Epi 231: Interview with JD Fortune

Hey Legends! A quick-fire episode today with kudos and compliments to JD Fortune joining Bee before going live on stage as he embarks on his first-ever Australian tour and pays homage to the songs of INXS. Forever honest, Bee captures some great moments with JD as he delves into what a privilege it is to sing the songs and lyrics of INXS and do justice to continuing the rich legacy. With a tour spanning the major capital cities and select regional areas, fans are in for a treat as JD reminds fans and pundits of his incredible stage presence and blistering energy that cannot be missed. So sit back, enjoy, and live baby live with love and peace, Haydn.    You can watch the whole interview below: https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/post/an-exclusive-interview-backstage-with-jd-fortune-and-bee  

September 7th, 1988, marked the culmination of 11 years of toil and sweat, when a true “band of brothers” from down under became the biggest musical act on the planet by scooping the pool at the 1988 MTV Music Awards. Nominated for nine awards, INXS walked away with the top five major honors, edging out longtime rivals U2, along with music legends like George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, and XTC, with their iconic Need You Tonight/Mediate song and groundbreaking video. By this time, the MTV Awards had already surpassed the Grammys as the preeminent music event, and INXS rightfully stood as the darlings of the international music industry. Having spent the previous decade tirelessly touring the globe and steadily building momentum, they reached a crescendo that placed them at the very center of the late-’80s musical zeitgeist. With fellow icons including Rod Stewart, Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N’ Roses, Elton John, Cher, Bryan Ferry, Peter Gabriel, Cyndi Lauper, and The Bangles appearing or presenting, the night became both a peer-to-peer celebration and global recognition of INXS’ remarkable achievements. Much of this impact was amplified through the vision of legendary TV producer Dick Clark, who ensured the event was broadcast around the world. So it’s with great pleasure that Bee and I unpack this unforgettable night, explore the rise and history of the MTV Awards, and reflect on the lasting impact this achievement continues to hold within the INXS legacy. Love and peace ✌️ https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/  

INXS fans are in for another treat with Part Two of our fascinating deep dive with the inimitable Gary Grant who joined the INXS family in 1981. His contribution was as large as any in ensuring INXS’ business affairs, touring and promotional efforts were A grade in every way. A great storyteller, we get fascinating insights into the game-changing tour with Adam Ant in 1983, why Australian band Managers were so successful globally and numerous anecdotes about a time and place when music was front and centre in people’s entertainment consciousness. Gary generously shares the remarkable relationship and teamwork with Chris Murphy followed by the unfortunate fallout that culminated in the Concert for Life at Centennial Park in March 1992 with Gary departing the INXS family. Not one to rest on his laurels, Gary was able to parlay his skills into venue management whereby he spearheaded Sydney’s Luna Park’s foray into concert hosting. A role that would last over a dozen years and coincidentally saw him hosting INXS’ 2006 Sydney gigs with JD Fortune and the Switch Tour. We get Bee’s counterpoint “Pleasure and Pain” list from 1981, a special news section with some famous September birthdays (hello) plus an iconic tribute song that celebrates its 40th anniversary. So do yourself a favour, forget about the problems in your life and tune into INXS: Access all Areas! Love and Peace https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/ https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/patrons

Strap yourself in, because this week Haydn & Bee crank it up with none other than Gary Grant, INXS’s powerhouse Touring Manager! From sweaty pub gigs to sold-out stadiums, Gary was the guy making sure the lights, the sound, and the chaos all came together for the ultimate INXS experience. He takes us backstage, on the buses, and across the globe with stories that are raw, loud, and unforgettable. Ever wondered what it was really like to keep up with one of the world’s greatest rock bands on the road? Gary’s got the tales — the triumphs, the madness, and the magic — and he doesn’t hold back. This isn’t just an interview… it’s a front-row ticket to the wild ride that was INXS on tour. 🎸🔥   Plus we draw the winning ticket to see who will win the ultimate "Listen Like Thieves Goodie bag". Plus the NEWS section is jam-packed with cool stuff. Oh and yessss one of your and ours favourite segments is back, introduced by Toby Rand lead singer of Ashenmoon ( Garry Gary Beers's new band) Pleasure & Pain.    Would you like to become a patron and support the podcast? well here's the link, we can't wait to meet you and introduce you to the gang because we all unstand your love for the Best Band in the World INXS. https://patron.podbean.com/INXSAccessAllAreas    

