His family would later say this accident precipitated the depressed phase that would later lead to his death. Those were the findings announced by state Coroner Derrick Hand on Friday morning in New South Wales, Australia. I am satisfied the cause of death was "hanging". In his documentary about the singer's life, Mystify, he says it was that one event - a punch from a taxi driver outside a pizza shop in Copenhagen in 1995 - that changed everything. Mr Hand's office only ever publicly released a toxicology report and his reasons for not holding an inquest, which contained the findings about Hutchence's death. I therefore discount that manner of death. "I've f***ing had enough." Filmmaker Richard Lowenstein, who worked with the star for many years, thinks he has finally pieced together the elements that led to Hutchence's death aged just 37. ', 'I don't need to be dropping off in a hotel bath. Lowenstein explains: "She's an incredibly private person, so I don't feel right saying too much. 'I did a Christian Bale', the actor says. INXS, who first formed as a six member band in 1977 announced the release of a new album for 1997. 'Because the Harley had been revving for a couple of minutes it was very hot. In December 1995, Hutchence was first prescribed Prozac by Dr J. Borham, a London medical practitioner, to treat a depressive problem. Hutchence died alone, in a room at the Ritz-Carlton in Double Bay on the morning on November 22, 1997, having taken his own life. This was only the beginning of his erratic behaviour. INXS are one of the most successful bands of all time, having sold more than 60 million records worldwide. "He was unconscious and there was blood coming out of his mouth and ear," Christensen recalls in Mystify, the new documentary about Hutchence's life. Despite his tabloid travails, Hutchence was determined that the show must go on. He was the quintessential rock star. "And he actually loved Oasis, they represented this new generation that could have been the direction he might have gone into. They held high hopes the record would reverse their flagging fortunes, with the title track in particular earmarked for success. His mother Patricia Glassop was a make-up artist, and his father Kelland Hutchence was a businessman. In the 1990s, next to nothing was known about the dramatic personality changes that can occur as a result of brain injuries. Lowenstein explains: "He tried to flippantly pass it off, but as someone in his early 30s knowing the record sales weren't going as well, that really did affect him. Bob Geldof (left) gained full custody over Michael Hutchences daughter after Paula Yates died of a heroin overdose in 2000. the truth about Mama Cass Elliots death. So what really happened that night? In November of 1997, Hutchence returned to Sydney to practice with his bandmates for an INXS reunion tour. "He's actually re-enacting his own childhood and trying to make it work. Already at a low ebb, and on the eve of a gruelling world tour, Hutchence called his manager and ex-girlfriend from his Sydney hotel room and then took his own life. The band spent much of the following five years touring around the world and recording another hit album X, which featured the popular songs Suicide Blonde and Disappear. In 1992, however, Hutchence suffered an accident he never truly recovered from. Rock Star: INXS is the first season of the reality television show Rock Star where fifteen contestants competed to become the lead vocalist for the Australian rock band INXS.. INXS enjoyed great popularity through the 1980s and early 1990s, but after frontman Michael Hutchence died in 1997, the band attempted to continue with alternate singers, but remained largely dormant until this show. After playing gigs for a couple of years in Sydney and Perth in Western Australia, the band settled on changing their name to INXS, pronounced in excess.. They will of course include Richard who will be attending a get-together for the late singer at the Royal Oak Hotel in Double Bay at 3pm on Sunday. The band were at their commercial peak, having performed to roughly 1.2 million people during the past 10-month run, and selling close to 10 million albums since 1987's Kick turned them into international superstars. It was that deeper side to Michael that drew him to U2 star Bono, with the pair forming a connection - albeit a competitive one - during the late 80s. Hutchence'sbrother Rhett has even recently suggested Michael could have been killed by someone else. He was terribly upset and he said, I dont know how Ill live without seeing Tiger.'