You lived each day as an adventure. Your mind never stopped ticking over as to what you could achieve next. You loved life with a passion and you were always generous with your time to those you gave strength to along the way. You never lost your dignity, your heart of love or your hope in the future. You were a gentleman, an intellectual, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, a friend. Your smile was kind, warm and genuine. You will always be joyfully celebrated and sadly missed. Happy birthday Kell.

Sometimes it is hard to know how to write about Michael Kelland Hutchence. There is such a dilemma of joy and heartache about him. His spirit was so strong that many of us still feel the deep loss of his presence after more than 6 years on. Last night I re-visited the recently re-packaged “Live Baby Live” DVD and was reminded of his amazing gift to capture and excite an audience. His own description of his compositions as “morality songs” is heart-warming to reflect upon. He intentionally wrote to lift people’s spirits and to have them ponder on some aspect of our human plight, as well as to share part of his own heart. If you really want to be reminded of his uniqueness, spend time this 22nd January watching the above DVD. You will be taken back to a time when INXS ruled the airwaves around the world and Michael was shining so brightly. Try to listen to other material like the “Listen Like Thieves” album with the song that adorns Michael’s memorial stone, “Shine Like It Does”. Rhett found those original hand written lyrics amongst some things of Michael’s and so Kell decided to have them set in bronze. Those words are fixed to his stone so that they may remain many years.

Yes, it is all positive, uplifting music and you will come away feeling fortunate that we have such tangible parts of Michael as a lasting memorial to him, as well as memories of an era when the world seemed to be just that little more innocent. Doesn’t it seem a crazy, more heartless place since 9/11? And all this recent sorrow may prompt us to pray for the thousands of families who have lost loved ones in the above atrocity, as well as in Afghanistan, and Iraq (over 500 US soldiers have died in recent months, not to forget the many British soldieers and thousands of Iraqis) while masses of people are mourning loved ones lost in the incomprehensible, devastating earthquake in Iran.

May God speed the day we can truly sing …

I’m standing here on the ground
The sky above won’t fall down
See no evil in all directions
Resolution of happiness
Things have been dark
For too long

So this January 22nd, it may be also timely to ponder the question Michael sang of in “Dancing On the Jetty”…

Watch the world argue with itself
Who’s going to teach me peace and happiness?

God knows.

Blessings to you sweet, adorable Tiger
…and happy 44th, Michael!

From Ian,
On behalf of the Hutchence family and
all the Team at MichaelHutchence.org

Thursday, 22nd January, 2004, 8 pm, at Hard Rock Café, 121 Crown Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia

Come join us in a friendly Michael Celebration by having a meal or perhaps a drink or two. There will be lots of stories exchanged and INXS music and videos being played throughout the night. Happy hour for drinks is from 4 pm to 7pm followed by live performances from young local talent until 10 pm interspersed with music from INXS. Then from 10 pm till late, rock to INXS and more INXS!

RSVP: Ange
Ph: 0414 554 122 ASAP

Or please call the Hard Rock Café direct to make your own personal booking on 02 9331 1116 …but hey, we want to hear from you if you intend rocking up on the night

Christmas in the Western world is traditionally a time for families to be together to celebrate love, joy and peace.

Of all the times in the year that loneliness may strike, Christmas Eve is particularly a hard time to be away from family. Yet this Christmas many of our family and friends at www.michaelhutchence.org are feeling the pain and sorrow of separation from loved ones. Some are separated by oceans, others by eternal passing. We like to think that all who regular visit here are part of a larger family of friends held together by a common bond of love, respect and admiration for the music and personhood of Michael Kelland Hutchence. We hope somehow that being part of this community will help you experience the warmth and love of family this Christmas and that you will enter into the true spirit of the season which is accepting the precious gift of Jesus.

Christmas is always a story of new hope and fresh beginnings, a time to be thankful for the gift of life in this world and faith for eternal keeping in the next.

