Never Tear Us Apart - Wikipedia Never Tear Us Apart This article is about the INXS song. For the TV miniseries, see INXS : Never Tear Us Apart. `` Never Tear Us Apart '' Single by INXS from the album Kick B - side `` Different World '' ( 7 '' mix ) `` Guns in the Sky '' ( Kick Ass Remix ) Released 8 August 1988 Format 7 '' 12 '' cassette single Recorded Genre Pop rock Length 3 : 02 ( Single Version ) 3 : 43 ( Video Version ) Label Atlantic Songwriter ( s ) Andrew Farriss Michael Hutchence Producer ( s ) Chris Thomas INXS singles chronology `` New Sensation '' ( 1988 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 1988 ) `` Kick '' ( 1988 ) `` New Sensation '' ( 1988 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 1988 ) `` Kick '' ( 1988 ) Music video `` Never Tear Us Apart '' on YouTube `` Never Tear Us Apart '' is a single released by Australian rock group INXS in August 1988. It was included on the band 's sixth studio album, Kick. The music was written by keyboardist Andrew Farriss, who recorded a blues - style demo ; vocalist Michael Hutchence wrote the lyrics. `` Never Tear Us Apart '' is a sensuous ballad, written in the tempo of a modern Viennese waltz, layered with synthesizers and containing dramatic pauses before the instrumental breaks. Kirk Pengilly lends a cathartic saxophone solo near the end. According to the liner notes of Shine Like It Does : The Anthology ( 1979 -- 1997 ), the song was composed on piano as a bluesy number in the style of Fats Domino. Producer Chris Thomas suggested a synth - based arrangement instead. The video for the song, featuring an extended intro, was filmed in various locations in Prague along with `` Guns in the Sky '' and `` New Sensation '', all directed by Richard Lowenstein. The single reached # 24 in the UK, and stayed on the charts for seven weeks. In the U.S., it reached # 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. After his death in 1997, Michael Hutchence 's coffin was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral by the remaining members of INXS and younger brother Rhett as `` Never Tear Us Apart '' was played in the background. In February 2014, after the Channel 7 screening of INXS : Never Tear Us Apart mini-series, `` Never Tear Us Apart '' charted again in Australia via download sales. It peaked at # 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart, surpassing its original peak position of # 14 back in 1988. Contents 1 Charts 2 Tom Jones feat. Natalie Imbruglia version 2.1 Track listing 3 Remix version : `` Precious Heart '' 3.1 Track listing 3.2 Official versions 3.3 Charts 4 Never Tear Us Apart ( 2010 re-recording with Ben Harper and Mylène Farmer ) 5 Paloma Faith version 5.1 Reception 5.2 Track listing 5.3 Charts 5.4 Certifications 5.5 Release history 6 References 7 External links Charts Chart ( 1988 -- 89 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 14 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 8 Canadian RPM 30 Retail Singles 9 Canadian RPM Top Singles 9 France ( SNEP ) 48 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 66 Ireland ( IRMA ) 21 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 7 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 9 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 21 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 24 US Billboard Hot 100 7 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) 5 US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) 28 Chart ( 2014 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 11 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 27 Tom Jones feat. Natalie Imbruglia version `` Never Tear Us Apart '' Single by Tom Jones feat. Natalie Imbruglia from the album Reload Released 27 September 1999 Format CD single Recorded 1998 Genre Rock Length 3 : 08 Label Gut V2 Songwriter ( s ) Andrew Farriss Michael Hutchence Producer ( s ) Johnny Douglas Tom Jones singles chronology `` Burning Down the House '' ( 1999 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 1999 ) `` Baby, It 's Cold Outside '' ( 1999 ) `` Burning Down the House '' ( 1999 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 1999 ) `` Baby, It 's Cold Outside '' ( 1999 ) The song was covered by Tom