# INXS

> Australian rock band

**Wikidata**: [Q489801](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q489801)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INXS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/inxs

## Summary
INXS is an Australian rock band formed in 1977 and active until its dissolution in 2012. The group blended genres including alternative rock, new wave, funk rock, and dance-rock, achieving global success through hits and awards. Key members included lead singer Michael Hutchence, along with Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, and Kirk Pengilly.

## Key Facts
- Inception: 1977
- Dissolution: 2012
- Work period: 1977–2012
- Genre: Rock, with subgenres alternative rock (inception 1978), new wave (inception 1976), funk rock (inception 1970), dance-rock (inception 1983)
- Country: Australia (inception 1901, capital Canberra)
- Origin: Sydney, capital of New South Wales (founded 1788-01-26, Australia Day)
- Type: Musical group
- Website: https://www.inxs.com
- Sitelink count: 49
- Wikipedia title: INXS
- Wikidata description: Australian rock band
- Record labels: Atco Records (American, inception 1955, headquarters New York City), Atlantic Records (American, inception 1947, headquarters New York City, parent Warner Music Group), Epic Records (American, inception 1953, headquarters Los Angeles, owned by Sony Music), Mercury Records (American, inception 1945, headquarters New York City, parent Universal Music Group), East West Records (American, inception 1955), Polydor (German-British, inception 1913, headquarters London, parent Universal Music Group)
- Core members: Tim Farriss (Australian musician), Andrew Farriss (Australian musician), Garry Gary Beers (Australian musician), Jon Farriss (Australian drummer), Kirk Pengilly (Australian rock musician, saxophonist, guitarist), Michael Hutchence (Australian singer, 1960–1997)
- Later member: J.D. Fortune (Canadian singer and songwriter)
- Awards: CASBY Award (Canadian, inception 1981), APRA Music Awards (Australian, inception 2000), ASCAP Pop Music Awards, Mo Awards (Australian, inception 1975), MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice, MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year (inception 1984), MTV Video Music Award for Best Group, MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video, MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing (inception 1984), World Music Awards (inception 1989)

## FAQs
**What genres did INXS perform?**  
INXS fused rock with alternative rock starting in 1978, new wave from 1976, funk rock from 1970, and dance-rock from 1983 into a distinctive sound.

**Who were the main members of INXS?**  
The core lineup featured Australian musicians Tim Farriss, Andrew Farriss, Garry Gary Beers, Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, and lead singer Michael Hutchence until his death in 1997; J.D. Fortune later joined as singer.

**Which record labels released INXS music?**  
INXS worked with Atco Records (1955, New York), Atlantic Records (1947, New York, under Warner Music Group), Epic Records (1953, Los Angeles, Sony Music), Mercury Records (1945, New York, Universal Music Group), East West Records (1955), and Polydor (1913, London, Universal Music Group).

**What awards did INXS win?**  
The band received the CASBY Award (1981 inception), APRA Music Awards (2000), ASCAP Pop Music Awards, Mo Awards (1975), multiple MTV Video Music Awards including Viewer's Choice, Video of the Year (1984), Best Group, Breakthrough Video, Best Editing (1984), and World Music Awards (1989).

**Where did INXS originate?**  
INXS formed in Sydney, the capital of New South Wales founded on January 26, 1788 (Australia Day), Australia's largest city and a global financial center on the Australian continent.

## Why It Matters
INXS emerged from Sydney, Australia's most populous and culturally vibrant city, to become a cornerstone of 1980s and 1990s rock music, bridging new wave, funk, and dance elements into mainstream success. Their association with major labels like Atlantic under Warner Music Group—one of the "big three" controlling global music—and Polydor under Universal Music Group amplified their reach, enabling hits that dominated MTV and international charts. Michael Hutchence's charismatic presence drove their influence, earning MTV Video Music Awards that shaped video-driven music culture, while awards like APRA and World Music Awards affirmed their role in elevating Australian music globally. The band's evolution through lineup changes, including J.D. Fortune post-Hutchence, sustained their legacy until 2012, impacting rock's fusion with pop and dance. Their ties to Sydney's Creative Cities Network status as City of Film since 2010 underscore a broader Australian cultural export, connecting music to the nation's federation in 1901 and its modern global hub status.