We wish the adorable Tiger a special greeting this year and also to Susie and Rhett who are particularly needing our prayers at this time. Big hugs to you all!

Merry Christmas everyone from the team at www.michaelhutchence.org and we hope your Christmas cheer will, as Michael put it, “shine like it does into every heart” around you.

Mario, Jacqui and Ian

Today we pay homage to a wonderful person, Kelland Hutchence, Michael’s father who left us on 12th December, 2002.

His courage and determination were qualities all too rare in our present world. He could be tough and gentle at the same time. He was passionate about life and lived every second of it to make it count. He adored his wife and family, respected and honoured his friends, was a warrior for the exploited and abused and was never too busy to write off a letter or make a phone call to defend a human right. He loved people, loved the excitement of challenges, and despite growing older in years, Kell never lost a young heart. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren, rejoiced over them, wept over them, celebrated them. He was generous and kind, warm hearted, light hearted. He travelled the world and by the time he left this world he had discovered spiritual truths that would guarantee him peace for eternity. So sadly missed, so fondly remembered. Love and peace to you Kell.

Michael’s passing seems as unbelievable as the day we all first heard the news. Six years on seems but six days.

Some of the most beautiful pieces of music remain unfinished. Torn from their creative flights of fancy by the fragility of life, many composers have come to untimely deaths leaving behind an unfinished work. Michael’s life has that kind of story. It is a sad story of final frontiers not reached, of visions almost realised, of new horizons almost attained. His death on 22nd November, 1997 broke the hearts of a generation of music lovers who had been moved by his extraordinary stage presence, his ability as a singer/songwriter, and his infectious personality. His new found freedom in solo writing and performance, though not to diminish the brilliance of his collaboration with the comparable Andrew Farris, was indeed an unfinished story for Michael. So was his acting career. And yet even more significant, by his own profession, was his most challenging role of all, exploring the joys of being a new Daddy. So unfinished symphonies remain just that, but it doesn’t diminish their poignant beauty and perpetual appeal.

This week as we honour Michael Hutchence’s memory, pray for little Tiger and the rest of his family that they will know God’s comfort, grace, love and peace. Tiger soldiers on and is living the life of a normal, healthy, little girl despite losing a Daddy, a Mummy, and last December, her Granddad with whom she so much enjoyed visits, and his cards and phone calls. This is our first anniversary without the adorable Kelland Hutchence. We love you Kell, and miss you profoundly.

Rhett is doing well and is very committed to a new creative venture, while Susie keeps busy to help pass the days that understandably must be hard and lonely. She sends her love and greetings to Michael’s friends and fans, and will be privately reflecting over the coming days leading up to the first anniversary of Kell’s departure. It will be the first year she has not attended Michael’s memorial gathering in Sydney, but she knows that Michael’s friends will understand the difficulties of these present days.

I know what Kell would tell you all to do this Saturday; “Listen to some of Michael’s music, let it lift you, and never, never give up on things.”

Love and peace,
Ian Patterson for the Hutchence family and all the team at MichaelHutchence.org
(Susie, Mario and Jackie)

Saturday, 22 November, 2003 at 3 pm
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens, Delhi Road, North Ryde, Australia

This is an invitation to all of Michael’s friends and fans to gather in remembrance of our beloved Michael at 3 pm on Saturday, 22 November 2003, at Michael’s stone in the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens, Delhi Road, North Ryde, Australia.

Afterwards, join us in a stroll along Milk Beach, Carrera Rd, Vaucluse on Sydney Harbour (opposite where Mike’s ashes were scattered on 22 January 1998) we will conclude the night at the Hard Rock Café where you can join us for drinks (or dinner) from around 8 pm. The Hard Rock Café is situated at 121 Crown Street, Darlinghurst.

