You are so very missed by those that had the privilege of knowing you. May you continue to rest in eternal peace and joy. All our love, from all the Team at MichaelHutchence.org

January 22nd is always a very special day at Michael’s Memorial site because on this day we celebrate the life of Michael Kelland Hutchence.

From his typical boyish childhood to the challenges of negotiating the teens years, to the crazy life style of a pop idol in his 20’s and 30’s, in less than four decades, Michael left an indelible mark in popular music history.  As a direct result around the world, millions of young people growing up in the 80’s and 90’s associate part of their good times with the music of Michael and INXS. His music is still a source of euphoria, fond moments, precious memories, and joyous situations.

It is a privilege to receive so many emails over the past 10 years since Michael’s Memorial site was created.  Repeatedly friends and fans from around the world share how much they have been inspired by Michael. From the poet/song writers to the painters and film makers, many creative souls have rich words of gratitude for Michael’s gentle spirit who inspires them to press on in their craft.

From those who win international Grammies, to those who share their craft in their local community,  Michael is paid tribute in songs, in poems, and on canvases at many different creative levels. Perhaps you have been inspired in some way by the life and works of Michael. Today you have helped keep Michael’s candle burning by visiting his Memorial Site, leaving a message in the Guest Book, playing his music or sharing with friends that it is Michael’s birthday.

So another special day has rolled around in a world so different to the one Michael left. Unite with us by thanking God for a precious life that was with us all too briefly. Family, friends and fans join together today and simply say, “Happy Birthday Michael!”

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”.

We affectionately pay tribute today to Kelland Hutchence who left this life on 12th December, 2002 after a period of illness. Kell was a very special man with a very big heart. He was young at heart and very joyous in spirit despite the tragic circumstances that beset him in his final years. Kell would love you to remember him with an uplifted spirit and for you to know that he left this world having found peace in his heart. He rests from the struggles of this life and has entered an eternity of love and peace where every tear has been wiped away.

Is it a coincidence that we are remembering precious Michael Hutchence and the tenth anniversary of his sad passing, on the same day as Thanksgiving in the USA? Today we are thankful that we have shared in the life of an amazing man.

Michael is a son, a grandson, a brother, a daddy, a cousin, a nephew, an uncle, a band mate, a dear friend, a former partner, and to millions around the world, a rock icon. His legacy lives on, and as so many others have said before, we are truly blessed to have had him in our lives.

Michael adored his family and particularly little Tiger. He was so besotted by her, spending hours playing with her during the days he was not recording or on tour, fascinated that she had been born perfect in everyway. He loved her little gurgling ways and her calm temperament that caused her never to complain. He thought she was a perfect baby, able to go to anyone who reached out their arms to her. Tiger Lily changed Michael into a doting caring family man and reshaped his understanding of what it meant to be a male.

Michael adored his immediate family, Kelland, Susie, Patricia, Tina and Rhett and treasured a circle of faithful friends. The tragic loss of Michael is still monumental but greater is the dear memories of his presence on this earth. Always missed always loved; may God give him eternal rest and peace.

As my dear friend Helena has expressed, I cannot believe it has been ten years since we lost the sweet soul that was Michael Hutchence. I can add little to the avalanche of beautiful tributes and loving words that appear on the Memorial website. I can however give thanks for having Michael in my life, albeit for a much shorter time than I would have wanted, and I also give thanks for his beautiful father, my husband Kell, also taken from me prematurely.

I would also like to take this opportunity of thanking all the devoted fans, some of whom I met yesterday, Saturday 24th November, at the Memorial Service and at the Concert for their love and dedication to Michael and his music. A special thanks to Silmara from Brazil as the originator of the “Calling all Nations” flags tribute to Michael and to all those who helped coordinate it. They looked simply stunning displayed at the site and at the concert. Also thanks to Angela and Karen Rose for arranging the Memorial Concert to honour the man and his music.

I cannot let this anniversary go by without expressing my and the fans all around the world’s gratitude, to Mario and Jacqui Ferrari and (Dennis) Ian Patterson for their tireless and generous contribution to Michael’s Memorial site. I think the fans will agree it is a beautiful contemplative place to visit.

I am sure you will all agree our shining star has achieved immortality.

Susie Hutchence

I cannot believe it’s been 10 years since we lost our beautiful Michael… I think of him very often, and know that, even though he left the earth, his spirit is still here with us… sometimes I walk into a store, and his voice comes out of the speakers… or I turn on the radio in my car, and it’s him singing, making me feel that he is up there watching over me. I feel so utterly blessed that I got to know him and spent so much time with him, because he really was one of the coolest, kindest, most charismatic people I have ever met! All these great memories keep coming back to me, they always make me smile to myself… he was so funny, so smart, very sensitive, poetic and interesting to be around! He was so full of life, bursting with energy, and knew so much about all these different topics! I learned a lot in all the years I was with him, and for that I will forever be grateful… My family and I still talk about him once in a while, and we talk about his wonderful dad, whom we also miss very much. What two great men they were, and how lucky I was to spend time with them both in my life… Michael gave me some beautiful memories and gave the world his amazing voice to listen to forever…!

Fans of Michael Hutchence and members of the INXS.com Fan Club are holding a Weekend in Sydney, November 23rd – 25th, 2007, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of INXS and to pay tribute to Michael on this the 10th Memorial Anniversary. People are coming from overseas and all around Australia to celebrate INXS and to remember Michael Hutchence.

Fans will be gathering at the North Ryde Memorial Gardens on Saturday 24th November at 3.00pm to pay tribute to Michael Hutchence.

In the evening there will be a Dinner to be held at the Star Bar, George Street, Sydney at 6.30pm for INXS.com fan club members and of course non members are also very welcome to come along.

After the dinner everyone will be attending the Michael Hutchence Tribute Concert organised by Ange Perou at the Manning Bar, Sydney University.

Angela Perou has announced her special Michael Hutchence Tribute concert for Saturday 24th November 2007.

Titled the “Loved One – Memorial Concert for Michael”, it will take place at the Manning Bar, Sydney University, City Road, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia. Surprise special guests are promised as well as new talented artists performing INXS and songs from Michael’s solo album.

All procedes for the night will go to Father Reily’s Youths off the Street ministry. Angela invites all Michael Hutchence fans to come along and pay tribute.

Ticket prices are AU$25 and AU$22 for students with ID cards.