Australia has always had a healthy music scene over the years, from the early 50's through to now. It's not unusual for an act to become a huge hit here but the hard thing has always been for a local act to make it big in the international market. Whilst there was success in the late 70's and early 80's with bands such as the Bee Gees, AC/DC and Air Supply, it seemed that it would take an exceptional act to breakthrough onto the world stage. For so long most pinned their hopes on bands like Cold Chisel but it was two acts that really took off to join the ranks of genuine international stars. Those bands are Midnight Oil and INXS. Both came from the same era and broke through roughly at the same time as each other. But whereas Midnight Oil were essentially a band with a conscience, INXS were first and foremost a live band known for having a great show and being a perfect party band. Whilst not to denigrate them in any way, INXS' lyrics are not known for having any deep hidden messages. Still INXS became, for a few years, one of the few Australian bands that could regularly sell out Wembley Stadium and tour the largest arenas worldwide, they were the darlings of the USA tour circuit and it's doubtful that any of the current crop of bands around today would be able to achieve the same level of success and adoration.

Much of the appeal of INXS lies in the sheer magnetism and sexuality of it's lead singer, Michael Hutchence. Hutchence has been likened to both Jim Morrison and Mick Jagger over the years, and both comparisons, while at seems to be apt, hurt the vocalist as he attempts to define his own style. That style has been honed over years of hard, regular touring, playing some of the worst clubs and pubs that Australia has to offer, and coming up trumps night after night. As late as 1992, guitarist Tim Farriss was still looking back on some of the clubs that INXS had performed at in their early years and was fond of describing them as "like out of the Blues Brothers film, with the chicken wire in front of the stage and patrons throwing bottles at the band for fun.." We will look at the history of the band at the same time as we look at some of the rarer releases that INXS have produced.

INXS came into being when school friends Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss linked up with Garry Beers and Kirk Pengilly back in 1976 to form a band. After not really going anywhere, the foursome took in Andrew's brothers, Jon and Tim Farriss. The band were first known as The Farriss Brothers, and this name stuck with them throughout their early years from 1977 until 1979 when the name INXS came from nowhere according to Hutchence and Andrew Farriss. In 1980 the band struck up a partnership with lawyer Chris Murphy who took them under his wing and signed them to his new MMA management company. Murphy soon brokered a recording deal for INXS.

The first INXS single, Simple Simon, was a non-album affair (until the compilation INXSive gathered up most of the rare material and selected album tracks and put them onto the market.) Thus unlike many bands in the same position, the earlier non album material could be found on at least one compilation which was successfully re-issued onto compact disc back in the early '90's. Both the singles songs were self produced and sound very thin attempting to keep in with the current 'New Wave / New Romantic' movement of the time. The songs however lacked any real depth and luster. Strangely enough the single was also released in France on the RCA label - as RCA handled the distribution and pressing of the independent Deluxe label. The Australian single came in a plain Deluxe company sleeve and was never issued in a picture sleeve. The single died the death and as a result is one of the most in demand INXS singles released and worth a premium for mint copies.

INXS's second single, Just Keep Walking, was lifted from their debut album, INXS. The album was a step up from their debut single, with production again being handled by INXS only this time with help from former Ayer's Rock bassist Duncan McGuire. The single marked the first chart showing for the band, reaching a credible number 38 nationally. The good showing for the single came from the band continually touring the tough Australian pub circuit. Initial copies of this single sported a picture sleeve showing the band looking very moody and arty. As with the first single, this one was issued overseas in the UK but as with the first single it failed to make any impact whatsoever. This single also marked what would become a policy for INXS - non album b-sides. These were intended for individual members to showcase themselves outside of the band with no constraints at all. The songs were usually totally different, mainly self produced and rarely featured more than one member of the band, although there were notable exceptions. Copies of this single with it's original picture sleeve are certainly desired by collectors.