. "I believe he would have been proud of the end result. A violent altercation five years before his death left the INXS star with two large areas of permanent damage, as well as robbing him of his sense of taste and smell. The deceased sounded as if he was affected by something, and was slow and deep. "But she allowed me to come and show the film to her on a laptop. Elegantly Wasted was not celebrated as the return to form they had hoped, debuting at #14 in Australia, #16 in the UK, and like their last album failing to crack the US top 40. A violent altercation five years before his death left the INXS star with two large areas of permanent damage, as well as robbing him of his sense of taste and smell. I've come close, though. After Hutchence failed to appear for a morning appointment . However, she was not able to rouse him by knocking loudly on his door, nor by ringing him. But he had bad eyesight. It was a great night and it was a really candid photo, which has some good memories for me attached to it.. Of course, it doesn't work and of course it's a nightmare. On consideration of the entirety of the evidence I am satisfied Hutchence was in a severe depressed state on the morning of November 22, 1997. Various band members and backing vocalists filed out, and only Kirk Pengilly, Andrew Farriss and the singer remained. Nothing will be gained by holding a formal inquest. The identity of the deceased, the date and place of death and the manner and cause of death are clearly set out and the time and expense of holding an inquest is not warranted and will be dispensed with. But Hutchence felt restricted by the creative limits of pop and yearned to express his integrity as an artist, even striking out as a solo performer during the mid-90s. Michael Hutchence was rarely out of the papers in the final years of his life, but there was a secret he had kept hidden from the world - he was suffering from brain damage. Published: 06:18 GMT, 22 November 2015 | Updated: 09:02 GMT, 22 November 2015. "She wrote an email to the record company and band management, and within 24 hours of the email being sent, we had nine songs at a very reasonable rate. Picture: Getty Kylie Minogue has opened up about her relationship with the late INXS frontman, Michael Hutchence, who tragically died aged 37. This was due to a number of factors, including the relationship with Paula Yates and the pressure of the ongoing dispute with Sir Robert Geldof, combined with the effects of the substances that he had ingested at that time. That meant Yates would not be coming either. So I used to think, Oh, that must be it. Sir Robert Geldof received two telephone calls from the deceased, the first at about 6.30pm London time on evening of 21st November. They were quite candid images of him,' Richard said. ", At one point, during a heated argument, Hutchence threatened to stab bassist Garry Gary Beers with a knife. How many lead singers has INXS had? It was, however, the band's lowest-charting album in the States since 1981. In April, 1998, less than six months after his death, she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital with depression. But he also had a shyness about him. "Especially aged 27, when so many stars died like Hendrix and Morrison, and he was being obviously compared to some of those. Hutchence's father Kel died aged 78 in 2002. It was of a short duration and Geldof asked him to call back. "Michael was really out of himself. She stated that she rang Hutchence at some time prior to 5.38am and he told her he was going to beg Geldof to let her children come out to Australia. Geldof's police statement claims Hutchence was "hectoring and abusive and threatening". 3. The famous INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence died too soon at the age of 37 back in November 22, 1997 at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Sydney. He was last so prescribed on 1st November, 1997. Hutchence's sensory interest in food and wine was erased by the attack, and, as Beers suspected, he began taking a cocktail of drugs to treat the pain caused from the injury. and she said 'I've never received anything from anyone.'". He showed me how everything worked and how everything fitted in to make an album. Then, learn the truth about Mama Cass Elliots death. When he spoke, he was in pain., In high school, Hutchence met his future bandmate Andrew Farriss, and the two went on to form INXS with two other Farriss brothers Tim and Jon in 1977. She stated that she rang the deceased at sometime prior to 5.38am on the 22nd November and he told her he was going to beg Geldof to let the children come out to Australia. And yesterday, as distraught Paula began her journey back to Britain with the ashes of her dead lover, the chambermaid who discovered the INXS singer's body spoke for the first time about her horrific experience. During the second call at 9.54am the deceased commenced to cry and according to Ms Bennett sounded 'very upset'. 