This year we also remember Michael’s father, Mr Kelland Hutchence who was always so supportive of Michael’s fans in that he never missed a memorial gathering until he was too sick to do so. He was hospitalised last November but was thrilled to watch the memorial gathering via video recording. Kell sadly lost his battle with cancer on 12.12.02. May he rest in peace. He will always be remembered as true friend to many and a charming gentlemen!

Our thoughts and prayers will unite us all in spirit and especially with those who cannot be present!

Love & Peace
Ange Perou
President
for and behalf of the directors, Mario Ferrari and Ian Patterson
Official Michael Hutchence Fanclub

Michael’s birthday has become a special day for all of us as family and friends gather in various locations across the world.

It is sad that Kell is not with us to celebrate Michael’s birthday this year. But perhaps he and Michael are having their own celebration! I am spending his birthday in London with my two sons, writing to you all in an Internet cafe. I send love and greetings to you all and suggest you play some great music and have a drink for Michael.

Love to all

Ian

Come along and celebrate with us!

Date: Sat. 18 January 2003
Time: 8 pm
Place: Hard Rock Café
121 Crown Street,
Darlinghurst Sydney Australia 2010

Come along and have a meal or just call in, introduce yourself, and have a drink for Mike and this year, in honour and memory of our dear friend, Kell , (Michael’s father) who, attended annually in support of his dear son Michael.

All welcome… there will be INXS music and videos played throughout the night.

RSVP: Ange Perou
(For and on behalf of the Directors of Michael’s Official fanclub)
Ph: 0414 554 122

Look forward to seeing you there! A big thank you to everyone around Australia and around the world organising celebrations.

L & P
Ange

We wish to express our deepest condolences to the Gibb family after the sad loss of their brother, husband, dad, and son, Maurice Gibb. The funk style dance music that the Bee Gee’s helped pioneer in the 70’s was a significant influence on INXS who were destined to re-shaped dance music in the 80’s and 90’s. The Bee Gee’s were due to tour Australia in 2003 so for Australian fans who remember their TV and live appearances when they were growing up here in the 1960’s, it is particularly sad.

Once again, New York area fans will gather on the anniversary of Michael’s birth to celebrate his life and legacy. This year’s event will take place on Saturday January 18 at Barramundi, an Australian bar on Ludlow Street.

The party and music starts at 8pm, and a special guest will be flying in just for the party this year: Michael’s sister, Tina Hutchence.

In addition there will be a condolence/scrap book for Michael’s father Kell who passed away on December 12th that everyone can contribute to. If you’re going to the party, bring whatever you want to paste into the book (photo, poems, letters etc).

If you can not make the party but want to contribute to the book and for more information about the event please contact Kris at inxsive23@hotmail.com.

from everyone at MichaelHutchence.org. May 2003 be a great year for us all.

Around the world Christmas trees are decorated, coloured lights adorn houses and shopping malls, and the sound of carols float through the air…air that is thick with the sounds of excitement and expectations of the children. If you can remember the feeling, there is nothing quite like it. All year you look forward to this time of wonderful surprises, toys, gourmet foods and visits from adoring grandparents. In Australia it is glorious beach weather, white zinc noses, convoys of vehicles moving up the northern coastal roads; a time for roast turkey, Christmas pudding, bowls of mixed nuts, stubbies, and of course the familiar sounds of Michael and INXS rocking on the airwaves. In Northern Europe and North America it is sleigh bells, snowmen and the traditional Christmas meal around a crackling fire. I guess for some Christmas isn’t this idealistic. It may be more to do with struggling against loneliness and depression, isolation from family and friends. To you we send our love and warmest greetings and say never give up.

But isn’t this festive season made that much sweeter by children? Children who innocently shrug their shoulders at the days gone by and have no fear of the days to come. After all, this is Christmas, a time for joy, love and peace. Isn’t it heart warming to know that despite all we have experienced and felt over the past five years since Michael left, that a precious little girl in England will be playing fun games with her sisters?

