INXS have confirmed that they are calling it a day as a touring band, after drummer Jon Farriss told fans at Perth Arena the news on Sunday.The band issued a statement that says they are bringing "down the curtain as a live touring band," but while not said directly, they have left the door open to some continuation with using the "touring band" qualifier. Below is part of the statement that we were sent:
"We understand that this must come as a blow to everybody, but all things must eventually come to an end. We have been performing as a band for 35 years, it's time to step away from the touring arena"
"Our music will of course live on and we will always be a part of that."
"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the friends and family that have supported us throughout our extensive career. Our lives have been enriched by having you all as a part of the journey"
INXS forged their reputation as one of the world's greatest live bands, relentlessly touring the US, Europe, South America, and the Far East constantly throughout the 80's and early 90's, fuelled by the success of records such as Listen Like Thieves, Kick, X, and Welcome To Wherever You Are.
That hard earned and hard won live reputation took INXS to the very pinnacle of the live world touring circuit with such memorable performances headlining iconic venues across the world
in the UK [Wembley Stadium 80,000], the US [Texas Stadium 60,000] and Rio De Janeiro [Rock in Rio 120,000].
But with the high, came a bitter and cruel blow
the loss of their charismatic and irreplaceable front man Michael Hutchence in November 1997.
"It's been 35 years for INXS as a live touring band and unbelievably it's been 15 years ago since we lost Michael" said Jon Farriss.
"We lived for each other in the trenches and we loved each other. It was the six of us against the world and then suddenly and inexplicably we were but five. We were lost right at the moment we were on top."
The band struggled to deal with the enormity of it all and the easy solution was to just call it a day.
"We never took a soft option, it was the adversity, the challenge and the struggle that forged us into the live working band we became. And this was as big as it could possibly get when it came to a challenge" said Andrew Farriss, "and in the end we decided for a whole bunch of reasons to march forward. To us there was no other option, families always move forward."
The bands manager Chris Murphy said, "They believed unconditionally in each other and they also believed unconditionally in the music. People fade, sometimes way too early
that is life whether we like it or not. To live to 80 plus is a life well lived. To lose Michael so young was a tragedy for all of us. But with this band, their legacy, their music was just so damn good, it was always destined to live beyond all of us."
