INXS (pronounced "In Excess") are an Australian rock group. The band was formed on 16 August 1977 in Sydney, Australia. The band's worldwide peak of popularity came with 1987's Kick, an upbeat, confident album that yielded four Top-10 US singles and several international hits ("New Sensation", "Never Tear Us Apart", "Devil Inside", etc.), including the #1 "Need You Tonight". They toured heavily behind the album throughout 1987 and 1988.
INXS began under the name The Farriss Brothers but the band changed it just prior to the release of their self-titled début album in 1980, INXS, which featured "Just Keep Walking," their first Australian hit single. Its follow-up, 1981's Underneath the Colours (produced by Richard Clapton), became a hit-album in Australia.
In 1982, Shabooh Shoobah was released successfully worldwide. The single "The One Thing" brought them their first Top-30 hit in America, while "Don't Change" became a staple in the set list of college rock bands who played the frat circuit. The album itself entered the U.S. Top-50.
With the Nick Launay produced fourth album, The Swing in 1984, the band received more significant attention from around the world, as "Original Sin" became their first #1 single and an international hit. Indeed during all that year the song was #1 in Australia as well as in Argentina and France, #23 in Switzerland, #31 in the Netherlands and #58 in the U.S. where the single's explicitly political and anti-racism message may have contributed to low airplay. Yet, "Original Sin" (produced by Nile Rodgers) was largely ignored in the UK, where INXS didn't have any success in the charts until 1986 with the album Listen Like Thieves. In the same way, the band's charismatic singer Michael Hutchence gained attention with his MTV-ready looks. INXS, which had started out as a Funk act, gradually moved in a more straight-ahead rock-oriented direction through the first half of the 1980s.
By 1985's breakthrough album Listen Like Thieves the band had perfected a matured sound influenced by the Rolling Stones and Chic but true to the band's original roots in the Aussie pubs. Listen Like Thieves was loved by the critics. In the US the first single, "This Time" stalled at #81 in late 1985, but the band roared out of nowhere with the second, "What You Need", which in early 1986 became a Top-Five Billboard hit, bringing INXS their first breakout U.S. success.
CD cover to INXS's album KickThe band's worldwide peak of popularity came with 1987's Kick, an upbeat, confident album that yielded four Top-10 US singles and several international hits ("New Sensation", "Never Tear Us Apart", "Devil Inside", etc.), including the #1 "Need You Tonight". They toured heavily behind the album throughout 1987 and 1988.
In 1989 Hutchence made an album with Max Q, which received decent reviews, but at best attained a cult status. The rest of the band also took a break to work on side projects.
Kick is their best-selling album to date, selling more than 10 million copies in the US alone as of 2005. At the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards, the band took home five trophies for the "Need You Tonight/Mediate" video.
INXS's first album. It was released in Australia only until 1984. INXS recorded the album in between doing, on average, two gigs at the local pubs around Sydney each day (sometimes three). They recorded it live.
Underneath the Colours is Australian rock group INXS' second album. It was released in Australia only until 1984. It was with this album that Michael's song writing started to mature and the band started to find a unique sound. Included were political songs and their very first ballad.
The Swing is Australian rock band INXS's fourth studio album. The album is more or less an experimental album. It was released in 1984. "Original Sin" was recorded in New York City by Nile Rodgers and was released as a single in 1983. It also featured Daryl Hall on backing vocals. This album featured a harder sound than their previous three albums. It enjoyed long-term success on the Australian music charts, remaining in the Australian Top 50 selling albums for over 2 years. It remained relatively unknown in the United States, however, where it was their next album, Listen Like Thieves, that made them a worldwide name. As of 2006, the album is in Top 10 best-selling albums in Australia.
Listen Like Thieves is the fifth album by the Australian rock band INXS. It was released in 1985. Considered a breath through album for the band, it featured their first Top 5 single in the US, "What You Need." This album also marks their alliance with Chris Thomas, who would produce the band's most successful albums.
INXS (pronounced "In Excess") are an Australian rock group. The band was formed on 16 August 1977 in Sydney, Australia. The band's worldwide peak of popularity came with 1987's Kick, an upbeat, confident album that yielded four Top-10 US singles and several international hits ("New Sensation", "Never Tear Us Apart", "Devil Inside", etc.), including the #1 "Need You Tonight". They toured heavily behind the album throughout 1987 and 1988.
INXS began under the name The Farriss Brothers but the band changed it just prior to the release of their self-titled début album in 1980, INXS, which featured "Just Keep Walking," their first Australian hit single. Its follow-up, 1981's Underneath the Colours (produced by Richard Clapton), became a hit-album in Australia.
By 1985's breakthrough album Listen Like Thieves the band had perfected a matured sound influenced by the Rolling Stones and Chic but true to the band's original roots in the Aussie pubs. Listen Like Thieves was loved by the critics. In the US the first single, "This Time" stalled at #81 in late 1985, but the band roared out of nowhere with the second, "What You Need", which in early 1986 became a Top-Five Billboard hit, bringing INXS their first breakout U.S. success.
Kick is their best-selling album to date, selling more than 10 million copies in the US alone as of 2005. At the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards, the band took home five trophies for the "Need You Tonight/Mediate" video.
INXS's first album. It was released in Australia only until 1984. INXS recorded the album in between doing, on average, two gigs at the local pubs around Sydney each day (sometimes three). They recorded it live.
The Swing is Australian rock band INXS's fourth studio album. The album is more or less an experimental album. It was released in 1984. "Original Sin" was recorded in New York City by Nile Rodgers and was released as a single in 1983. It also featured Daryl Hall on backing vocals. This album featured a harder sound than their previous three albums. It enjoyed long-term success on the Australian music charts, remaining in the Australian Top 50 selling albums for over 2 years. It remained relatively unknown in the United States, however, where it was their next album, Listen Like Thieves, that made them a worldwide name. As of 2006, the album is in Top 10 best-selling albums in Australia.
Listen Like Thieves is the fifth album by the Australian rock band INXS. It was released in 1985. Considered a breath through album for the band, it featured their first Top 5 single in the US, "What You Need." This album also marks their alliance with Chris Thomas, who would produce the band's most successful albums.
