INXS: Access All Areas

After 20 years of being eligible for the World Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, INXS finally, on February 25th, 2026, have been formally nominated for inclusion, leading to an outpouring of global joy and pride amongst music fans and critics. Andrew Farriss exclusively shared with Billboard how proud he, his bandmates and the late Michael Hutchence would have been to be recognised amongst their peers. "To matter musically" was more important than fads, trends and commercial success, and this nomination is an important validation of this notion. INXS were one of ten new nominees out of a field of 17 artists recognised, and were understandably faced stiff opposition from fellow nominees such as Joy Division/New Order, Billy Idol and Phil Collins insofar as the Hall’s recognition of artists that peaked in the 80’s. In April 2026, the final induction list shall be announced, but you can have a voice and influence this outcome by voting via the Rock Hall’s fan voting portal https://vote.rockhall.com/ So do yourself a favour, share the link with everybody you do and don’t know and in the words of Michael Hutchence’ lyric to Kick: “Cmon, Cmon, Cmon, Cmon” and ensure justice is done in April whereby the band INXS are rightly ordained into the Rock Hall of Fame along with their many influences The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Roxy Music etc… and we can all congregate in Cleveland and celebrate this iconic and wonderful recognition Love and peace  Haydn & Bee https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/  

Australia Day Weekend 2026 saw the coming together of many INXS fans and patrons of this show for a special commemoration of what would have been Michael Hutchence’s 66th birthday. It was a fantastic bus trip commencing from the iconic Northern Beaches in Sydney.  Attendees were greeted with a video acknowledgment from the sax god Kirk Pengilly and recent podcast guest Gary Grant (Former Tour Manager). We proceeded to famous INXS landmarks such as Clontarf Beach (the "Stay Young" video landmark), a Brookvale Industrial building where they rehearsed and gigged in 1979 and the Intercontinental Hotel where we lost Michael. Later that night, it went straight to the Dee Why RSL for the fantastic Don’t Change The Ultimate INXS Tribute Show gig, in front of over 650+ passionate, proud and energetic fans to witness 30 blistering tracks, including one Midnight Oil song paying tribute to the recent passing of drummer Rob Hirst. With the DC Boys paying homage to the 40th anniversary of Listen Like Thieves, the band proceeded to play the entire album plus 19 other songs from Underneath the Colours through to the X album. Big shoutout to all those who contributed and won their respective raffle prizes, and to all those who contributed to a great weekend and Bee’s tireless efforts. Finally, with a chunky news section catching up on fascinating INXS updates, it’s also an opportunity to share some major changes to our podcast.  You’ll need to stay tuned until the “final wrap” to find out. Love and peace https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/ [email protected]  

A new year means a refreshed focus to bring you vital and valuable updates to the INXS community, and Bee and I are grateful to have this forum to map our individual and, collectively, our Top 7 INXS wishlists for 2026. With the band’s touring and recording days behind them, INXS has maintained itself as a vital entity globally with a catalogue, mystique and legacy that still stands the test of time. That being said, there is a set of initiatives, projects and possibilities that INXS and management could explore that may increase their relevance and provide the impetus to a Rock Hall of Fame Induction. Interestingly, Bee and I have little crossover with our respective lists and very much hope some of these suggestions can eventuate and inspire new and existing fans globally. With our first news update section of the year and our Australia Day weekend INXS get together pending, do yourself a favour and tune into the latest episode of INXS: Access all Areas. Can’t wait to hear your wishlists too!! Love and peace   https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/  

Happy 2026 New Year cheer to everyone in the INXS community, and welcome to our 6th year of unique INXS Podcast content. We kick off the year with the wonderful Lucinda Clutterbuck, famed Australian animator and film clip maker for INXS’ 1993 “Please, you got that need”. A video that formed part of the Full Moon Dirty Hearts Album Visual project helmed by Richard Lowenstein. Having forged her way in the artistic community working with The Machinations, Midnight Oil and The Black Sorrows, Lucinda’s creativity shifted between animation, documentaries, TV, public art and film. Traversing her skills globally, particularly in France and Costa Rica, many of Lucinda’s key projects were met with much success during her time in Sydney and Melbourne, collaborating with many iconic Australian creatives. Her husband, Ray Argall, Directed 1990’s, AACTA Film of the Year (formerly the AFI Awards) “Return Home” co-starring up-and-coming Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn, who similarly featured in the Full Moon Dirty Hearts film clip and later starred in The Dark Knight Rises. So sit back and ease your way into 2026 with a fascinating deep dive with the wonderful Lucinda Clutterbuck. Love and Peace https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/  

Kick 2017 Video with Director Steve Hanft “Watch the world argue, argue with itself, who’s going to teach me peace and happiness” (Dancing on the Jetty 1983)... Never have these words and lyrics been more appropriate as all Australians try to make sense of the abhorrent terrorism at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. A beach with so many INXS connections that we discuss on this episode. That aside, we dedicate this episode to every person affected by this horrible crime.   We are thrilled to have Steve Hanft, the famed Californian film clip Director and early YouTube content creator, join the INXS podcast family and talk about his iconic 2017 promotional video for the song Kick, the eponymous title track commemorating the 30th anniversary of this juggernaut album’s release. Having grown up with and worked on Beck’s 1994 Video of the Year track “Loser”, Steve has been a mainstay in the underground and alternative music scene, producing clips for The Cure, Primal Scream and Elliot Smith. Additionally, Steve was at the forefront of YouTube with his award-winning “Sunglasses Catch", which has been named one of “The 10 Most Important YouTube Videos” according to Business Insider.   With a video shot on the beaches and boardwalks of Los Angeles, Steve shares some fascinating insights into the production, cast, Garry Gary Beers cameo and the vision behind the first-ever film clip for this fantastic song, and the influence Chris Murphy had. As we close out 2025, a big shout-out to our very important patrons who keep this podcast alive, to all our listeners, our amazing support team behind the scenes and every guest who has given up their time. We thank you so much. Love and peace, and have a great Christmas and New Year's break  We look forward to catching up with some of you soon at our next event on Saturday, 24th January, to celebrate Michael Hutchence's life https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/new-notable Love Haydn and Bee

