INXS: Access All Areas

Epi 84: INXS Deep Dive Tracks: “Clarify the Spotify”!

 
 
 
 
After 18 months of deep-dive album reviews, from the self-titled debut to 1992’s Welcome to Wherever You Are, Bee and I took on the exciting task of compiling a Spotify playlist of “great deep cut” tracks that were never singles around the world. These songs in many ardent INXS fans’ opinions have been cited as favourites and as such, we wanted to highlight their “awesomeness”.
 
 
More than just a singles band, INXS always treated each song’s addition to an album with the utmost diligence. No filler, all killer was often the mantra as each band member sought to contribute material over the journey.
 
 
Bee and I had the massive challenge to compile a list of great album tracks that we “both agreed on” to share with the Access all Areas community and hopefully enrich the listener experience.
 
 
So, if you’re sick of the hits, over radio’s constant flogging of the Kick album singles and want to truly appreciate the sheer depth of INXS’ back catalogue of deep cuts, tune in, get up and dance, rejoice and turn up loud some of INXS’ greatest songs not-so-well known or played on mainstream platforms.
 
 
Love and Peace
 
Haydn
 
Listen to this week’s songs on Spotify! Click below:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Ky3JCzStF4VOGneEEuHv9?si=7435b88498e3410e
 
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...and for some more cool stuff visit https://www.inxs.com
 Please sign the petition at  http://inductinxs.com to help get INXS nominated into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME, where they belong. 
A new episode drops every Sunday INXS Access All Areas is available on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. 
 

Epi 83: Richard Lowenstein: An Origin Story.

Episode 83 Richard Lowenstein: An Original Story
 
 
 
It’s often opined that Chris Murphy was the 7th member of INXS and, from a business point of view such sentiment, seemed more than legitimate. However, it’s without a doubt that artistically Richard Lowenstein was that 7th member.
Joining the INXS family in Northern Queensland as that pasty, vitamin D-deprived emerging auteur in early 1984, he would go on to be an intrinsic and artistic tour-de-force shaping INXS’ ascent from hard-working, freshmen musicians to globe-trotting superstars. All of that aside, Access all Areas would love to provide an origin story backdrop of who just Richard Lowenstein is and the lead-up of how he came to work with INXS.
 
 
The son of parents who fled Nazi Germany via the UK and ultimately to Australia in 1940, Richard was the proud graduate from Swinburne Institute of Technology, Film and Television Department in 1979. Within a year, he had directed his first music video embracing the Melbourne punk rock scene and was awarded the illustrious Erwin Radio Prize for Best Short Film at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
 
With an impressive résumé building, Richard’s life was to change with his groundbreaking music video of the Hunters & Collectors’ classic “Talking to a Stranger”, a video that aroused the attention of one “Michael Hutchence”. Being a man in demand, Richard produced and directed clips for Cold Chisel, Tim Finn (ex-Splitz Enz), Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, plus The Church, all whilst releasing in 1984 his first full feature film Strikebound, the story of 1930’s coal miners’ strike (based on his mother’s book and union research) that coincidentally featured the INXS track “All the Voices”.
 
 
A true auteur to his craft, Richard has always remained humble, stylistically unique, and a true innovator in celluloid. Never one to embrace the mainstream and dumb it down (hello Michael Bay), Richard’s early work shows a true passion, instinct, and distinctive approach in the art of filmmaking, whether it be short-form or long-form, and we hope you enjoy the first installment of this career retrospective of the great Richard Lowenstein (not steen ).
 
 
Love and Peace
 
Haydn
To become a Patron/ subscriber check out our different levels and see which one suits you.
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Check out our website for all the good stuff... https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com
...and for some cool stuff visit https://www.inxs.com
 Please sign the petition at  http://inductinxs.com to help get INXS nominated into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME, where they belong. 
A new episode drops every Sunday INXS Access All Areas is available on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. 
 
 

Epi 82: Jon Farriss; A Special Relationship

Episode 82: Jon Farriss; A Special Relationship.
 
 
 
In this modern world where times have been tougher than ever “true friendships” are golden. So today we celebrate the enduring relationship between Jon Farriss and Britain’s Simon Yeo whose lives cross paths in the early 1990s and has stood the test of time and distance!
Simon Yeo was a Merchandising Manager with Polydor Music and got acquainted with the entire band through this role. A chance follow-up meeting with Jon through mutual friends in Hong Kong sowed the seeds for a lifetime connection that saw him become Simon’s best man at his wedding, play live at his 50th birthday with other INXS members and go on tour through the USA on the Elegantly Wasted Tour.
 
