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Kirk Pengilly, INXS guitarist, recently took
the time to answer some questions for The
Michael Hutchence Fan Site.
Interview by Karen Cox
the time to answer some questions for The
Michael Hutchence Fan Site.
Interview by Karen Cox
Kirk, thank you for taking the time out of your hectic touring
schedule to answer questions for The Michael Hutchence Fan
Site. We really appreciate it.
A lot of the members at the site that have gone to an INXS
show on this tour have reported feeling peace about INXS
moving on once they saw you again. Have you guys been
pleased with the response from your long time fans?
**Yes, it has been better than we had hoped for. Many
fans were seeing us for the first time since Michael's
death, so I am sure for them, it was quite emotional
during that first show they witnessed. That was
something that we had to remind ourselves of at times,
because as a band, we have done a lot of different things
in the last nine years and as a result, have experienced
closure and respectfully moved on some time ago.
INXS has been on tour for quite some time now, promoting
Switch. Have you found time to begin writing any new
material?
**Personally, not really. I find it difficult to
write on the road. I know JD has been working on
lyric and song ideas, as has Andrew.
The fans seem to have accepted JD with open arms. Have you
been surprised by the reception?
**Not really as we new he had "all the goods" and
could pull it off. That was the great thing about
Rockstar INXS, as it really allowed us to make the
right decision by the end of the season.
Since this interview is for The Michael Hutchence Fan Site,
I'm sure you expect some Michael-related questions. Any
funny stories with Michael on the road you'd care to share
with the fans?
**Many but I guess a lot perhaps should be kept
quiet... lol. In the mid 80's Michael had this
singlet/tank-top that he treasured and wore on stage
often. It had rips in all the right places and was a mere
shadow of it's former self, but he loved it.... One day "the
rag" as we called it, was sent out for cleaning through the
Hotel and didn't return before our departure the next
day. Michael insisted that we had to track it down!!!
Calls were made to housekeeping, concierge, the
cleaners, etc. Finally, one of the staff at the cleaners
admitted that they had literally thought it WAS a "rag"
and thrown it out. Miraculously, it was salvaged from the
garbage and we then had to drive miles and miles out of
our way to the actual cleaning factory where, full of
apologies, two of the staff bought out this sealed white
cardboard box and handed it to Michael. Inside, neatly
pressed and wrapped in white tissue paper was the
immaculately cleaned "rag..." Michael was happy...
There are two Michael Biopics in the works now, one by
his sister, Tina, the other by Nick Egan. How do you feel about
the idea of a Michael Hutchence Movie? Do you foresee
INXS contributing to or endorsing a Michael Hutchence
Movie?
**To be honest, I wasn't aware of the Tina Hutchence
one. Michael was an amazing performer and artist. He
should be immortalised in a movie as he was one of the
greatest front men. What is important to me is that it is
done right and truthfully. At this point, none of the band
have been personally approached by either Tina or Nick.
Quite frankly, if we, who knew Michael best of all, aren't
involved, then I doubt very much that it will be a correct
portrayal of Michael (or for that fact, ourselves). Michael
and Tina grew up in different households and Nick only
knew Michael on and off in the last 10 years of his life.
It has been 9 years since Michael died, and yet interest in his
life and work is still very strong. What would you most
like for people to remember about Michael?
**Many things, but Michael always used to say that "at
the end of the day, as long as INXS and our music
mattered, that was all that was important to him.
What is next for INXS, are you planning to go back into the
studio soon after the tour, or will you be taking some time off?
**Definitely taking some time off. Tim and I haven't
really stopped since the beginning of last year (2005)
when we set off to all the Rockstar auditions around
the world. We have some loose plans for next year but
all wish to have some time off before we convene to
firm up those plans.
schedule to answer questions for The Michael Hutchence Fan
Site. We really appreciate it.
A lot of the members at the site that have gone to an INXS
show on this tour have reported feeling peace about INXS
moving on once they saw you again. Have you guys been
pleased with the response from your long time fans?
**Yes, it has been better than we had hoped for. Many
fans were seeing us for the first time since Michael's
death, so I am sure for them, it was quite emotional
during that first show they witnessed. That was
something that we had to remind ourselves of at times,
because as a band, we have done a lot of different things
in the last nine years and as a result, have experienced
closure and respectfully moved on some time ago.
INXS has been on tour for quite some time now, promoting
Switch. Have you found time to begin writing any new
material?
**Personally, not really. I find it difficult to
write on the road. I know JD has been working on
lyric and song ideas, as has Andrew.
The fans seem to have accepted JD with open arms. Have you
been surprised by the reception?
**Not really as we new he had "all the goods" and
could pull it off. That was the great thing about
Rockstar INXS, as it really allowed us to make the
right decision by the end of the season.
Since this interview is for The Michael Hutchence Fan Site,
I'm sure you expect some Michael-related questions. Any
funny stories with Michael on the road you'd care to share
with the fans?
**Many but I guess a lot perhaps should be kept
quiet... lol. In the mid 80's Michael had this
singlet/tank-top that he treasured and wore on stage
often. It had rips in all the right places and was a mere
shadow of it's former self, but he loved it.... One day "the
rag" as we called it, was sent out for cleaning through the
Hotel and didn't return before our departure the next
day. Michael insisted that we had to track it down!!!
Calls were made to housekeeping, concierge, the
cleaners, etc. Finally, one of the staff at the cleaners
admitted that they had literally thought it WAS a "rag"
and thrown it out. Miraculously, it was salvaged from the
garbage and we then had to drive miles and miles out of
our way to the actual cleaning factory where, full of
apologies, two of the staff bought out this sealed white
cardboard box and handed it to Michael. Inside, neatly
pressed and wrapped in white tissue paper was the
immaculately cleaned "rag..." Michael was happy...
There are two Michael Biopics in the works now, one by
his sister, Tina, the other by Nick Egan. How do you feel about
the idea of a Michael Hutchence Movie? Do you foresee
INXS contributing to or endorsing a Michael Hutchence
Movie?
**To be honest, I wasn't aware of the Tina Hutchence
one. Michael was an amazing performer and artist. He
should be immortalised in a movie as he was one of the
greatest front men. What is important to me is that it is
done right and truthfully. At this point, none of the band
have been personally approached by either Tina or Nick.
Quite frankly, if we, who knew Michael best of all, aren't
involved, then I doubt very much that it will be a correct
portrayal of Michael (or for that fact, ourselves). Michael
and Tina grew up in different households and Nick only
knew Michael on and off in the last 10 years of his life.
It has been 9 years since Michael died, and yet interest in his
life and work is still very strong. What would you most
like for people to remember about Michael?
**Many things, but Michael always used to say that "at
the end of the day, as long as INXS and our music
mattered, that was all that was important to him.
What is next for INXS, are you planning to go back into the
studio soon after the tour, or will you be taking some time off?
**Definitely taking some time off. Tim and I haven't
really stopped since the beginning of last year (2005)
when we set off to all the Rockstar auditions around
the world. We have some loose plans for next year but
all wish to have some time off before we convene to
firm up those plans.