## Notable For
- Forming in 1977 in Sydney, capital of New South Wales since 1788, as a musical group blending rock subgenres.
- Core Australian lineup of brothers Tim, Andrew, and Jon Farriss, plus Garry Gary Beers, Kirk Pengilly, and Michael Hutchence (1960–1997).
- Releases on powerhouse labels including Atlantic (pioneer in jazz/rock/pop), Atco, Epic (Sony-owned), Mercury (Universal subsidiary), East West, and Polydor.
- Winning MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year, Best Group, Breakthrough Video, Best Editing, Viewer's Choice, plus CASBY, APRA, ASCAP Pop, Mo, and World Music Awards.
- 49 Wikipedia sitelinks reflecting broad international recognition.
- Official website https://www.inxs.com for ongoing fan engagement.
- Transitioning lead singers from Hutchence to J.D. Fortune while maintaining activity until 2012 dissolution.
- Ties to Australia's music scene alongside entities like Maroon 5 and Smash Mouth in related pop-rock contexts.

## Body
### History and Timeline
INXS began in 1977 in Sydney, operating as a musical group until dissolution in 2012, with a work period spanning 1977–2012. The band originated in Sydney, founded January 26, 1788 as the first British settlement and capital of New South Wales since inception, now Australia's largest city with 5.45 million residents (2023 estimate). Sydney's humid subtropical climate and global city status provided the backdrop for their rise.

### Members and Key Personnel
The core members were all Australian: Tim Farriss (musician), Andrew Farriss (musician, multi-instrumentalist), Garry Gary Beers (musician, bassist), Jon Farriss (drummer), Kirk Pengilly (rock musician, saxophonist, guitarist), and Michael Hutchence (singer, 1960–1997). Hutchence, born January 22, 1960 in Sydney, fronted the band from 1977 until his death November 22, 1997 from heroin overdose; he attended University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, and Australian Theatre for Young People. J.D. Fortune, a Canadian singer-songwriter, later served as vocalist. Related figures include Maroon 5 (American pop rock band, 1994 inception) and Smash Mouth (American rock band, 1994 inception) in broader contexts.

### Genres and Musical Style
INXS performed rock, incorporating alternative rock (1978 inception), new wave (pop-oriented late 1970s–1980s), funk rock (funk-rock fusion from 1970), and dance-rock (post-disco from 1983). This mix defined their sound, evident in contributions to INXS albums like *Listen Like Thieves* (1985) and *X* (1987), with Hutchence's powerful vocals on tracks like "Need You Tonight" and "Never Tear Us Apart."

### Record Labels and Distribution
INXS released music via Atco Records (1955 inception, New York headquarters), Atlantic Records (1947, New York, Warner Music Group parent, known for jazz/rock/pop artists like Neil Young), Epic Records (1953, Los Angeles, Sony Music-owned, diverse genres), Mercury Records (1945, New York, Universal Music Group subsidiary), East West Records (1955), and Polydor (1913, London headquarters, Universal Music Group). Warner Music Group (1958 inception, New York, 4,520 employees, Nasdaq-traded) oversaw some imprints, owning subsidiaries like Atlantic and East West.

### Awards and Recognition
INXS garnered CASBY Award (Canadian, 1981 inception), APRA Music Awards (Australian, 2000), ASCAP Pop Music Awards, Mo Awards (Australian live entertainment, 1975), and World Music Awards (1989, Monte Carlo). MTV honors included Video Music Award for Video of the Year (1984 inception), Best Group, Breakthrough Video, Best Editing (1984), and Viewer's Choice.

### Connections to Australia and Sydney
Australia, federated January 1, 1901, hosted INXS amid its states like New South Wales. Sydney, on Gadigal lands with nicknames Emerald City and Harbour City, borders Parramatta River at 6m elevation; population grew from 3,000 (1800) to 5,450,496 (2023). Lord Mayor Clover Moore has led since March 27, 2004. Sydney's sister cities include San Francisco (1968), Nagoya (1980), Guangzhou, Florence (1993), and others; UNESCO City of Film since 2010.

### Official Presence and Metrics
The band's website is https://www.inxs.com. INXS holds 49 sitelinks across Wikipedia languages, with title "INXS." Wikidata classifies it as an Australian rock band.

### Related Entities
Labels connect to Warner Music Group (owns Atlantic, Atco, East West; subsidiaries like Reprise, Elektra), Universal Music Group (Mercury, Polydor). Broader music ties include Maroon 5 (pop rock, genres overlapping funk rock) and Smash Mouth (rock, 1994). Hutchence's solo *The Raw Hit* (1993) extended his influence.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. MusicBrainz
3. BnF authorities
4. Discogs
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. BBC Things
8. Google Knowledge Graph
9. The Guardian
10. Quora
11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
12. YouTube API