11/6/2013. While Wilson added that there were no drugs in the room either, Hutchences autopsy confirmed numerous controlled substances in his system at the time of his death. It turned out he had a fractured skull a brain injury that robbed him of his taste and smell and also affected his mental health. While visiting a girlfriend in Copenhagen, Denmark, Hutchence got into a fight with a taxi driver that left him with permanent brain damage. Later at 9.38am, Ms Troup received via voicemail a call from Hutchence in which he said: "Martha, Michael here, I f---ing had enough.". What amazing pictures. A post-mortem examination found alcohol, cocaine, codeine, Prozac, Valium and other prescribed benzodiazepines - or 'benzos' - in Hutchence's urine and blood. "And Michael would look at Bono and say, 'I wish I could write songs like that' - songs that were a bit deeper, go a bit further and have the content that would get me through into the 90s. Michael Hutchence was found dead at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Double Bay, Sydney. In Sydney, Michael developed a passion for poetry and music. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Mystify Michael Hutchence Trailer. It has been suggested that the death resulted from an act of auto eroticism. As a steady stream of professional footballers and boxers continue to present with symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated micro-concussions, there has been increased research and focus on the impact of concussions on behaviour and impulse control. Now, Kylie has revealed details about their relationship in a new documentary about the late singer. The next morning, the band gathered at the studio. "He was incredibly insecure, and if it had gotten out - even just between the band members - that he had serious damage to the brain, they would have come in and started writing the songs themselves. Richard jumped in and had a picture taken with them. It's fitting that Hutchence's daughter with Yates, Tiger Lily, has also played her part in the making of the documentary. As the singer and frontman for the popular Australian rock band INXS, Michael Hutchence was loved by many. 9. "We got to the hospital and he woke up and was aggressive," she explained. According to Ms Wilson the deceased appeared to want both of them to remain with him to offer support if the result of his custody hearing was unfavourable. She got very moved by, a lot of the stuff she'd never heard of, she'd never spoken to the ex-girlfriends. Gie Knaeps/Getty ImagesFive years before his death, Michael Hutchence suffered brain damage from a violent altercation with a cab driver in Denmark, leading his family to speculate that the trauma precipitated his demise. A maid found him naked and in a kneeling position, and, although his death was ruled a suicide, there were rumors that it was due to autoerotic asphyxia. As the singer and frontman for the popular Australian rock band INXS, Michael Hutchence was loved by many. After refusing to move out of the path of a taxi, the irate driver stepped out of his vehicle and punched Hutchence; his head violently hit the kerb, knocking him out. By Etan Vlessing. Lowenstein goes on: "For someone who had such a naughty boy reputation he was always in a solid relationship - I couldn't find a gap in where he wasn't in a relationship.". "We went to her flat to watch the documentary and it was like a little squat," Lowenstein said. The second call was received by Geldof about 5.30am on 22nd November, Sydney time. Confused, she left. Hutchence was on his Harley Davidson motorbike when 16-year-old Richard again asked for a photo and he told him to hop on. In the intervening years they stayed in contact and became good friends. At 5am, the morning he took his life, he yelled at Geldof over the phone, who, through due to the custody dispute regarding her other daughters, was preventing Yates from bringing Tiger Lily to visit him. "I knew all these people, so there was this element of trust on either side of the microphone.". We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Surfing and skateboarding chickens have become local celebs, Ex-NBA star furious over gender question on 6-year-olds soccer form, Tourist stranded on mountain airlifted in dramatic rescue, Restaurant responds to overcharging allegations: Whos making this pasta, Beyonc?. Hutchence sounded as if he was affected by something and was slow and deep. Advertisement Actress Kym Wilson was the last person to see Hutchence alive, when she visited him in his hotel room the previous evening. "I RECEIVED a completed police brief into the death of Michael Kelland Hutchence on November 22, 1997, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Double Bay. The song's lyrics, penned by Hutchence, include the lines: "Saw a mother screaming, she had lost control of what she once believed in, and she was not alone." Lowenstein says he believes Hutchence's biggest fear - "of not being in love and not having someone to love him" - holds the key to his secrecy over his private suffering. Michael Hutchence, the frontman of Australian rock band INXS, was found dead in a hotel room in Sydney on November 22, 1997, aged 37. For confidential support call