INXS are back. Last night, the first part of the two part telemovie INXS Never Tear Us Apart aired on Channel 7, with many Australians tuning in to the much-awaited spectacle. Two INXS albums currently sit in the iTunes Top 10, and the band have more exciting projects in the works. Chris Murphy, the man who took the small Australian band to international stardom is back on the case, reviving the band’s image with gusto.
The first part of the telemovie followed the bands early years, from unknowns dealing with parents and facing audience indifference, to touring, hearing their music on the radio and ultimately gaining international success.
Luke Arnold plays the late Michael Hutchence in the telemovie, with Samantha Jade cast as Kylie Minogue. Luke Arnold has gained much praise for his performance, making headlines when he drew tears from INXS guitarist Tim Farriss during an early table reading. Network production boss Brad Lyons says Farriss broke down as Arnold played out a scene where the singer lamented not being around when the Farriss brothers’ mother had died.
It is the band members, and 17-year-old Tiger Lily Hutchence who will pocket the profits from the telemovie’s success. INXS members were shocked when Michael Hutchence’s $20 million estate was mismanaged and the fortune disappeared before Tiger Lily was set to inherit it at 25. They are keen to restore both the musician’s reputation and financial legacy.
Chris Murphy has revealed that Tiger was the motivation for redeeming Michael Hutchence’s image, which has been overshadowed by his suicide. ‘Both Tim and I made a lot of decisions about the (script) on behalf of Michael,’ said Murphy. ‘Forget the ratings, forget the sales, forget everything – this was about restoring Michael’s dignity and remembering there’s a teenage girl at the end of all of this.’
Murphy signed the band to a new music deal with Universal last year (estimated to be worth $6 million). Now Murphy is set to fly to New York for discussions ober a Broadway musical which would earn INXS upwards of $50 million. INXS guitarist Tim Farris, and manager Chris Murphy are flying to London later this month to sell the telemovie to international buyers.