Iconic Aussie band INXS reunite and tease new tour

A legendary Aussie rock band, whose legacy was plagued by the death of a bandmate, has reunited for the first time in years for a new project.

Legendary Australian rockers INXS reunited for the first time six years this week.

Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss and Jon Farriss met at Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel to mark the release of their new book.

The last time the whole band was together was their 40th anniversary celebration in 2017.

During their discussion in Sydney, Farriss spoke fondly of their late bandmate, Michael Hutchence, who was their frontman until his death in 1997.

The original INXS line up consisted of Kirk Pengilly, Jon Farriss, Michael Hutchence, Tim Farriss, Garry Gary Beers and Andrew Farriss. Picture from Getty.

He said: “As people losing someone as talented, dynamic a frontman as Michael, it became really in the forefront of our minds that, okay, we’ve created this legacy and we own it. And so we’ll decide when we want to play or not…

“That’s the important point, to not have it dictated to what we can and can’t do when we feel like it. What is appealing to me is who that singer could possibly be.”

Farriss continued: “There must be someone that we haven’t even thought of or discovered or found it. That could be an amazing thing to happen.”

The new book, Calling All Nations, which is out now, is described as a “love letter” with a collection of stories and pictures from the band and their fans.

In 2005, the band appeared on the CBS reality competition show, Rock Star: INXS, to find a new lead singer.

Kirk Pengilly and Tim Farriss are among the current serving members of the legendary Aussie band. Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images.

J.D. Fortune won the contest and served as frontman from 2005 until the band called time on touring in 2012 when they performed their final show in Perth, where they had first formed.

In a recent interview with Billboard, the band opened up about the possibility of touring again and hinted it wasn’t totally off the table.

“To be fair to us is that as people losing someone as talented, dynamic a frontman as Michael, it became really in the forefront of our minds that, okay, we’ve created this legacy and we own it,” said Andrew Farriss. “And so we’ll decide when we want to play or not. That’s the important point, to not have it dictated to what we can and can’t do when we feel like it.”

Michael Hutchence hit headlines around the world after he tragically passed away in 1997. Picture: Perini Michael.

The group, comprising Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss and Jon Farriss, was fronted by Michael Hutchence until his death is 1997.

INXS sold over 95 million albums worldwide, which makes them one of Australia’s highest selling music acts of all time.

In addition to the new book, the band are also planning to reissue their 1993 record Full Moon Dirty Hearts for its 30th anniversary with a new and exclusive immersive audio edition on November 2nd.