As I'm writing this it is the evening of November 22nd. I don't have a computer at home so I have to wait until tomorrow to put this on the internet. Needless to say I've been thinking of Michael all day, listening to his music, watching some videos, cherishing my memories of INXS, but most of all crying for a loss I still find hard to bear.
INXS used to make my life happier, more exciting and more positive. I would look forward to every record and every tour for months, counting the days that I would stand there, in one of the front rows, watching the best live band and feeling the world wasn't such a bad place after all.
At the end of a tour (I would see between 10 and 20 concerts each time) I would feel lost, knowing I had to get back to my every day life, and wondering if I would ever see them again.
When the European leg of the Listen Like Thieves tour ended I remember saying goodbye to the band and I couldn't help crying. Michael gave me a hug and said “You've got the biggest blue eyes”. I remember it made me smile and I felt better immediately.
Today when I was crying I thought about that day in 1986, wishing the tears I was crying now were like then, for the end of a tour, and not the end of a life.
I had always been worried about INXS splitting up one day. After seeing them live at Brixton Academy in London in October 1994, there was a two year silence and I was starting to think it was all over for INXS. But then the wonderful news came that there was going to be a new album and even a tour later that year in 1997. I couldn't believe my luck.
Unfortunately during this tour one of my cats became very ill, and I could only see four shows in the UK. I wasn't sure if I would still enjoy INXS live as much as I used to (it had been two and a half years since I last saw them), but as soon as I heard the first song I knew nothing had changed: they were still the brilliant live band I knew and I loved hearing the new songs for the first time.
It was the first time that I didn't cry at the last show of a tour. INXS had only done a UK tour and a few festivals in Europe and the record company told me the would return soon. Also they hadn't played in Holland yet (my home country) and they had never skipped Holland on a tour before. So I was sure I was going to see them again soon.
The following months I would check the music papers for news every week, and I had already saved up enough money to travel around Europe to see as many concerts as possible. Then the terrible news about Michael came and I knew I was waiting for something that was never going to happen.
I can still see INXS leaving the stage at Wembley in London, it was June 18th 1997, Michael was waving goodbye as the crowd was shouting for more and I remember thinking “See you soon, boys”. It was my 80th and last show.
“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 it's meant to be”
I just wanted to share this story with you and let you know I'm thinking of you today Jon, Kirk, Andrew, Tim and Garry Gary (I'm glad you decided to continue to make music), Mr. Kelland Hutchence & family (thanks for taking care of Michael's fans) and all you INXS fans (it's good to know I'm not alone).
Forever INXS
INXS used to make my life happier, more exciting and more positive. I would look forward to every record and every tour for months, counting the days that I would stand there, in one of the front rows, watching the best live band and feeling the world wasn't such a bad place after all.
At the end of a tour (I would see between 10 and 20 concerts each time) I would feel lost, knowing I had to get back to my every day life, and wondering if I would ever see them again.
When the European leg of the Listen Like Thieves tour ended I remember saying goodbye to the band and I couldn't help crying. Michael gave me a hug and said “You've got the biggest blue eyes”. I remember it made me smile and I felt better immediately.
Today when I was crying I thought about that day in 1986, wishing the tears I was crying now were like then, for the end of a tour, and not the end of a life.
I had always been worried about INXS splitting up one day. After seeing them live at Brixton Academy in London in October 1994, there was a two year silence and I was starting to think it was all over for INXS. But then the wonderful news came that there was going to be a new album and even a tour later that year in 1997. I couldn't believe my luck.
Unfortunately during this tour one of my cats became very ill, and I could only see four shows in the UK. I wasn't sure if I would still enjoy INXS live as much as I used to (it had been two and a half years since I last saw them), but as soon as I heard the first song I knew nothing had changed: they were still the brilliant live band I knew and I loved hearing the new songs for the first time.
It was the first time that I didn't cry at the last show of a tour. INXS had only done a UK tour and a few festivals in Europe and the record company told me the would return soon. Also they hadn't played in Holland yet (my home country) and they had never skipped Holland on a tour before. So I was sure I was going to see them again soon.
The following months I would check the music papers for news every week, and I had already saved up enough money to travel around Europe to see as many concerts as possible. Then the terrible news about Michael came and I knew I was waiting for something that was never going to happen.
I can still see INXS leaving the stage at Wembley in London, it was June 18th 1997, Michael was waving goodbye as the crowd was shouting for more and I remember thinking “See you soon, boys”. It was my 80th and last show.
“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 it's meant to be”
I just wanted to share this story with you and let you know I'm thinking of you today Jon, Kirk, Andrew, Tim and Garry Gary (I'm glad you decided to continue to make music), Mr. Kelland Hutchence & family (thanks for taking care of Michael's fans) and all you INXS fans (it's good to know I'm not alone).
Forever INXS