Episode 227: Happy Birthday INXS: Time for a List!! August 16th, 2025 signifies another milestone with INXS turning 48 with coinciding birthday wishes to Tim Farriss (68 years young) and little brother Jon turning 64 in the same week. As such, what better way in celebrating the iconic tunes of INXS with a Bee and Haydn list. Focusing on the first half of their career, Bee and I count down our individual favourite “16” songs from 1980-1986 encompassing the debut album, Underneath the Colours, Shabooh Shoobah, The Swing and Listen like Thieves coupled with soundtracks and B sides. Why 16 you ask? Well with August 16th being INXS Day the birthday of INXS, we gave ourselves an extra bit of wriggle room in pruning down a vast list of iconic, memorable and fantastic songs. A task that contained enormous revision and painstaking commitment. Interestingly, our respective lists contain large swings and differences with a controversial omissions and ranking orders. With the 1991 London Wembley gig given a recent Sunday evening prime time slot in Australia, along with extra footage and interviews with Jon and Kirk, we discuss the ratings juggernaut outcome and take aways from the broadcast. So sit back, embrace the joy and jubilation of this very special episode that cannot be missed! Love and peace Haydn & Bee https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com

Triple J, the kings of alternative and underground radio since 1975 just held their public vote for Australia’s greatest 100 songs of all time with some 2.65 million people voting. That’s nearly 10% of the entire Australian population!!! It’s with pride, joy, exultation and somewhat genuine surprise, that INXS’ 1987 classic “Never Tear Us Apart” came in at number one despite stiff opposition from iconic acts such as AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Crowded House, Nick Cave and Gotye. Originally, darlings of the early Triple J movement back in 1982, INXS were later promoted heavily by more commercial FM radio stations like Triple and Fox FM particularly as their career soared globally in chart, touring and record sales were concerned. As such, INXS were often overlooked in previous polls which particularly in 1992 with their incredible Welcome to Wherever you Are, a sticking point for ardent fans. This poll win soothes the hearts of many. With Need you Tonight and Don’t Change featuring as well, INXS’ inclusion is a true victory for what Triple J’s mission statement espouses, namely “the world’s greatest music democracy”!! So we peel back how this awesome result came to fruition, tackle the time honoured debate and battles of Indie music vs the mainstream and most importantly why Never Year Us Apart as a song has grown in stature over the last 37 years!!! On Sunday 10th August at 8 pm we will also be doing our first "Watch Party" via facebook. Gathering the global INXS fans, to watch INXS's Live Baby Live being played with new commentry, on Australia's Channel & and Channel & Plus. Follow this link to find out more. https://www.facebook.com/share/1C5eBzcPvh/ Final days until we draw our latest raffle "A Bag Full of INXS Goodies" buy 5 tickes get 5 free. $20 a ticket. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGXxzgRaG5Q&list=RDqGXxzgRaG5Q&start_radio=1

A special 1 hour 50 mins feature album review this week, as Bee and I take nostalgic walk down memory lane to July 2019, where on the back of Richard Lowenstein’s heartfelt Documentary tribute to Michael Hutchence the subsequent Soundtrack: Mystify was released to Australia, Japan and European audiences. The brainchild of Chris Murphy, this innovative, unconventional and truly unique offering deconstructs the cliche soundtrack formats of yesteryear by carving a musical mosaic of songs, sounds, interview clips and reworking of familiar hits, deep cut, rarities and remixes of INXS and Michael solo tracks taking the listener on a sonic journey. Being released on multiple formats, the vinyl version comes with a double album and four sides allowing the listener to enjoy the nostalgic tactile experience with glorious liner notes and written contributions from each INXS band member on tribute to Michael. Strictly speaking, this isn’t a pure companion piece to the Mystify Documentary with the album track-listing varying considerably to the documentary and the release was not without issues between INXS Management and Richard. That aside, this album evokes every gamut of emotion whether it be joy, sorrow, pride, passion, positivity and pain. So do yourself a favour and listen to this album first then listen to this episode. You’ll enjoy it more!!! Love and peace Haydn & Bee https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/ https://www.change.org/p/induct-inxs-into-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2026

