On the first anniversary of Michael’s death a memorial was unveiled on the afternoon of November 22, 1998. About 300 friends, family and fans attended the service at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

The service was brief and sweet and, in a way, Michael himself said more than anybody else, in the form of a transcript of an interview that he gave Swiss radio in June 1997, just six months before he committed suicide. Asked about Tiger Lily, Hutchence said that, while on tour, what he missed most was “the stupid things … a new front tooth growing, that kind of thing”.

“You have to say, OK, this is what I do. And she (Tiger Lily) wants me, whether she knows it or not, to do what I want to do, because ultimately, it’s for her. But it gets very difficult,” he said.

Then he paused.

“You know, I haven’t seen my baby for four months. I don’t even know if she knows who I am any more.”

Hutchence went on to say that he envied those with nine-to-five jobs, so he could leave in the morning, then count the hours “until I could get back to her”.

Hutchence’s family chose the theme of “love and peace” for the service.

One year ago exactly, I was out buying some new sunglasses, and I came home to find out I’d lost my brother, I do however still have my sunnies. God works in mysterious ways.

For the first few weeks after Michael’s untimely death, one line of his many Lyrics kept playing in my head. it was from “Bitter Tears” and the line was “And I thought I was doing no wrong”.

And to be honest I don’t believe he thought he was. Or he realized the full ramifications of his actions. Not that it would have made a difference at the time.

One year, long in grief and short in time. And one where it seems some peoples grief has been manifesting in anger, the pain of loss.

In the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth, life is constantly presenting us with opportunities to totally let go of what encumbers us, in order for us to fully embrace life with fresh openness, and forgiveness plays a major part.

Unless we have full gratitude for those we have loved how can we expect the fragile bud of rebirth to emerge within us.

It is time to let go, time to forgive.

The past cannot be changed, remember Michael with love and joy, not misery.

We are here on the anniversary of his death. We are here to celebrate his life.

If Michael’s death was a tragedy, his life was not. And how does one sum up such a full life.

The beauty is that some of his many talents will surface forever, due to the huge legacy he left us all, in a dozen albums, hundreds of songs, and the performance of thousands of truly memorable shows, all around the globe. Sometimes I feel Michael is everywhere, literally.

Michael, the poet, the lyricist, the natural performer certainly kicked his goal of world domination.

The hardest thing for me to reconcile is the death of Michael Hutchence, the normal human being. The ordinary man with an extraordinary life.

It’s Michael, the searcher, the explorer, the healer, the big brother, the kind gentle sensitive loving man that I miss. Thank god for memories.

It hurts that I won’t hear his spoken word, even if it was rousing on me, or feel in my heart the roar of the crowd when he stepped on stage.

I truly feel proud and honoured to have known him and lucky to have spent some of the best years of my life with him, and I cherish those memories.

I would never have wanted it to turn out this way, however Michael’s death has been my rebirth. It is the least I can do for him.

How we live and how we die are less than a breath apart.

Rock on mate, I love you.

I’d like to let go with a poem

Please take a few soft breaths
As we move
From one level to the next

As in growth, or dying
We need to let go
At the edge
To continue further

Trust the process
Let go lightly
Pass on Gently

Floral arrangement from INXS

On behalf of the members of INXS and their families, we wish to extend our love and condolences to Michael’s family at their memorial service. We wish to voice our appreciation and acknowledge the fans’ dedication and efforts they have made to show their respect and affection for Michael. We too miss him dearly and share your feelings of great loss. We hope everyone respects our need to mourn privately and in our own way. With love and our best wishes to all of you.

Andrew, Jon, Garry, Tim and Kirk

Song presented by Clare Patterson during the Memorial Service.

Jesus We Know Who You Are

Clare Patterson and Matt Roberts
Lead/backing vocals
Marc Allen
Composition/arrangement
Marc Allen
Roland keyboards
Chrissy Thomas and
Grace University Chorale, Omaha, Nebraska
Additional vocals

Produced by Marc Allen and Clare Patterson
VS-1680 digital recorder courtesy of Roland Corp, Sydney, Australia

© 1998 C. Patterson & M. Allen