Iconic Australian rockers INXS have paid a heartfelt tribute to Michael Hutchence on the 28th anniversary of his death.
The legendary frontman was found dead at age 37 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay on 22 November 1997.
Almost three decades after the tragedy, the band took to social media on Saturday to remember the legendary singer.
Posting a series of images to the INXS Instagram, the band shared a short but loving tribute to Michael.
‘Remembering our brother, Michael, today. We love and miss you,’ the post read.
It was met with an outpouring of reminiscence and condolences from friends and fans – a tacit acknowledgement of the effect Michael had on the lives of many.
Iconic Australian rockers INXS have paid a heartfelt tribute to Michael Hutchence on the 28th anniversary of his death
‘Michael’s spirit, artistry, and gentle soul continue to inspire so many of us around the world,’ one fan wrote.
‘His voice, his words, and the way he moved through this life still echo deeply in our hearts.’
A second offered a sincere: ‘He was truly one of a kind, though the silence he left is deep, the sound of his unique voice and the emotion of his music are treasures that live on in our hearts.’
A third added a solemn: ‘I still recall that day as if it were yesterday… the pain remains.’
Keyboardist and principal INXS composer Andrew Farriss also took to Facebook on Saturday to share a personal tribute to his former bandmate.
He shared a black and white photo that showed the two huddling close with Michael offering the camera an enigmatic smile.
‘Thinking of Michael today,’ Andrew wrote.
‘Time has a way of moving forward, but some memories stay close no matter how many years pass.
Posting a series of images to the INXS Instagram, the band shared a short but loving tribute to Michael
‘Remembering our brother, Michael, today. We love and miss you,’ the post read
He continued: ‘Grateful for the music we made together, the miles we travelled, and the moments that shaped us both. Always remembered.’
Andrew’s post was also met with a deluge of comments from fans, many admitting to still feeling grief over Michael’s passing.
‘I was there from 1979. I knew then the band & the singer would dominate the world. I went to every gig,’ one fan remembered.
‘The passing of MH was as bad as anything that’s ever happened in my life. A tragedy no one can recover from. Comfort is found in his & the band’s musical legacy.’
At the time of Michael’s death, INXS were in the middle of a world tour, and were due to complete the final leg in Australia throughout November and December of that year.
INXS were one of the first Australian bands to experience global superstardom with the band selling 15 million albums in the United States alone.
Speaking about Michael’s passing on the 20th anniversary of his death on Today Extra, band members Kirk Pengilly, and brothers Jon and Tim Farriss said they still struggle with his passing.
Jon revealed that he still experiences ‘what if’ moments when it came to the late singer.
Keyboardist and principal INXS composer Andrew Farris also took to Facebook on Saturday to share a personal tribute to his former bandmate.
‘Thinking of Michael today,’ Andrew wrote. ‘Time has a way of moving forward, but some memories stay close no matter how many years pass. ‘Grateful for the music we made together, the miles we travelled, and the moments that shaped us both. Always remembered’
‘The what ifs are almost involuntary,’ he said. ‘When you’re sleeping and you’d wake up going: ‘I was just with Michael and we were just about to go onstage.”
‘We did it for so long with him, it’s still hard to accept that he’s not here.’
He continued: ‘In a way he is still with us, you just can’t see him, and I feel 100 percent he’s with us and, when we’re all together, you can really feel it.’
Kirk was quick to add it was important to remember Michael for the fun, free-spirit that he was.
‘It is 20 years now and I think for me certainly I’m OK with it and what I remember are the great times we had, Michael and us,’ he said.
‘He was such a great person such a great man, a great performer but also a great friend, and lots of fun.’
The band had been together for 35 years when drummer Jon Farriss made the announcement that INXS would no longer be touring together in November 2012.
Following their formation in 1977, they stormed the charts with songs including Need You Tonight, Good Times, New Sensation and Kick.
The legendary frontman was found dead at age 37 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney ‘s Double Bay on 22 November 1997
At the time of Michael’s death, INXS were in the middle of a world tour, and were due to complete the final leg in Australia throughout November and December of that year. Michael is pictured with guitarist Tim Farriss
They are one of Australia’s highest-selling bands of all time, with over 50 million albums sold worldwide.
The band’s legacy is still evident in 2025. In May, INXS shot back into the charts more than a decade after they broke up.
The group stormed the UK charts thanks to the 40th Anniversary re-release of their breakthrough, fifth studio album Listen Like Thieves.
The album boasted a number of successful singles, including the title track, as well as Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain), This Time, and What You Need – which peaked at No.2 in Australia and No.5 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
The band’s iconic 1987 single Never Tear Us Apart also nabbed the number one slot in Triple J’s recent Hottest 100 of Australian Songs poll.