As we enter that festive time of year, there has been so much going on in the INXS world and broader rock music community with numerous tours, anniversary dates and industry events. As such, Bee and I thought it was appropriate to take stock and simply chat about all of these in a unique deep dive with an obvious INXS slant. There are at least 10 significant anniversary dates about past INXS releases, celebrating another yearly milestone. With Thanksgiving being recently enjoyed, Bee and I share our top 5 “most thankful” INXS moments of personal fan gratitude, and as always, we are miles apart with our lists. Operating in reverse order, we round out a bumper news section highlighting one global band's take on an INXS classic that shall confound you all! Oh yeah, it’s been two years overdue, but we have a much-needed return of “The Rant” with one Australian journalist firmly in my firing line! So sit back, relax, pour a beer, wine, soda or coffee and enjoy a jam-packed episode of INXS: Access all Areas! Love and peace https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/

The months of October and November are anniversary periods of many INXS albums, and as such, we pay tribute to both Listen Like Thieves and Full Moon Dirty Hearts in a unique but fitting way. Released in 1985, Listen Like Thieves was a guitar-crunching, live-sounding and Chris Thomas-produced tour de force that broke the band in America and set the template for the juggernaut of Kick, only two years later. Full Moon Dirty Hearts, released in 1993, was an overlooked gem, coming hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed Welcome to Wherever You Are, which had been released only 14 months earlier. This was an experimental and hook-laden musical soundscape that was sadly overlooked in the marketplace as the grunge movement took over the planet. So Bee and I stack these two albums up track by track in an album “face off” where we compare, rank and rate 1-12 each song against one another with a collective lens on how these two fine albums connect with our ears, hearts and minds in 2025. And before you INXS nerds (like me) share the fact that Listen Like Thieves only has 11 songs, not 12 as FMDH does, we add a red herring to balance out the contest! With a bumper news section and a unique tribute track, it’s time to forget about the problems in your life and enjoy the gift that is INXS: Access all Areas! Love and peace https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/  

It’s that time of the year again when the wider musical industry, ardent INXS fans and friends/family give pause to the unfortunate loss of Michael Hutchence 28 years ago.   As a podcast in its 6th year, Bee and I have acknowledged November 22 nd, in a variety of ways. Some episodes have been heartfelt and mixed with solemnity. Some have acknowledged Michael’s legacy with joy and unbridled pride.   In 2025, we thought it was appropriate to revisit an iconic episode with the Herald Sun Newspaper’s leading journalist, Nui Te Koha, the last person ever to interview Michael, some 5 days before his untimely passing.   If you’re new to INXS: Access All Areas, you’re in for a special episode that pays due homage to Michael. If you’ve heard it before, experience it again under the lens of this heartfelt anniversary when the world lost one of its greatest frontmen. RIP Michael, from all who miss you. You’ll always be one of our kind! Love and peace   https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/  

On November 8th, 2025, in America, we will witness the latest induction of musical acts into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Cindy Lauper, The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Bad Company, OutKast, and Chubby Checker as the recipients of this career-defining accolade. Obviously, the INXS fan community are disappointed with their continued omission; however, Bee and I get to dive deep with the USA Podcast team of “Who Cares about the Rock Hall of Fame” namely Host Joe Kwaczala, courtesy of valued patrons Jon Jamen and Dr Jim, who attended last year's ceremony. An experienced voice behind the machinations of the Rock Hall Committee, Joe shares some interesting insights, opinions, anecdotes and theories behind both the decision-making process and INXS’ likely induction prospects in the years to come. INXS: Access All Areas' mission statement is to encourage, showcase, chronicle, rejoice in, and retrospectively highlight the amazing catalogue and contributions INXS have made to music and listeners across the globe. However, we’ve wanted our Podcast to expedite its ascent to the Rock Hall of Fame. Hopefully, this episode alerts important voters on the Committee to nominate them for 2026!!! Love and peace https://www.inductinxs.com/ https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/

Mid-October is an important anniversary in the INXS world. The band released six albums during this period, with Kick being the most notable. It’s this iconic release, some 38 years ago, that we commemorate in this episode. With the world at their feet following the commercial breakthrough of Listen Like Thieves, particularly in the States, the band handed over full songwriting responsibilities to both Michael and Andrew, with the results soaring above and beyond all expectations. Rather than review the album (as done previously), Bee and I take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and reminisce about this 1987 release, our feelings, impressions and how its legacy stands tall 38 years later amongst fans, peers and critics. Additionally, Haydn dives deep into his Crown Casino concert experience with JD Fortune and the band in Melbourne with song setlist deep dives and after-show meet and greets with him. Combined with a chunky news section and an iconic tribute cover song at the end of the episode, make sure you tune, shut out the world and get your needed fix of INXS: Access all Areas. Love and peace ✌️ https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/   You can watch the YouTube Video of the play-out song here. https://youtu.be/CmQiM8MQYEI?si=Ze4JqdzXI7vlRvgW