Michael Hutchence was the perfect rock icon. Born to perform, he had all the things any person would want to become a star. Charismatic, intelligent and incredibly sexy he moulded a style, which dated back to the late 1970's. Twenty years on, the style was every bit his trademark.
Michael Kelland Hutchence was born in Sydney, on the 22nd January 1960. His father Kelland was a garment trader, his mother Patricia a make up artist. When Michael was four the family moved to Hong Kong. It was there that Michael made his debut performance in a folk group singing Peter, Paul and Mary songs.
In 1972 Michael had moved back to the Sydney suburb of Davidson. The first day at the local high school, Michael became involved in a fight. "I was dumb enough to pick a fight with the biggest guy in the school," says Michael. It was here that Michael was introduced to Andrew Farriss. Unknown to anyone at the time, it would become one of the most successful partnerships in rock music to the present day.
Michael's parents divorced in 1975 and Michael went with his mother to Los Angeles. "It was a hard time for my mother, I think she just needed some support for a while so I went with her. My brother Rhett stayed with my father," he explains. He attended North Hollywood High School, but within twelve months had saved enough money and returned to Sydney.
He immediately found Andrew and the idea of a band started to form. Andrew by now was playing keyboards and one day at rehearsals gave Michael a microphone. By the time he had reached sixth form music had become Michael's number one priority and so he dropped out of school. At seventeen he and Andrew teamed up with some guy called Garry Beers. The three had a short stint as a band called the Dolphin Doctors, but it didn't take long before they teamed up with Andrews brother Tim and his friend Kirk Pengilly. Jon Farriss also joined and The Farriss Brothers were formed on August 16th, 1977. This day would also go down in history as the day Elvis Presley died.
From then on Michael never looked back. Never having singing lessons, it was the endless touring, playing pubs and clubs in those early years which shaped Michael's voice.
The band changed it's name in 1980 to INXS which coincided with their self titled debut album. By the time Shabooh Shoobah was released in 1982, Michael had matured and become a musician and songwriter. His stage presence was making people stand up and take notice, bringing comparisons to legends like Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison.
In March of 1986 Michael stepped off the INXS jettison for a short time to make his movie debut. His character, Sam, is a wannabe pop star, the movie based on the punk era of the late seventies in Melbourne, Australia. Directed by Richard Lowenstein it was titled Dogs In Space and Michael received admirable reviews for his performance. The movie also produced a top ten single for Michael called Rooms For The Memory.
After the eighteen month tour that followed the record braking album, Kick, the band decided to enjoy a break for twelve months. It was the first time since high school that Michael functioned again as an individual. Apart from cutting his hair, Michael spent time in the studio with an old friend. He teamed with Ollie Olsen and recorded an album with Max Q. The band was named after Ollie's deaf blue cattle dog, and was Michael's idea. While Olsen wrote most of the songs, it gave Michael a chance to explore and learn about music, singing and producing.
With the completion of Max Q, Michael travelled to Italy in August for his second film role, playing Percy Bysshe Shelley in 
the film Frankenstein Unbound. Released in 1990, it starred John Hurt and Brigit Fonda and was the story of a 21st century scientist who stumbles back into the 19th century through a black hole.
By the end of 1989 Michael is in the studio again with INXS recording X. The album is another worldwide hit and the bands following in the UK reaches peak levels.
In the next few years Michael was constantly in the eyes of the media. His romances with Kylie Minogue and Helena Christensen had brought him the attention he loves but the criticism he doesn't deserve. Personal battles in 1993 around the time of Full Moon, Dirty Hearts dogged him. In 1994 Michael became involved in a happy relationship with Paula Yates, and of course the couple bought the birth of Michaels only child Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.
INXS finished their sold out US leg of the Elegantly Wasted world tour and were taking a short break before commencing the Australian 'Loose Your Head' tour in November this year. At 11.50am on Saturday November 22nd, Michael Hutchence was found dead in his Sydney Hotel from apparent suicide. Found hanged with a leather belt, his death comes at a time when it is most hard to accept. Some have have put it down to the pressures surrounding the pending custody battle with Paula Yates' ex-husband Bob Geldof, others have come up with a theory that it was a combination of alcohol and prescription drugs which drove him to suicide. Many theories exist, but only one man may ever know why.
Loved by so many, he will be missed. By his family, his friends, his fans. He was the last of the great rock superstars, now a legend along side the likes of Jim Morrison and Freddy Mercury. I only hope that wherever Michael Hutchence is, he is resting and at peace.