Who is Mark Opitz? Let’s just say this… without Mark Opitz, the sound of INXS – and a good chunk of Australian rock royalty – wouldn’t be what it is today. Mark Opitz is more than a record producer. He’s a sonic architect, a studio visionary, and the man behind the glass during some of the most defining moments in Aussie music history.  INXS – Yes, he helped shape their sound during that vital early international breakthrough with “Shabooh Shoobah”, and a few years later, he came back to help steer the band through two bold and creative studio albums: “Welcome to Wherever You Are” and “Full Moon, Dirty Hearts.” Albums that pushed boundaries, reinvented the band’s sound, and cemented their status as artists—not just hitmakers. But the Mark Opitz story doesn’t stop at INXS. Not even close. He’s worked with AC/DC, Cold Chisel, The Angels, Divinyls, Noiseworks, Hoodoo Gurus, Models, and Jimmy Barnes—and that’s just scratching the surface.  His shelves are stacked with ARIA Awards, platinum records, and accolades from every corner of the industry. He’s produced and engineered for acts like Kiss, Bob Dylan, and even The Rolling Stones during their Australian tour prep. Mark’s career spans decades and genres, always with a trademark focus on the craft of making records that last. And here’s the part we’re proudest of…  Mark is a patron and proud supporter of the INXS: Access All Areas Podcast. He believes in what we do, and he generously shared his time, stories, and wisdom with us across two incredible episodes.  Episodes 222 & 223 In this powerful 2-part series, Mark takes us inside the studio, unpacks how his mind works, and gives us a front-row seat to the alchemy of recording. You’ll hear about:  Working with a young Michael Hutchence  Finding that perfect guitar tone  Why studio psychology is just as important as the gear  What it takes to bring the best out of a band So… Who is Mark Opitz? He’s the producer behind your favourite tracks, the unsung hero of the Aussie rock explosion, and a man with a million stories told with heart, humour, and honesty.   Listen now to Episodes 222 & 223 of the INXS: Access All Areas Podcast and celebrate the genius of this legendary man. Rock history, straight from the source. There is also time to buy a raffle ticket and be in the running to win a cool INXS Goodie bag; it includes a CD gift wrapped and signed by Kirk Pengilly, one of Tim's guitar picks, the New Listen Like Thieves double CD, a Limited Edition Listen Like Thieves Lanyard, some Podcast merch. All tucked into an Offical Listen Like Thieves Tote bag. Here the link this is "What You Need!" https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/product-page/listen-like-thieves-raffle-ticket To find out more about the podcast here is our website https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/   Cheers Haydn & Bee

INXS: Access all Areas is guest month; where we are pleased to welcome famed Australian Producer, Author, Business Owner and Order of Australia (AM) recipient in 2020 from the Queen to the Podcast. With the recent passing of the iconic Beach Boys Co-Founder and musical maestro Brian Wilson, we were inspired to get a “little musical” and dive deep on the art of the “vocalist”. With production techniques and recordings evolving so much between the 1950’s through to the late 1970’s, we pay homage to Brian, his band mates and other artists that created a foundation that our very own INXS benefited from once they emerged from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Mark Opitz shares some fascinating insights dating back to 1978 where as a young emerging Producer with Albert’s Music (home of AC/DC, The Easybeats, Rose Tattoo and The Angels) got the opportunity to work with the Beach Boys and Brian over a weekend when touring Australia. Combining these vital recent production successes and techniques, INXS were to become the future beneficiaries of Mark’s sonic skills which lean into. So sit back, open up your musical hearts and minds to the sweet sounds and discussions of a unique but unmissable part one of a special feature double episode! Love and peace   Check out our latest raffle where you could win a Listen Like Thieves Goodie Bag which we will be adding too this week.  Offical Listen Like Thieves Tote Bag Listen Like Thieves double CD 2025 Listen Like Thieves Lanyard  Limited edition Timmy Farriss Guitar pick from Timmy to you. https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/product-page/listen-like-thieves

Listeners are in for a treat as we are re- joined by the inimitable Philip Mortlock for part two chat exploring a wider than normal range of music industry discussion nuggets. With the recent re-issue of Listen Like Thieves, Philip’s calligraphy artwork on the original release, particularly the track-listing is given due discussion along with the stunning photography stills that make up the entire album. Additionally, the dance remix cassette Dekadance release in 1985 that contained the iconic 4 singles from The Swing plus remixed plus two rare versions of Love is (What I Say) and Melting in the Sun was a welcome discussion point sure to excite time honoured INXS fans. Never one to procrastinate and rest on one’s laurels, Philip is still a vital force in the music industry spearheading his own Record Label, “Origin”. A label who lives its values of “Originality, Diversity and Creativity”, Philip allows artists the platform to perform and create unencumbered with acts including Tim Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House), ARIA award winner Megan Washington and APRA Song of the Year recipient Katie Noonan (George fame). So sit back, put your favourite headphones, earpods or device on and embrace the wonderful vocal wisdom of Philip Mortlock. Love and peace. Do you want to win the 'goodie bag"? then find out more. https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/