Dear Kell and Susie, I have wanted to contact you much sooner than this but for a number of reasons I'm just getting to it now. I visited the official INXS fan website last night and left an entry in memory of Michael. Michael's death has affected me in very profound way. You see Michael, along with his mates in INXS helped me through some very difficult times. In December 1990 my wife at the time filed for divorce. The next several years were extremely difficult, especially only being able to see my only son on weekends. (he was 3 years old at the time). INXS's album 'X' was out at the time and that album along with some of the band's other compositions really helped me through those times, especially 'Bitter Tears' and 'The Stairs'. It seemed at the time that the lyrics in 'Bitter Tears' were written with people in my situation in mind. (I guess that's fairly obvious). Anyway, I felt a kinship of sorts with Michael; although I was never fortunate to see INXS live, I have all of the bands albums and some of the commercially produced videos. Anyway, in June 1994 my dear sister Cathy took her life at the age of 35. She was the victim of an abusive husband whose gun she turned on herself to escape the pain he inflicted. Again, I turned to music to help me through the most difficult days of my life; again I turned to Michael and INXS. When I arrived home from work on that terrible morning in November, 1997 and read the story about Michael's death, it all opened up again, it was as if I had lost a dear, dear friend. I had also lost my older brother Tim to cancer in 1977. (I didn't want to forget to mention him, I still miss him dearly after 23 years). I struggle with my dear sister's loss, suicide is so much more difficult to come to terms with. I struggle as well with the loss of my 'friend' Michael as well. I cannot express to you how sorry I am for your terrible loss. There is only one thing that I am afraid of now, and that is my own son being harmed in some way. I feel I can handle anything but that. I ask my dear mom how she copes with having lost two of her five children so prematurely (Tim was 24), she tells me that her faith in God, and the support of family and friends has sustained her. So it is in that spirit that I reach out to you. (Someone once said “A stranger is a friend we haven't met yet”) I want to thank you personally for this website because the time I have spent here has helped me immensely to confront the loss of my sister and Michael, which now are forever linked in my heart and soul. One needs to grieve, it's part of the healing process, and seeing the photos of beautiful little Tiger, especially the one where Michael is holding her, helped me to crack a bit and shed some much needed tears. (They are less bitter as time goes by). Michael's solo album greatly exceeded my own expectations and has also been a comfort, in a bittersweet way of course. I feel that it demonstrates the fact that although INXS was, and will remain forever one of the best rock and roll bands ever, Michael's talents were many and certainly not limited to his work with INXS. I'm certain you don't need me to tell you that. I thank you again for this site and I apologize for the length of this message but I needed to let you know how I felt. You, Tiger, the rest of the family, and Michael's mates in INXS are in my thoughts and prayers often. Take care and God Bless, Robert Clayton, Bordentown, NJ USA