Simon never betrays the confidences of Jon and the band’s inner secrets however does delve deep into numerous fascinating anecdotes such as a dangerous night out with mobsters, the struggles that Michael seemed to be dealing with late in his life, and the distinct lack of record support for INXS’ Elegantly Wasted release vs their sycophantic love for U2’s miserable nadir album release the same year POP.
Forever erudite and full of love and admiration for INXS’ globe-trotting ways, Simon went from a passing interest in the band to a fully-fledged appreciator of what it took for them to climb to international fame and the resultant toll it took out of each band member.
 
As always, Access all Areas tries to take you back in time to a place with people we love and provide a retrospective understanding of what took place at the time good, bad or ugly. We thank Simon Yeo immensely for his honesty, insights, and passion in recounting an era once lived but a “special relationship” that endures.
 
Love and Peace
 
To become a Patron/ subscriber check out our different levels and see which one suits you.
https://patron.podbean.com/INXSAccessAllAreas
 
Check out our website for all the good stuff... https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com
...and for some cool stuff visit https://www.inxs.com
 Please sign the petition at  http://inductinxs.com to help get INXS nominated into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME, where they belong. 
A new episode drops every Sunday INXS Access All Areas is available on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. 
 

Epi 81: Michael Hutchence, My Friend

Episode 81: Michael Hutchence, My Friend
 
 
 
Episode 81: Michael Hutchence, My Friend
 
In the week we remember and reminisce about the life of Michael Kelland Hutchence, it only seems appropriate that we hear from the man who arguably was closest to him from an artistic point of view, Andrew Farriss. We thank Andrew for his preparedness to be vulnerable and share intimate and revealing memories of the times he and Michael penned some of the most stunning melodies and hooks together. We cover lyrics, Michael’s cosmopolitan and cultural awareness borne out of a youth traversing many countries, and the legendary vocal duet with Jimmy Barnes on ‘Good Times’ for Australian Made. With praise for Mark Opitz production, Andrew was in awe of the gravelly vocal of Barnesy offset by the honey dripped delivery from Michael as they essentially compete in a “song-off”! The pride Andrew has in recounting Michael’s mastery is heart-warming and indicates the massive respect he has 24 years after he left us.
 
 
Interestingly, Andrew veers into a fascinating discussion about INXS’ travails in Argentina not long after the end of the Falklands War and takes immense pride in INXS being the first international band to tour there thus paving the way for others to follow. He delves deep on Beck, the technology debate modern music faces against traditional instrumentation, and the importance of INXS of mattering musically to Michael and the band. As we wrap up, we do get to the last few songs from Welcome to Wherever You Are to complete our album discussion. With Mark Opitz chipping in with valuable asides we no doubt felt a lot of love in the room for the legacy of what INXS created over 35 years and thank both Andrew and Mark for allowing us to delve deep.
 
To become a Patron/ subscriber check out our different levels and see which one suits you.
https://patron.podbean.com/INXSAccessAllAreas
 
Check out our website for all the good stuff... https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com
...and for some cool stuff visit https://www.inxs.com
 Please sign the petition at  http://inductinxs.com to help get INXS nominated into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME, where they belong. 
A new episode drops every Sunday INXS Access All Areas is available on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. 

Epi 80: Thanksgiving 2021: INXS, An American Love Affair

 
Episode 80:Thanksgiving 2021: INXS, An American Love Affair
 
 
 
 
 
Thanksgiving 2021: INXS, An American Love Affair
 
Outside their humble Australian origins, the USA was the first country to embrace the new wave dance/rock sensibilities of INXS. 1983 was a seminal year for the band as they toiled long and hard from coast to coast, imparting their immense live playing abilities for all to see.
With MTV taking off and “The One Thing” gaining a Top 30 position on the famed Billboard Hot 100 charts, INXS were proving themselves to be more than a fad new-wave band. Blowing contemporaries off stage (hello Adam Ant), INXS set the tone as a blistering live act but with a versatility that would soon realize itself.
As the decade rounded out, INXS would go on to be the biggest band on the planet with multi-platinum album accreditation for The Swing, Listen Like Thieves, and the game-changing Kick. Awards followed, tours were sold out and acclaim from the critics/publications like Rolling Stone ensued.
Come the 1990’s, the band released more commercially triumphant albums such as the multi-million seller X, then Live Baby Live, and Welcome to Wherever You Are, albeit slightly less popular than their predecessor albums. With Rock Star: INXS giving the band a second jump into the USA consciousness, the band shared their biggest hit for 15 years in “Pretty Vegas” going Gold (500,000 copies).
As Bee and I reminisce with our dive deep episode from last Thanksgiving, INXS would truly like to thank all American fans who gave the band that early-career impetus to springboard them into the northern hemisphere consciousness.
 
