INXS is the biggest band in the land at the moment with thanks to their questionable TV movie ‘Never Tear Us Apart’.
The movie had numerous inaccurate time references and came across as a poor attempt to rewrite history. A 1983 comment about taking over America because bands like the Eagles were “fat and lazy” lacked credibility as the Eagles had broken up three years earlier. Speculation about Michael Hutchence’s private moments were also hearsay and completely disrespectful. Hutchence’s private life and role-call of girlfriends was a centrepiece to the movie but there was no mention of Kirk’ s marriage to Deni Hines or numerous partners of other band members.
The people behind INXS’ initial success were also ignored. INXS may not have happened had it not been for Australian singer songwriter Richard Clapton who mentored the band and produced their first two albums. He is wiped from history in this movie. Likewise, the people who were crucial to helping INXS continue after Michael’s death, Jon Stevens, JD Fortune, Ciaran Gribbin, were also ignored. If INXS decided to continue past the death of Hutchence, why did the movie make out the band ended with the death of Michael.
If Michael was such an essential and irreplaceable part of INXS, then why did they continue? Worse still, if Michael was so unique, why did they allow his replacement to come from a reality TV show? Was this a thinly disguised and unauthorised Michael Hutchence biopic? That is how INXS Never Tear Us Apart comes across.
The true story about the bad internal decisions after 1997 is not addressed at all in the movie.
The saving grace of ‘INXS Never Tear Us Apart’ is that it managed to remind Australia what a great band they were musically and that has translated into sales.
INXS ‘The Very Best’ has topped the ARIA chart for a second week with past week sales of 24,610 copies. It sold 16,923 copies last week.
‘Kick’ bounced back into the Top 10 a week ago with 2503 sales and sold a further 3467 this week, rising from no. 7 to no. 2 and equalling its 1987 peak position. ‘Kick’ was INXS’ biggest selling album selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
INXS Albums on the ARIA chart for February 22, 2014
1. The Very Best
2. Kick
17. Live At Wembley Stadium 1991
25. The Swing
33. Shabooh Shoobah
36. Listen Like Thieves
98. X
INXS Singles on the ARIA chart for February 22, 2014
11. Never Tear Us Apart
25. Need You Tonight
53. By My Side
54. New Sensation
57. Original Sin
59. Don’t Change
67. Beautiful Girl
81. Mystify
95. What You Need
106. Kick
108. Devil Inside
113. Burn For You
‘INXS: Never Tear Us Apart’ had an audience in Australia of 2.2 million in part one and 1.7 million for part two. It won its time slot in both weeks.
INXS Never Tear Us Apart trailer
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