Australia’s original rockstar: A look back at Michael Hutchence’s incredible life in pictures on what would have been his 64th birthday

Born in Sydney in 1960, Michael Hutchence met his bandmates — Garry Beers, Kirk Pengilly, and brothers Andrew, Jon and Tim Farriss — at high school in the late seventies. They formed the band The Farriss Brothers, which would ultimately become INXS.

Lead singer Michael Hutchence became the main spokesperson for the band, and gained a reputation as a confident, sexy frontman, although his close friends and family always maintained he was much more introverted than his on-stage persona.

INXS hit the world music stage in 1988 with their breakthrough album Kick, which sold nine million copies and gave them the hit singles Never Tear Us Apart, Need You Tonight and New Sensation.

Following several successful albums, Michael starred in the Australian movie Dogs in Space directed by INXS music video collaborator, Richard Lowenstein.

Richard Lowenstein later described Michael as “the kid that played air guitar in front of the mirror… the sex machine rock star all the girls loved… a guy that encompassed the feminine and the masculine sides of sexuality in one cat-like package.”

In 1989 Michael started a relationship with Aussie pop princess Kylie Minogue — then a fresh faced 21-year-old singer who’d only recently left the set of Neighbours to launch her music career.

Michael joked at the time that his favourite hobby was “corrupting Kylie” and he wrote the INXS song Suicide Blonde in reference to her.

In the early ’90s Michael dated supermodel Helena Christensen. The high-profile couple attracted a lot of media attention and were often photographed out and about. They lived together for a number of years before going their separate ways.

In 1993, Michael was involved in a fight with a Danish taxi driver. A blow to the head caused him to lose his sense of smell and taste.

Michael met Paula Yates in 1995 when she interviewed him on British TV show The Big Breakfast.

Paula soon split from her husband Bob Geldof, sparking a bitter custody battle over the couple’s three children Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom and Pixie.

Paula was married The Boomtown Rats star Bob Geldof, however their marriage soon crumbled after she fell for Michael.

“It shouldn’t have been a surprise to Bob [that Paula left him], that’s all I can say. I think she’s [Paula’s] a little misunderstood. But boy, she likes me! I love her,” Michael reflected to Triple J of Paula’s alleged affair with him.

In 1996, Paula gave birth to Michael’s only child, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence.

“She’s amazing. She’s never cried. I mean, people go ‘Oh my God how can you deal with it?’ But it’s easy. We wake her up in the morning. She’s just the one we ordered,” the Aussie rock star gushed of his only daughter.

Here, the family of three pose with Triple J‘s host Angela.

The doco-series shared stunning unseen images of Michael and his little girl.

A striking resemblance: Tiger was only 16 months old when Michael passed away from a suspected suicide in November 1997.

On what would have been Michael’s 60th birthday in 2020, his brother Rhett shared a special tribute: “The world is not a better place since your passing. Greed and war have all but destroyed our planet.”

“Yet thru the gloom and lies sparks growth. I feel you’re loved more now than ever. The way your music passes the test of time highlights the talent you continue to shine. What a wonderful gift to the world.”

On 22 November 1997, Michael was found dead in his room at the Ritz-Carlton in Sydney. He was 37 years old.

The New South Wales Coroner initially determined that his death was a suicide, but has since conceded that Michael may have died from autoerotic asphyxiation (self-strangulation during a sex act).

At his funeral, Michael’s coffin was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral by his younger brother Rhett and the remaining members of INXS.

Paula Yates (pictured here with their daughter Tigerlily at Michael’s funeral) died of a heroin overdose just three years later in September 2000.

Never Tear Us Apart was played in the background. The song is now regarded by many fans as his anthem.