With the first anniversary of Michael Hutchence's suicide drawing ever-closer, the media build-up surrounding the planned memorial service is intensifying. But what's just as interesting is the several on-going projects featuring the remaining members of the band.
And the various projects aren't as high-profile as you'd expect from such a huge-selling outfit.
In what has been beaten-up as the band's "first post-Hutchence show", three members of the band - Kirk Pengilly plus Andrew and Jon Farriss - bewitched a small gathering at the opening of the Starlight Room at Sydney Children's Hospital, on Thursday, November 5. Apparently, the band has been involved with the Starlight Foundation, a "wish-granting" organisation established to help ailing children, for the past seven years. Kirk Pengilly took over lead vocals and guitar, Jon Farriss rattled a tambourine and brother Andrew strummed an acoustic guitar, as the band sang a few numbers, including "Never Tear Us Apart" (RealAudio excerpt).
Starlight Foundation's Simon Roundtree told Addicted To Noise that the band has always been keen to play down their involvement with the organisation. "INXS have been big supporters of the Foundation for more than seven years. They've never played up their involvement, apart from letting the children and their families know they were going to do something.
"This was the first time they've performed for us with any kind of publicity attached. Everything else they've done with us has been behind-the-scenes. They've either met kids with a wish to meet the band, or played acoustic concerts for the kids.
"From what I can work out they're happy to be associated with us, but they don't want to make it a big deal."
Kirk Pengilly has also been flexing some production muscle, helping out Adelaide band Coo. Pengilly's brother Drew is a member of the band. According to Sydney journalist and manager Stuart Coupe, who has been working closely with Coo, "Kirk's been getting involved with their production and helping them out. He produced the six-track demo that's out and he played on one of the tracks."
Andrew Farriss, meanwhile, has taken the most curious sidetrack of any remaining member of INXS. Turns out he's something of a closet country fan. According to Doug Trevor, manager of award-winning country crooner Troy Cassar-Daly, Andrew Farriss has been penning some tunes with Cassar-Daly for his upcoming album.
"They met up at the APRA Awards", he states. "Andrew came over to Troy's table and chatted. He has a property up neat Tamworth and country music must be in his blood. He expressed some interest in writing together. We're anxious to put Troy with a variety of writers, especially pop writers, and see what comes out of it.
"He wants to get with him on the upcoming album Troy's recording early in the New Year and see what comes out of it." Meanwhile, rumours abound that the band has been convening in Sydney's Studio 301 to polish off unreleased material.
Copyright 1998 - Addicted to Noise