INXS (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band formed in 1977 in Sydney. Originally called the Farriss Brothers, the band's founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist Tim Farriss, lead singer and main lyricist Michael Hutchence, and guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. For 20 years, INXS were fronted by Hutchence, whose stage presence made him the focal point of the band.
In 1984, INXS had their first number-one hit in Australia with "Original Sin". The band achieved international success in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s with the hit albums Listen Like Thieves, Kick, and X and the singles "What You Need" (1985), "Need You Tonight" (1987) (the band's only US number-one single), "New Sensation" (1987), "Devil Inside" (1988), "Never Tear Us Apart" (1988), and "Suicide Blonde" (1990).
After Hutchence's death on 22 November 1997, INXS made appearances with several guest singers. Beginning in 2000, the band toured and recorded with Jon Stevens as lead singer. In 2005, members of INXS participated in Rock Star: INXS, a reality television series that culminated in the selection of Canadian J.D. Fortune as their new lead singer. Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Gribbin replaced Fortune as lead singer in 2011. INXS performed their final concert on 11 November 2012.
INXS won six Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards, including the award for "Best Group" in 1987, 1989 and 1992, respectively. In addition, the band were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. They have sold over 50 million records worldwide.