the24-hour crisis support Lifeline on 13 11 14, By Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Do not sell or share my personal information. "I've waited 20 years for someone to tell the story properly and it hasn't happened. Searching wound up on 1997's Elegantly Wasted, the band's final album with Hutchence, and their first in four years. From that moment on, all I did was hear about Tiger, said Troup. Between 11pm and 5am the next day he was with his onetime lover, actor Kym Wilson, and her then boyfriend Andrew Rayment at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The only other person who knew - his then girlfriend supermodel Helena Christensen - had been sworn to secrecy. We've received your submission. He was found dead by a maid before noon. Despite being worth an estimated $20 million, the globally successful rock star who sold an estimated 60 million records as lead singer of INXS, died with a sum total of $506 in cash, with a . And I said, Michael, lets cancel the Australian tour. And he goes, I could never do that. On November 22, 1997, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence was found naked and choked to death with a snakeskin belt tied to his hotel door leaving many to wonder if his death was a suicide or an accident. 13:21 GMT 19 Nov 2017. "I said, 'Where's the money from your dad's estate?' I'm surprised I've survived, and so are a lot of my friends.'. The couple was also in the middle of a custody battle for Yates and Geldofs three daughters. I therefore discount that manner of death. Hutchence's partner Paula Yates claimed a year before her own death her lover likely died accidentally while choking himself for sexual pleasure, as the pair had engaged in similar sex games. Geldof refers to deceased's demeanour as being 'hectoring and abusive and threatening' in nature. Fans, friends bid farewell to INXS lead singer. Whilst Ms Wilson and Mr Rayment were in the room Ms Martha Troup, the deceased's personal manager, rang from New York. She also handed over never-before-seen personal filmed footage shot by the couple during their relationship, as well as photos and letters. Michael Hutchence dined with his father Kelland Hutchence the night before he died. However, when she arrived at the hotel she was not able to rouse him by knocking loudly on his door nor by ringing him. He was aged 37. After the disappointing response to 1993's Full Moon, Dirty Hearts, and the chaos that ensured during its recording, the band had taken a long break. She lost custody of her eldest three children, again, with Geldof this time being awarded full custody. He had apparently hanged himself with his own belt and the buckle broke away and his body was found kneeling on the floor and facing the door. The couple broke up in 1991 while Kylie was touring in Japan. Michael In Pictures is now available at all good bookstores priced at $125. Three years later, the group released its 1980 self-titled debut album, which spawned the Australian hit Just Keep Walking., As lead singer, Hutchence took the band from a group that had success in their native Australia to worldwide fame with the 1985 album Listen Like Thieves, the 1987 LP Kick and 1990s X.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Pic: Marc Berry Reid, Kylie shared never-before-seen private videos and photos with the film's director, The bad boy of rock dated the princess of pop for two years. After recording was completed on the album, Hutchence began work on a solo record he would never complete. The tragic final days of INXS's Michael Hutchence 'nicest guy in the world' By Chuck Arnold November 22, 2022 8:00am Updated With an alluring Mick Jagger-meets-Jim Morrison aura, Michael. But Hutchences relationship with Yates who died in 2000 from a heroin overdose also pulled him into her tabloid-frenzied custody battle with Geldof. Stephen Gibbs for Daily Mail Australia Tony Harris/PA Images/Getty ImagesPaula Yates (right) and her lawyer Anthony Burton (center) leaving her London home to travel to Sydney after learning of Michael Hutchences death. So when Michael Hutchence died on the day of a rehearsal for the bands 20th-anniversary tour on November 22, 1997, shockwaves reverberated around the world. Paula Yates provided a statement regarding the background to the custody dispute between her and Sir Robert Geldof. MTV turned him into a mystifying presence: The cool, charismatic Hutchence became one of the greatest rock frontmen of his generation, oozing both soul and sex appeal. Hutchence's only daughter, Tiger Lily, turns 23 next month. London psychiatrist Mark Collins was consulted by Hutchence on October 17, 1997, in regard to a minor depression being experienced by him. So he posed for the photo. It was a short duration and Geldof asked the deceased to call back. Born on January 22, 1960, in Sydney, Australia, Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an introverted child.