Michael Hutchence family feuding over proposed statue in Richmond

The siblings of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence are feuding over the most unlikely of tributes to the star.

Michael Hutchence would have “rolled in both his graves” at plans for a bronze statue of the INXS frontman in Richmond, says brother Rhett.

Rhett Hutchence told Page 13 plans for a bronze statue by Yarra Council were not in line with the rock star’s character.

He said a statue near the Corner Hotel is not for Michael, instead dubbing it “a statue for Tina.”

The rifts between the Hutchence family following the rock star’s death are well known.

Rhett said Michael had two graves after his ashes were divided among the family.

“He has a gravesite in LA, which was put up by Mum and our half sister Tina, and my father put up a beautiful memorial in Sydney.

“Nobody else in the world has two gravesites but Michael would be rolling in both at the bronze statue idea.

INXS Singer Michael Hutchence Picture: Paul Bergen

“To be honest if you were to do a statue of Michael you would want it to be more artistic.”

Rhett lives in Bali with his Brazilian partner Vera and runs two art shops called Skull, which specialise in “anything groovy, funky and skull related”.

“I was a bit surprised to look at the Yarra Council web page, which has plastered all over it that the statue is supported by the Hutchence family because I have my own views on the matter,” Hutchence said yesterday.

“Michael shied away from these sorts of public displays.

“Being put up on the pedestal, he didn’t like that, that’s why he mixed with all of us normal people.”

Following a council meeting on Tuesday night, Yarra City Council said it would consult residents and businesses after “the offer” of a $145,000 bronze statue honouring Hutchence by the late INXS singer’s family.

Rhett Hutchence. Picture: Annika Enderborg

Tina Hutchence. Picture: Toby Zerna

Television presenter Jane Gazzo is championing the campaign on behalf of the INXS star’s sister, Tina, who lives in the US.

They first approached the council last year, proposing to raise funds to create and install the bronze statue in Richmond near a statue of music legend Molly Meldrum.

Rhett Hutchence says his brother did not have the same affiliation to Melbourne as NSW.

“To be honest I don’t think the place is appropriate,” Hutchence said.

“If you were going to do a statue for Michael I would say you would do it in NSW. He was born and died in Sydney.”

Rhett said links to the City of Yarra, where Michael filmed cult movie Dogs in Space for 12 months in Berry St, Richmond, were tenuous at best.

“Of course he did Dogs in Space the movie there, but then he could also go have a statue in Lake Como where he filmed Frankenstein Unbound.

An overwhelmed Molly Meldrum with his statue near The Corner Hotel. Picture- Nicole Cleary

“They say Melbourne is the musical arts capital of Australia and I can understand that. Michael did play some gigs there, at The Palace and the Myer Music Bowl, but he never played at the Corner Hotel.

“I still think it is just not the right place, it is a drop off point to the MCG. I have a few queries about it.”

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Hutchence said a skeleton-like statue would be more fitting.

“He sang of stripping away skin enough times. He always believed that even though he was some famous pop star he didn’t want to be on a pedestal and he wanted to show people anybody could be up there holding that microphone.

“If you want to do a statue of Michael and what he was about I think you can do better than some bronze. A skeleton would emphasise how we are all the same underneath, and it can be anyone on the pedestal.

“This is a statue for Tina.”

Hutchence will go to Sydney this month for the premiere of Dogs In Space.

Director Richard Lowenstein’s intimate documentary about the lead singer, Mystify, will premiere in Sydney on June 7.