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