Preparing to enter the studio with new producer Richard Clapton (who had hits in his own right with Girls On The Avenue, Capricorn Dancer and I Am An Island to name but three) the band were persuaded to cover the old Loved One's hit single, The Loved One. The single was a success reaching number 18 nationally and gaining much needed airplay. As with the first single, The Loved One was issued in a plain Deluxe company sleeve and never sported a proper picture sleeve. Once the band had reaped the benefits of working with Clapton, they entered the studios for their second album. The first single from that album was one of INXS's first real anthems and a taste of things to come. Stay Young came in a brilliant cartoon picture sleeve and it deserved to do better than it did. The sleeve was a wrap-around affair (much like most of RCA's pressings at the time) with hand written lyrics to the song on the rear. Copies of the single with it's sleeve are again, highly sought after. There was also a rare mispressing of this single with the A side labels on both sides. In contrast the last single released on the Deluxe label was the impossibly rare Night Of Rebellion. This single was issued immediately before the band had signed with WEA and in the haste to milk the album (which had reached number 15 nationally) Deluxe again issued the single without a picture sleeve. It was the last single under the Deluxe imprint and it sank without a trace, resulting in one of the most sought after INXS singles apart from the debut.

The big breakthrough single for INXS was the first single on the WEA label, The One Thing. Working with a recognized producer, Mark Opitz, for the first time gave INXS a sound that was close to what they sounded like in a live situation. Driven by an excellent riff and featuring all members in their best light, the single was instantly recognizable as a hit and reached number 14 nationally. As the band was now on the WEA label, an international distribution deal was set up with Atco in the USA and Mercury in the UK. Both markets released the single with the American pressing being the hardest to find with it's picture sleeve intact. The single was issued in a picture sleeve featuring nine blurry shots from the video.

The second single from the new album was the brilliant Don't Change. Again this song was fueled by a riff that wouldn't quit and combined with some more excellent playing and soaring vocals from Michael, the song went down brilliantly. This song was put into rotation on the fledgling MTV channel in the USA and overall the song went great. Interest in the band was high and as a result they undertook their first tour of the USA. Playing smaller venues they packed the houses and started to build a following. Part of the success that INXS experienced was due to a live broadcast shown on MTV which came about when another band cancelled at the last minute. MTV found themselves with cameras set up and ready to go and no band to film. The solution was to shoot whatever band was playing and this happened to be INXS. Soon after the broadcast the live version of The One Thing was put into high rotation and as a result INXS began to establish themselves in that market.

It helped that most American's will immediately latch onto anyone who reminds them of someone else and the comparisons between Hutchence and Jim Morrison / Mick Jagger continued to dog the band for the rest of the decade. The One Thing also marked the first INXS 12" single. This single is also hard to find in mint condition with it's original picture sleeve. Other prime rarities from the Shabooh Shoobah album are the rare double single pack for the song To Look At You. This was housed in an excellent gatefold sleeve and consisited of the single and three new tracks. The whole package was subtitled 'Here Comes 2'. As rare as the double pack is, the hardest format for this single is in fact, the single versionin it's original picture sleeve. Whilst copies of the double pack are reasonably easy to come by, copies of the single version are almost non-existent. Another point of interest is to note that some of the early INXS videos (To Look At You, The One Thing, Don't Change) were directed by a young Scott Hicks who later came to fame as the Oscar nominated director of the movie Shine. The other rarity would have to be the 12" only release of Black And White. As a harbinger of things to come, the band issued the 12" and called it the 'Dance EP'. The mix of Black And White was INXS's first real great remix and showed that the band could adapt to the growing club scene easily.

The release came with a bonus poster that is equally hard to find. Also with a poster was the initial pressing of the album, Shabooh Sloobah. The album came with an inner sleeve showing the entire band naked, except for towels in strategic places, one one side (!) and the full lyrics on the other side. Most copies had a sticker on the front cover informing the public of the poster and the inclusion of the singles. The album itself was the best thing that the band had done to date. Starting with the punchy The One Thing and closing with the equally anthemic Don't Change, this album was always going to be hard to surpass.

(This page is still to be completed)