Remembering Michael Hutchence and Meat Loaf
by Jim McGuinn
January 22, 2022

January 22 would have been INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence’s 62nd birthday, and we’ll celebrate on Teenage Kicks with his music. Growing up mostly in Sydney, Hutchence kicked around in punk bands, one of which came together around the Farriss Brothers, Andrew and Tim, morphing into INXS. By 1987’s Kick, their funky, punky, rock and roll was filling stadiums, and Hutchence’s swaggering stage presence made him second only to his pal Bono as an ‘80s frontman. Meanwhile, his relationships with models and popstars became tabloid fodder. Landing hard on his head after an altercation, Hutchence lost his sense of taste and smell, which led to depression and aggressive behavior. Combined with a contentious custody battle involving girlfriend Paula Yates and Bob Geldof, Hutchence passed tragically in November 1997 at the age of just 37.
And late this week, we learned of the passing of singer and actor Meat Loaf. Born Marvin Lee Aday, Meat Loaf was best known for the 1977 album Bat Out Of Hell, one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold 43 million copies worldwide. Meat Loaf also won a 1994 Grammy Award for the song "I'd Do Anything For Love."
We’ll remember Michael Hutchence and Meat Loaf on this week’s Teenage Kicks.