So, sit back with a belly full of turkey, eggnog, pecan pie, cranberry sauce and Budweiser beer and relax to the dulcet tones of INXS: Access all Areas American style!!!
 
Love and Peace Haydn
 
To become a Patron/ subscriber check out our different levels and see which one suits you.
https://patron.podbean.com/INXSAccessAllAreas
 
Check out our website for all the good stuff... https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com
...and for some cool stuff visit https://www.inxs.com
 Please sign the petition at  http://inductinxs.com to help get INXS nominated into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME, where they belong. 
A new episode drops every Sunday INXS Access All Areas is available on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. 
 
 
 
 
 

Epi 79: Michael Hutchence ‘Always in our Hearts” November 22

 It’s that time of year again where November 22nd hits our calendars.
Originally synonymous with the date that JFK was assassinated in Dallas in 1963. It’s now synonymous with the INXS and wider music industry as the day we lost Michael Hutchence.
As mentioned by Andrew Farriss in our recent deep dive interview, let’s try and use this day, not just in solemnity but also as an acknowledgment of the massive contribution Michael made as a singer, a songwriter, a band member, a brother, and as a son.
So into today's episode, we bring together for the first time Michael’s peers such as Bono/U2, Michael Stipe from REM, and Simon LeBon from Duran Duran to share their admiration for Michael. But more importantly, our INXS patrons and the podcast listening community to share just what Michael meant to them.
Sometimes melancholy, sometimes heartbreaking but on many occasions, truly uplifting and inspiring are the anecdotes and memories shared by our INXS alumni.
Michael Kelland Hutchence: we love you, we miss you but most importantly you did matter and you are in our hearts forever!
Love and peace Haydn & Bee
 
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Epi 78: Andrew and Mark talk “Welcome Part 3!”

With an early drop, part 3 of our Andrew and Mark deep dive won’t let you down. With a detailed exploration of side 2, we get further valuable insights into the production and musical excellence of Welcome to Wherever you Are’s quieter and more experimental moments.
As always, the conversation veers into interesting anecdotes such as touring, other artists influenced by INXS’ legacy, and the enduring relationship between Mark’s definitive production techniques and the mastery of song-craft on show between Andrew and Michael.
As we approach the 30th year since this defining and benchmark album was released, we at Access all Areas are most grateful for the time, honesty, articulation, and recounting of events by Andrew and Mark during these 3 episodes. They are now locked in a time capsule for years to come.
Love and Peace ✌️
Haydn
P.S Part 4 is still yet to come. 
 
To become a Patron/ subscriber check out our different levels and see which one suits you. 
https://patron.podbean.com/INXSAccessAllAreas
 
Check out our website for all the good stuff... https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/episodes
Please sign the petition at  http://inductinxs.com to help get INXS nominated into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME, where they belong. 
The new episode drops on Sunday, 31 October. INXS Access All Areas is available on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. 
 
 
 
 

Epi 77: Welcome Album Review Part 2 with Andrew and Mark

Episode 77: Welcome Album Review Part 2 with Andrew Farriss and Mark Opitz
Bee and are privileged again to have access to the musical genius of Andrew Farriss and Mark Opitz. With Welcome to Wherever You Are in 1992 being the main discussion point again, we’re excited in part 2 to get into the tracks on side A. 
 
With part one having more joyous story tangents than Back to the Future 2, both Andrew and Mark dive deep into the musical excellence of Questions, Heaven Sent, Communication, Taste it, Not Enough Time, and All Around. 
 
You’ll get to immerse yourself in the true history of how this seminal album was recorded with this episode chock full of insights, anecdotes, and recording technique discussions. Additionally, we hear how Andrew and Michael united more than ever on the lyrical content of the songs. Plus, there are rumors that a “standing ovation” allegedly occurs in the middle of the podcast. 
 
So do yourself a favour and block out all the white noise and “forget about the problems in your life” and enjoy Part 2 with Andrew and Mark.
Love and Peace 
Haydn
To become a Patron/ subscriber check out our different levels and see which one suits you. 
https://patron.podbean.com/INXSAccessAllAreas
 
Check out our website for all the good stuff... https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/episodes
Please sign the petition at  http://inductinxs.com to help get INXS nominated into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME, where they belong. 
The new episode drops on Sunday, 31 October. INXS Access All Areas is available on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music.