INXS

**INXS** (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band. They formed in 1977 in Sydney. Originally called **The Farriss Brothers**, founding members were main composer and keyboardist Andrew, guitarist Tim, and drummer Jon Farriss. They were all brothers. In 1978, three more people joined the band; lead singer Michael Hutchence, bassist Garry Gary Beers, and guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. They emerged from the Australian pub rock scene with a progressive rock, and later, ska sound. The band then developed a harder new wave style with funk and dance elements.

Hutchence was the lead singer of INXS until his suicide. Jon Stevens was his temporary replacement for about five years. After he left, the other five members ran a television show called "Rock Star INXS" to find a permanent replacement for Michael Hutchence. Canadian singer-songwriter J.D, Fortune won the show and became their new singer. INXS released two albums before he left in 2011. He was replaced by Ciaran Gribbin. The band toured with him until they broke up in 2012. 

In 1984, INXS had their first number one hit in Australia with "Original Sin". They had international success in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of their hit albums are *Listen Like Thieves*, *Kick*, and *X.* Some of their hit single are  "What You Need", "Need You Tonight" (the band's only US number one single in the US), "Devil Inside", "Never Tear Us Apart" and "Suicide Blonde."

## History 
### Early years (1977–1979) 
INXS's origins go back to the band Doctor Dolphin. Davidson High School students Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence were two members. Kent Kerny and Neil Sanders were two others. Garry Beers and Geoff Kennely were the final two. They attended a nearby high school, Forest High School. The two bands combined to form The Farriss Brothers. The younger brother, Jon Farriss, replaced Kerny, Sanders and Kennely. It consisted of Garry Beers on bass, Andrew Farriss on keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar, Michael Hutchence on lead vocals and Kirk Pengilly on guitar and saxophone. The band debuted on 16 August 1977. This was at Whale Beach, 40&nbsp;km (25&nbsp;mi) north of Sydney. The single had its debut TV performance on ''Simon Townsend's Wonder World*. art pop, post-punk, Their self-titled debut album is more ska influenced. *Underneath the Colors* retains some, but leans more towards punk funk. INXS began to incorporate funk and soul on *Shabooh Shabooh*. Marcy Donelson of AllMusic said it was "full of dance-rock greatness." 

INXS then developed a harder alternative rock, arena rock, dance-rock, funk rock and pop rock sound. *Listen Like Thieves* and *Kick'' have also been described as hard rock. funk, pop, blues, and soul. The band's overall sound, throughout its shifts in style, has been characterized as new wave.

When asked to describe their own music, the members used the terms "white boy dance music," "big, basic dirty noise," and "intoxicating little songs." Michael Hutchence, specifically, told the Sun-Herald that he wanted the band to have "very distinct patches of bright and dark." He continued, "By that, I mean we want to include songs that lyrically cover subjects ranging from the heaviest things we’ve ever done to light-hearted experiences." Jon O'Brien of *Classic Pop* summarized their musical style as a "punchy blend of new wave, funk and dance-rock." He added that it was "tailor-made for stadiums."

### Influences 
INXS is most often compared to the Rolling Stones. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described their sound as a "slick, professional fusion of disco and the Stones." The band was also inspired by Motown, specifically Marvin Gaye. Tim Fariss and Kirk Pengilly were previously in the progressive rock band, Guinness. Their influences were Yes, Pink Floyd, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

INXS's name was chosen by Gary Morris. He was the manager of fellow Australian rock band Midnight Oil. Their name is a combination of IXL, a brand of jam, and XTC, an English new wave band. Morris wanted the band to market themselves as "inaccessible" instead of "in excess."

## Band members
**Founding members**
* Tim Farriss – lead and rhythm guitar 
* Kirk Pengilly – rhythm and lead guitar, saxophones, backing and lead vocals 
* Garry Gary Beers – bass, backing vocals 
* Andrew Farriss – keyboards, rhythm guitar, harmonica, percussion, backing and lead vocals 
* Jon Farriss – drums, percussion, backing vocals 
* Michael Hutchence – lead and backing vocals 
**Other members**
* Jon Stevens – lead vocals 
* J.D. Fortune – lead vocals 
* Ciaran Gribbin – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar 
**Touring members**
* Jenny Morris – backing vocals 
* Suze DeMarchi – lead vocals 

### Timeline
## Discography
* *INXS* (1980)
* *Underneath the Colours* (1981)
* *Shabooh Shoobah* (1982)
* *The Swing* (1984)
* *Listen Like Thieves* (1985)
* *Kick* (1987)
* *X* (1990)
* *Welcome to Wherever You Are* (1992)
* *Full Moon, Dirty Hearts* (1993)
* *Elegantly Wasted* (1997)
* *Switch* (2005)
* *Original Sin* (2010)

## References