INXS Live in Atlanta

By Cyndi Ford

Andrew Farriss Keyboards, Guitar, Percussion & Vocals
Tim Farriss Guitar
Kirk Pengilly Guitar, Saxophone & Vocals
Gary Beers Bass
Jon Farriss Drums
JD Fortune Vocals

What does a band do when they lose their lead singer? They pick up the pieces and search for a replacement, after all the show must go on, right? That is exactly what INXS did, and to me they made a fabulous choice in JD Fortune. This was the final show that the band put on in their US tour for the Original Sin Tour. You would have never known that it was their last show, because the band was full of energy, and did not disappoint.

They opened the show up with a drum jam that was fantastic. They wore suits and looked like slick businessmen, or men in black. Hardly what one thinks of when they think of rock n roll, but they put on one great show and rocked it. They played all the fan favorites, and even surprised everyone with a Johnny Cash tune, that was spot on.
Penny and I took turns taking pictures, and had a blast as two girls on a mission to rock and record history. That is what this was to me, history. It was the next chapter in the book of rock, via INXS. They proved that not only can a band pick up when all looks gloomy and make a roaring success of a come back. I was told that the band would never be the same without Michael Hutchence, and they were right on one hand, but that does not mean that they are not just as good.

I was lucky enough to interview Jon Farriss, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did doing it.

When, where and how was INXS formed?

The Farriss brothers grew up together, we played since we were young. Our dad was a frustrated musician. We met in high school, Andrew met Michael, Jon was 10..... It was 1977 when the band really first formed, we were called the Farriss Brothers, in 1980 changed name to INXS. We were first and for most a live act. That is why we were always able to take charge of a stage and put on a great show.

If my memory serves me correctly back in the day there was a wave of bands deciding to start out doing all originals instead of doing the old road of playing covers, which route did you guys take?

We played covers, and originals...covers helps define who you are. Promoters wanted to have music that the people knew. It was used to get our foot in the door, soon we phased out covers, But we have written our own music since we were kids.

What was your first song on the radio, and where were you guys at when you first heard it?

It would have been Breakaway, 2Double J radio station played it. It was a local radio station, I didn’t have car so was probably at home.

You guys always looked fabulous onstage, who helped shape the image of the band?

We really just used our own style, it was not until later that we had stylist. It was not until we were doing videos and such did we have someone come in and say,’ hey you need to wear this, or that does not, work don’t do that.

I saw you guys in a intimate setting in the Atlanta area, obviously in the early days, when did you first start to play the big arenas?

84- 87 we played Wembley several times and once opened up for the Kinks.

How many times did you play Wembley, it looked like a sea of people how many were estimated to be in attendance?

Arena or Stadium? Stadium, 80 thousand, that place does not exist anymore. We were in Australia at the time when we played Live Aid, we were shown on the screen. We were the band representing Australia, and it was a big thing.

MTV is celebrating 30 years, you guys were part of the MTV generation, did you spend hours and tons of money making videos and did they influence your writing?

This was an important step in making it. MTV was a cultural revolution, it changed everything, brought in visual....created excitement. “One thing” was the first video that was played in America.

Losing the voice of a band is hard, how did the band muster up the energy to move forward, and who had the idea of getting a new lead singer the way that you did? On behalf of fans everywhere I want to thank you for continuing to let us enjoy your tunes.

It was indescribable, we were a family, a connection that is only a band could have. Everyone grieves, but life goes on; we are on the land of the living, and that is what helps who passed live on. Michael is living through the music and that is why we do it. I we didn’t that would be not living.

Being kinda close to you guys age, does JD bring a refreshing young energy to the band that brings back the original feel?

The humor the hi-jinx and carrying on that young kids do. the five guys remaining members are in a unique situation, no other band is in our position, embrace and enjoy working with other people...JD brings something new to it, celebrating that we can do it.



Going back to the venues, you are playing smaller venues again, which I thoroughly enjoy, do you prefer these to say Wembley, for feeling the closeness of the fans?

Good equipment and a good road crew, it gets intense...you get close enough that you can feel the energy from the other members, and things just progress from there.

Cyndi