🎸 Setting the Stage: INXS Before Kick
By the mid-1980s, INXS had already carved a respectable place in Australia and had begun making inroads internationally. Albums like Shabooh Shoobah (1982) and Listen Like Thieves (1985) had produced hits such as “What You Need,” which gave them their first taste of U.S. chart success. Still, the band was searching for that one definitive statement—a record that would not only cement their reputation but launch them into the stratosphere of global superstardom.
It was Andrew Farriss, the band’s principal songwriter, who felt they were on the cusp of something transformative. And Michael Hutchence, their charismatic frontman, was ready to step into the global spotlight. Together, they envisioned an album that fused rock’s raw power with the seductive grooves of funk and pop.
🔥 The Making of Kick
The sessions for Kick began in Sydney and then shifted to Rhinoceros Studios, with producer Chris Thomas at the helm. Thomas, who had previously worked with the Sex Pistols and The Pretenders, understood how to refine INXS’s eclectic sound without dulling its edge.
The band’s confidence was palpable. Andrew Farriss famously presented Michael Hutchence with a demo tape containing the riff that would become “Need You Tonight.” Hutchence immediately grasped its hypnotic potential, writing sultry lyrics that married perfectly with the track’s minimalist groove.
Meanwhile, songs like “Never Tear Us Apart” were born from Andrew’s elegant piano lines and Michael’s ability to infuse lyrics with both vulnerability and intensity. Recorded with a lush string arrangement, it became one of the most emotional tracks INXS ever released.
The result was an album that balanced sophistication with primal energy—a record built for both the dance floor and the stadium.
🎶 The Sound of Seduction and Power
Kick wasn’t just another rock album of the late ‘80s—it was a bold hybrid. The tracks pulsed with funk, soul, and pop sensibilities while retaining the grit of rock. “Devil Inside” throbbed with menace and swagger, “New Sensation” exploded with optimism and urgency, and “Mystify” shimmered with romantic elegance.
Every song seemed crafted to highlight Michael Hutchence’s magnetic vocals. He could croon, seduce, and command—all within the span of a single verse. Backed by the tight precision of the Farriss brothers, Garry Gary Beers, and Kirk Pengilly, Hutchence sounded like the very embodiment of a new era in rock.
🇺🇸 Conquering America
When Kick was released in October 1987, it became immediately clear that INXS had struck gold. The album climbed to No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and produced four Top 10 singles—a rare feat at the time.
“Need You Tonight” hit No. 1 in the United States, its slinky riff and whispered chorus turning into an anthem of desire across radio and MTV. The music video, with its quick cuts and black-and-white aesthetic, cemented Hutchence as a sex symbol, often compared to Jim Morrison for his brooding charisma.
“Never Tear Us Apart,” with its sweeping strings and searing saxophone solo, became a timeless ballad—an anthem of love and devotion that still resonates at weddings, films, and TV shows decades later.
With “Devil Inside” and “New Sensation” also storming the charts, INXS found themselves everywhere: on magazine covers, radio stations, and sold-out tours across the United States.
🏟 From Stadiums to Global Icon Status
The success of Kick propelled INXS into arenas and stadiums around the world. Their live shows became legendary for their energy, precision, and the undeniable magnetism of Hutchence. In 1991, they would headline Wembley Stadium in front of 72,000 fans—a performance later immortalized in the concert film Live Baby Live.
What began in small Australian pubs less than a decade earlier had transformed into global dominance. INXS were no longer just Australia’s best-kept secret; they were one of the most important bands on the planet.
🎤 Michael Hutchence: The Face of a Generation
More than just a singer, Michael Hutchence embodied the spirit of INXS. His voice carried both sensuality and pain, his stage presence a mix of danger and allure. With Kick, Hutchence became not just a frontman but a cultural icon. His tousled hair, leather jackets, and smoldering gaze made him the poster boy of late ‘80s rock.
But behind the glamour, Hutchence also infused songs with emotional depth. “Never Tear Us Apart” wasn’t just a love song—it was a declaration of vulnerability, a rare quality in the swaggering landscape of rock at the time.
📀 The Numbers Tell the Story
By the end of its run, Kick had sold over 20 million copies worldwide, becoming the band’s most successful album. It turned INXS into household names in the United States, Europe, and beyond. For a band from Sydney who once played to tiny crowds, this was the dream fully realized.
The album didn’t just dominate charts; it influenced the direction of rock and pop heading into the 1990s, proving that crossover between genres could be done without compromise.
🌟 Legacy of Kick
Decades later, Kick remains INXS’s crowning achievement. Songs like “Need You Tonight” and “Never Tear Us Apart” have outlived the era, still played on radio and streaming platforms, still soundtracking moments of passion and nostalgia for listeners young and old.
The album’s genius lay in its balance: sleek yet raw, seductive yet anthemic. It was the perfect storm of artistry, timing, and ambition.
For INXS, Kick wasn’t just a commercial triumph. It was their statement to the world: We are here, and we belong at the top.