I helped Kell and Susie edit their family video’s after their last trip to England and saw this fun-loving little girl rolling around the floor with infectious giggles. There was so much healing in that child-like laughter for Kell. He left us with a broken body that did not heal, but his spirit and his heart were in very great shape. He spoke to us of a pleasant expectancy, like a young child about to cross over into the true world of Christmas where love, joy and peace never end.

No wonder over 2,000 years ago on that first Christmas night, the Angels were so pumped about bringing such great news to a hurting world. It remains a story of forgiveness, of second and third chances, of new beginings and of eternal hope. “Glory be to God in heaven, and on earth, peace among men” was the opener on their first live outdoor gig, somewhere in a Woodstock-like field near Bethlehem. So to complete our year, 2002, we at www.michaelhutchence.org wish you love, joy and peace this Christmas and for the year to come, good health and blessings. Our prayers are with you, wherever you are, and also for Michael’s family who are still feeling great loss. In particular at this time our thoughts are for Susie, Croy (Kell’s sister), Rhett and Tina, and for little Tiger, “heaven sent”, and for her dear Granddaddy, heaven bound. Merry Christmas!

Lots of love from Susie, Ian, Mario, Jacqueline and Ange.

It is with immense grief and deep sorrow that I announce the passing of an amazing person and our dearest friend, Kelland Hutchence, Michael’s adoring Dad, who lost a battle with cancer today, Thursday 12th December, 2002 at 6:35 pm, Sydney time.

Please pray for his dear wife Susie, his son Rhett whom he loved so well, Tina whom he never stopped loving, and his dear grand children, including precious Tiger who will always have fond childhood memories of times with her precious Grand Daddio.

God give him eternal peace and rest.

Love and Peace to you all, Ian.
(Susie, Rhett, Mario, Ange and Jacqui join me in this expression of gratitude for all of your prayers and kind words of love.)

Kelland’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 17th December at 1:30 pm in the small chapel of St Columba’s Church in Lane Cove, in Sydney’s northern suburbs. The Chapel, built on the original site of the old church where Kelland first attended Sunday School 76 years ago, is a place rich in happy memories for Kelland and his older sister Croy who survives him. He and Croy scattered their Grandmothers’ ashes in the gardens surrounding the Chapel many years ago.

“We are all currently in a time of mourning and will be back sometime in the near future with news of Kell’s send off.
Ian, Mario and Jacqui Ferrari

Everyone is saying, “Five years I can’t believe it”. But the world has changed forever since Michael left it. It is like sorrows have fallen upon sorrows and the “love and peace days” have fallen into “hate and war”.

And oh how many have fallen since. One can only look to the hope of God and the endurance of the human spirit to make sense of it all. But what has come through the grief and pain of losing Michael is a realization of the absolute preciousness of the irreplaceable. Michael’s spirit was unique so was his artistry. His presence in the world seemed to make it that much more of an interesting place. How little he understood the extent to which he was treasured by so many. Yet we do have precious memories that can never be taken from us. Memories of his impish exploits, his boyish charm, his tender moments with family, friends and fans, his robust energy as a great rock and roll performer, the beautiful nuances and individual creative expressions adorning his songs and his unique warm vocal timbre that could rise from the whisper of “Come over here” to the energy of “Girl on fire!”. Through it all we have learnt about the preciousness of life, the adoration for God-given talent, the amazing ability of the human heart to go on, the tragic nature of human loss, and the hope and joy brought into the world by his innocent and adorably-cute offspring.

So today is perhaps a time for quiet reflection, a time to honor Michael’s amazing life achievements, to pray for his little girl, Tiger, and to pray for comfort and peace for his family. Hey and it’s a time to hear once again Michael’s victory cry of “Here we go!” over the din of the crowd and the opening riffs of “Guns in the Sky” at Wembley Arena on that amazing day. So turn on and turn up… and live, Baby, live, because Michael Kelland Hutchence can always “Stay Young” in our hearts and minds.

Dennis Ian Patterson, 22nd November, 2002