INXS
Australia, 1977–2012
Sydney band formed in 1977 as the Farriss Brothers - the three Farriss brothers, Kirk Pengilly, Garry Gary Beers and Michael Hutchence in front. Andrew Farriss wrote the music and Hutchence the words, and on Kick (1987) they got the mixture right: a dry funk guitar figure, a harmonica hook and 'Need You Tonight' into 'Mediate' as one piece. Hutchence was found dead in a Sydney hotel room in 1997; the band carried on with other singers until a last show in 2012.
MusicRoots documents 7 artists who influenced INXS and 0 artists INXS influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced INXS?
- Roxy Music — Roxy Music is the band INXS covered before they had songs of their own - 'Love Is the Drug' in the early Sydney pub sets - and Tim Farriss has described For Your Pleasure as the record that changed his life.
- The Rolling Stones — The early live shows were built on Rolling Stones swagger set against punk speed, and the bluesy looseness stayed in the band's playing to the end.
- The Doors — The Doors are the other half of that inheritance, and the obvious precedent for what Hutchence did at the front of the stage.
- Lou Reed — Lou Reed is named among the New York models for the band's flat, cool delivery.
- New York Dolls — The New York Dolls are the third of that group - the glam-punk end of what the band took from New York.
- David Bowie — Bowie is among the artists the band name, and the model for a singer who changes what he is between records.
- T. Rex — T. Rex is the glam single as a form, which is what 'Need You Tonight' is underneath the funk guitar.