Jones for his 1999 album Reload featuring the Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia. The cover version also includes a music video. Track listing CD single `` Never Tear Us Apart '' -- 3 : 08 `` Sunny Afternoon '' -- 3 : 26 `` Looking Out My Window '' -- 3 : 19 `` Sometimes We Cry '' -- 5 : 00 Remix version : `` Precious Heart '' `` Precious Heart '' Single by Tall Paul vs. INXS from the album INXS2 : The Remixes Released 2001 Format CD single Recorded 2001 Genre House Label Mercury Songwriter ( s ) Paul Newman Andrew Farriss Michael Hutchence -- `` Precious Heart '' ( 2001 ) INXS singles chronology `` Searching '' ( 1997 ) Searching 1997 `` Precious Heart '' ( 2001 ) Precious Heart2001 `` I 'm So Crazy '' ( 2001 ) I 'm So Crazy 2001 In 2001, a remix called `` Precious Heart '' was released as a single, and credited as Tall Paul vs. INXS. Track listing Australian CD single `` Precious Heart '' ( Radio Edit ) -- 3 : 36 `` Precious Heart '' ( Original Mix ) -- 7 : 40 `` Precious Heart '' ( Riva Mix ) -- 7 : 40 `` Precious Heart '' ( Marc O'Toole Remix ) -- 8 : 41 `` Precious Heart '' ( Lush Mix ) -- 8 : 42 UK CD single `` Precious Heart '' ( Radio Edit ) -- 3 : 36 `` Precious Heart '' ( Original Mix ) -- 7 : 40 `` Precious Heart '' ( Lush Mix ) -- 8 : 42 Official versions `` Precious Heart '' ( Original Mix ) -- 7 : 40 `` Precious Heart '' ( Radio Edit ) -- 3 : 36 `` Precious Heart '' ( Lush Mix ) -- 8 : 42 `` Precious Heart '' ( Marc O'Toole Remix ) -- 8 : 41 `` Precious Heart '' ( Riva Mix ) -- 7 : 40 Charts Chart ( 2001 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 27 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 14 Never Tear Us Apart ( 2010 re-recording with Ben Harper and Mylène Farmer ) This article needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. ( June 2011 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' Single by INXS featuring Ben Harper Released 12 August 2010 Format iTunes single Recorded Genre Rock Length 4 : 00 Label Petrol Electric Songwriter ( s ) Andrew Farriss Michael Hutchence Mylène Farmer ( 2010 Version ) INXS singles chronology `` Dream on Black Girl ( Original Sin ) '' ( 2006 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 2010 ) `` Mediate '' ( 2011 ) `` Dream on Black Girl ( Original Sin ) '' ( 2006 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 2010 ) `` Mediate '' ( 2011 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' was re-recorded by INXS with Ben Harper for their twelfth studio album, Original Sin. The song has been released on iTunes and as a promotional single to radio stations prior to the release of the new album. Ben Harper has been known to perform `` Never Tear Us Apart '' at his concerts since 2009, especially when in Australia. He revealed in an interview on Australia 's Nova FM on 2 August 2010, `` At this point, I 've lived that song. I 've lived enough years and gone through enough in my life to have earned the right to sing that song. '' On Sydney 's Triple M, he stated `` covering ' Never Tear Us Apart ' is like covering ' Dock of the Bay '. I 'm not here to make grandiose over-statements - it 's just a fuckin ' fact. That 's one of the greatest soul songs ever written. '' On 1 August 2010, the song was made available on INXS.com ( a playable version only, not available for download ). The audio version was accompanied by a YouTube video of Ben Harper performing the song with Jon Farriss at the `` Splendour in the Grass '' festival at Woodford, Queensland, Australia, filmed on 30 July 2010. The song was released on iTunes on 12 August 2010. INXS re-recorded `` Never Tear Us Apart '' with Ben Harper and French singer Mylène Farmer who wrote new French lyrics for this new version. The song was to be the first single from the 2010 INXS album in November in France and Belgium. Paloma Faith version `` Never Tear Us Apart '' Single by Paloma Faith from the album Fall to Grace Released 23 September 2012 Format Digital download Recorded 2012 Genre Soul soft rock Length 3 : 05 Label RCA Records Songwriter ( s ) Andrew Farriss Michael Hutchence Paloma Faith singles chronology `` 30 Minute Love Affair '' ( 2012 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 2012 ) `` Just Be '' ( 