10 Greatest INXS Songs Of All Time

If you're an INXS fan, we have What You Need.

By Luke Dixon /

The Australian garage band once known as The Farriss Brothers could never have imagined the worldwide phenomenon they would become. Initially part of The New Wave movement, INXS gradually transformed into one of the greatest rock bands of the '80s.

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Under the management of Gary Grant, INXS churned out the hits and live shows, building up a loyal local fanbase before becoming international stars. The band was led by the irrepressible Michael Hutchence, whose searing lyrics and sex appeal gave INXS the high profile they desired.

The success of the Kick album signified the band's peak, with the legendary Hutchence and Andrew Farriss writing combo conjuring each epic track. Sadly the album also signified the gradual decline of the band, as much from pure exhaustion as anything else.

Hutchence's death in 1997 was a tragic moment that all but spelled the end of the band, with the reality TV show and JD Fortune era one we'd all like to forget. The band's peak was most definitely in the '80s, and all bar one song on this list is from that era.

So kick the band's haters out of the room, because we need you tonight to look through this new sensational list of the best INXS songs. Seriously, it's what you need right now.

10. Kick

The title track from their iconic 1987 album and the first of five entries from the chart topper, this song is signature INXS pop rock at their best. The band is in full swing here, Pengilly letting loose on the sax, Tim Farriss turning the amps up to 11, while the brass component brings the song to an epic scale. Hutchence has us invested from the start, his repeated chant of 'come on' getting us pumped up for a classic.

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Like many of the singles from the Kick album, the song would have been far more entrenched as a fan favourite and been a far greater commercial hit had it been on one of the band's other albums. It was still a moderate commercial success and was at least released as a single, unlike another entry on this list.

The lyrics are not Hutchence's most complex, but work as a chorus chant that is great to sing along with when flying down the highway. The song is just damn good fun and an example of the staple hits INXS repeatedly churned out over their 20 year history.

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