concern to me about the windy conditions and so I had contacted a friend who was President of a large Christian University in Cedarville, Ohio. I made a request that at their Wednesday night chapel hour, they pray for something very special that was taking place in Australia at that hour. Around 2,500 students sealed that pray that day, not fully knowing the actual circumstances. If you have seen the acclaimed documentary, “The Loved One”, you will hear some of those on the yacht give an account of how the moment we came up on deck to scatter Michael’s ashes, the wind mysteriously dropped and the sea became calm. The sun also splintered through the clouds behind the Harbour Bridge creating a serene backdrop for a solemn ceremony that became the moment of precious goodbyes.

Even the arrival back that day from New Zealand of Erana Clark, a vocalist I had felt so strongly about singing Amazing Grace that I had to convince Kell to agree, was a miraculous addition to the afternoon. With limited places on the yacht, Kell initially felt that someone who actually knew Michael would be on board and could surely sing. But I felt Erana was the one to do this. When Kell finally agreed, neither of us had known that Erana had toured with the band as a backing singer. Some things are beyond explanation. Erana’s song and her comfort to the others on board was, to quote Michael’s “Possibilities”…”meant to be.”

What I, and I am sure many others, will not forget about that evening was how despair and hopelessness seem to be comforted with peace and thankfulness for a very special life. It was Michael’s birthday and by the end of the evening a more festive celebration washed over us like a soothing balm. It was probably brought about by many things, a resolution of trusting and committing Michael’s spirit to eternal rest, a jovial story of his prankish ways, fond memories of how he was a bright light to so many, a reminder of his international standing in the music world and the joy that he had brought to millions though his creative performances.

Michael Kelland Hutchence was born on Friday, 22nd January, 1960 in the middle of an Australian heat wave of record proportions. The radio waves were also hot with Aussie rocker pioneer, Johnny O’Keefe singing, “She’s My Baby”, and throughout the Commonwealth it marked the 59th anniversary of the death of Queen Victoria. People were lining up to see the new FB Holden car and Doris Day was still a box office superstar. The Australian coastal population where flocking to the golden beaches in the middle of the traditional summer holidays. There was nothing remarkable about Michael’s entrance into the world that day, but what is certain, when his ashes floated down onto the waters of Sydney Harbour, 38 years later to the day, Michael in his short life had made a massive impact on pop culture throughout the world.

The old children’s nursery rhyme stated that “Friday’s child is loving and kind” and that is the testimony of thousands who had the privilege of meeting and knowing Michael. The world has been a more inspiring place because of Michael Kelland Hutchence. He is a legend and legends have the nature of enduring far beyond the natural life span of any man. Today join with us and celebrate the birth of that precious child who became the legend.

Happy birthday dear Michael!

Ian Patterson
For the team at Michael’s Official Memorial Site.

” I’m so alive
If you told me
Nothing’s perfect
Hearts are broken
Nothing’s free

I could show you
Why it’s worth it
That’s the way that it’s meant to be”

Michael Hutchence, “Possibilities”.