INXS

INXS
INXS performing in 2007
Background information
Origin	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Rock, new wave, alternative rock, post-punk, dance-rock
Years active	1980–2012
Labels	Atlantic, Epic, 101 Distribution, Mercury, DeLuxe, WEA, Eastwest, Polydor, Atco, Petrol Electric, Truism
Associated acts	AC/DC, Jimmy Barnes, Max Q, Midnight Oil
Website	www.inxs.com

INXS (/ˈɪnɛksˈɛs/ IN-ekss-ESS) is an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. They began playing covers in Western Australian pubs and clubs, occasionally playing some of their original music. Mainstays were main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarists Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly, bassist Garry Gary Beers and main lyricist and vocalist Michael Hutchence. For twenty years, INXS was fronted by Hutchence, whose "sultry good looks" and magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the band. Initially known for their new wave/pop style, the band later developed a harder pub rock style that included funk and dance elements.

In 1980, INXS first charted in their native Australia with their debut self-titled album, but later garnered moderate success in other countries with Shabooh Shoobah and a single, "The One Thing". Though The Swing brought more success from around the world, its single "Original Sin" was even greater commercially, becoming their first number-one single. They would later achieve international success with a series of hit recordings through later in the 1980s and the 1990s, including the albums Listen Like Thieves, Kick, and X, and the singles "What You Need", "Need You Tonight", "Devil Inside", "Never Tear Us Apart", and "Suicide Blonde".