Members of one of the most successful bands ever from Down Under -- INXS -- stopped by Rhino recently. Keyboardist and principle songwriter Andrew Farriss and guitarist/vocalist Kirk Pengilly were in Los Angeles for a variety of promotional activities and made a quick pit stop in the Rhino offices.
Along with Andrew and Kirk, INXS includes Tim and Jon Farriss on guitars and drums, respectively; Garry Gary Beers on bass; and, until his untimely death in 1997, Michael Hutchence on lead vocals. The band has been racking up hits around the world for more than 20 years, including such smash singles as "What You Need," "New Sensation," and "Devil Inside." These and 39 other tracks « including a number of rare recordings « can be found on Rhino's new 2-CD INXS anthology Shine Like It Does (1979-1999). It was to help publicize this career-spanning collection that Andrew and Kirk came to Rhino after a morning of print, radio, and television interviews.
Along with the chance to meet these stars and get their autographs on the new disc, Rhinos got to hear an acoustic mini-set of INXS music. The office's Open Forum area was packed as employees and a few special guests listened like thieves as the pair performed "Never Tear Us Apart" (a Top 10 single from 1988), "Shine Like It Does," and "Mystify" from the multi-platinum album Kick. Though the band has performed infrequently since Hutchence died, Kirk and Andrew's vocal and instrumental skills remained first-rate, and showed how INXS earned its reputation as a top-flight live act.
(l to r) Eric Kayser,Kirk Pengilly, Amanda Fleischman, Shawn Martinez, and Andrew Farriss
One of the special guests watching the proceedings was Amanda Fleischman, who had won the opportunity to attend the intimate gathering along with a fellow INXS fan through one of Rhino's auctions on eBay. The La Jolla resident had bid more than $600 for the chance to schmooze with her favorite band (and celebrate her recent graduation from U.C.S.D.).
After a few introductions and photographs, Andrew and Kirk affixed their signatures to the "Wall Of Fame" in the Rhino lobby and then headed over to the ABC-TV studios for an appearance on Politically Incorrect that evening. After another day of media activities in L.A. the pair were off to Canada for more TV and radio appearances before returning to their native Australia.
>>Watch the Rhino performance! (Real Audio)
>>More Photos Of The Event!
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