2012 ) `` 30 Minute Love Affair '' ( 2012 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( 2012 ) `` Just Be '' ( 2012 ) `` Never Tear Us Apart '' was recorded by British singer Paloma Faith for a television advertisement campaign for John Lewis. The advert began airing in the UK from 15 September 2012. Faith later confirmed that the song would be released as her next single on 23 September 2012. She commented `` I have always loved this song and I feel honoured to sing it. '' `` Never Tear Us Apart '' was released as the first single from the reissued version of Faith 's second studio album Fall to Grace and serves as the third single overall. The artwork for the song shows the singer saluting, while wearing a metallic gold dress, with `` a honeycomb - like bottom half ''. Faith 's version of the song can be heard on the opening scene of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit fifteenth season episode `` Beast 's Obsession. '' Reception Digital Spy 's Lewis Corner gave Faith 's version of the song four out of five stars. He stated `` It 's a brave task to reinterpret a much - loved hit, but Faith 's soulful tones immediately thwart any doubts that she ca n't do the song justice. '' He added that while it was always going to be tough topping the original, Faith comes `` admirably close. '' Track listing Digital download `` Never Tear Us Apart '' -- 3 : 05 `` Never Tear Us Apart '' ( Orchestral Version ) -- 3 : 05 Charts Chart ( 2012 ) Peak position Ireland ( IRMA ) 42 Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) 18 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 16 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales United Kingdom ( BPI ) Silver 200,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Release history Country Release date Format United Kingdom 23 September 2012 Digital download References Jump up ^ Andrew Jett. `` 10 Best Pop Rock Songs ''. Mademan. Break Media. Retrieved 26 June 2013. Jump up ^ Google Maps - Never Tear Us Apart locations ^ Jump up to : `` Australian-charts.com -- INXS -- Never Tear Us Apart ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- INXS -- Never Tear Us Apart '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Never tear us apart in Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles - Volume 48, No. 26, October 15, 1988 ''. RPM. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 19 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- INXS -- Never Tear Us Apart '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- INXS -- Never Tear Us Apart ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Singles - Week ending 18th October 2012 ''. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- INXS '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- INXS -- Never Tear Us Apart '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. ^ Jump up to : `` Charts.nz -- INXS -- Never Tear Us Apart ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` INXS Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` INXS Chart History ( Mainstream Rock ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` INXS Chart History ( Alternative Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Tall Paul vs. INXS -- Precious Heart ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. ^ Jump up to : `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Cite error : Invalid < ref > tag ; name `` sc_UK_ '' defined multiple times with different content ( see the help page ). Jump up ^ `` John Lewis ad turns clock back ''. The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 16 September 2012. ^ Jump up to : Corner, Lewis ( 20 September 2012 ). `` Paloma Faith confirms new single ' Never Tear Us Apart ' ''. Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 20 September 2012. ^ Jump up to : Corner, Lewis ( 26 September 2012 ). `` Paloma Faith : ' Never Tear Us Apart ' - Single review ''. Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Jump up ^ `` Never Tear Us Apart - Single ''. iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2012. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 40, 2012 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Paloma Faith -- Never Tear Us Apart ''. British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Never Tear Us Apart in the `` Search BPI Awards '' field and then press Enter. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics INXS Garry Gary Beers Andrew Farriss Jon Farriss Tim Farriss Michael Hutchence Kirk Pengilly Jon Stevens J.D. Fortune Ciaran Gribbin Studio albums INXS Underneath the Colours Shabooh Shoobah The Swing Listen Like Thieves Kick X Welcome to Wherever You Are Full Moon, Dirty Hearts Elegantly Wasted Switch Original Sin EPs Dekadance Bang the Drum Compilations INXSIVE The Greatest Hits Shine Like It Does : The Anthology ( 1979 -- 1997 ) Definitive INXS / The Best of INXS The Years 1979 -- 1997 Stay Young 1979 -- 1982 INXS2 : The Remixes Original Sin -- The Collection Taste It : The Collection The Very Best Live albums Live Baby Live INXS : Live at Barker Hangar Live at Wembley Stadium 1991 Singles `` Simple Simon '' `` The Loved One '' `` Stay Young '' `` The One Thing '' `` Do n't Change '' `` Original Sin '' `` I Send a Message '' `` Burn for You '' `` What You Need '' `` This Time '' `` Kiss the Dirt ( Falling Down the Mountain ) '' `` Listen Like Thieves '' `` Good Times '' `` Need You Tonight '' `` Mediate '' `` Devil Inside '' `` New Sensation '' `` Never Tear Us Apart '' `` Mystify '' `` Suicide Blonde '' `` Disappear '' `` By My Side '' `` Bitter Tears '' `` The Stairs '' `` Shining Star '' `` Heaven Sent '' `` Baby Do n't Cry '' `` Not Enough Time '' `` Taste It '' `` Beautiful Girl '' `` The Gift '' `` Please ( You Got That... ) '' `` Time '' `` Freedom Deep '' `` The Strangest Party ( These Are the Times ) '' `` Elegantly Wasted '' `` Everything '' `` Do n't Lose Your Head '' `` Searching '' `` Precious Heart '' `` I 'm So Crazy '' `` Tight '' `` One of My Kind '' `` I Get Up '' `` Pretty Vegas '' `` Afterglow '' `` Devil 's Party '' `` Perfect Strangers '' `` God 's Top Ten '' `` Dream on Black Girl ( Original Sin ) '' Related articles Discography Dogs in Space INXS : Never Tear Us Apart Jimmy Barnes Make My Video Max Q Michael Hutchence ( album ) Rock Star : INXS The Dead Daisies Paloma Faith Discography Studio albums Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful ? Fall to Grace A Perfect Contradiction The Architect Singles `` Stone Cold Sober '' `` New York '' `` Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful ? '' `` Upside Down '' `` Smoke & Mirrors '' `` Picking Up the Pieces '' `` 30 Minute Love Affair '' `` Never Tear Us Apart '' `` Just Be '' `` Ca n't Rely on You '' `` Only Love Can Hurt Like This '' `` Trouble with My Baby '' `` Ready for the Good Life '' `` Crybaby '' `` Lullaby '' `` Make Your Own Kind of Music '' Featured singles `` Keep Moving '' `` Hard Times '' `` He Ai n't Heavy, He 's My Brother '' `` Changing '' Concert tours Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful Tour Paloma Faith Autumn Tour 2014 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Never_Tear_Us_Apart&oldid=865933394 '' Categories : 1988 songs 1988 singles 1999 singles 2001 singles 2010 singles 2012 singles ARIA Award - winning songs INXS songs Joe Cocker songs Paloma Faith songs Songs written by Andrew Farriss Songs written by Michael Hutchence Song recordings produced by Chris Thomas ( record producer ) Australian pop rock songs 1980s ballads Rock ballads Atlantic Records singles Mercury Records singles RCA Records singles V2 Records singles Port Adelaide Football Club Newcastle Jets FC Hidden categories : Pages with reference errors Pages with duplicate reference names Use dmy dates from August 2011 Use Australian English from August 2011 All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018 Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Singlechart usages for Billboardalternativesongs Singlechart called without artist Wikipedia articles in need of updating from June 2011 All Wikipedia articles in need of updating Singlechart usages for Irish Singlechart usages for Scotland Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Italiano Nederlands Română Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 27 October 2018, at 04 : 04 ( UTC ). 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Question: who played sax on never tear us apart
Answer: Kirk Pengilly