He is co-founder and creative force behind the hugely popular international super group INXS who had their peak in the '80s and '90s with more than 50 million in album sales, seven US Top 10s, three Grammy nominations, and five MTV Music Awards, with hits 'The One Thing,' 'Original Sin,' 'What You Need,' 'New Sensation,' 'Devil Inside,' 'Never Tear Us Apart,' 'Need You Tonight,' and so many more. Forty years later, the songs Andrew Farriss wrote are still getting their due, most recently from Dua Lipa and her 2020 mega-hit, "Break My Heart.' It uses the beat and melody of the INXS hit 'Need You Tonight.' In the years since, having written and produced for an eclectic group of artists from Tom Jones to Alisan Porter, he's come out with his first highly anticipated self-titled solo release, a beautiful Americana country album inspired by a trip to the outback and his love of American history, a shining example of the true depth and versatility of his talents. His accomplishments are vast. They include induction into the Australian Songwriter Hall of Fame and the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. His journey has been a storied one starting down the music path at just 14 years old, first playing the piano and then moving to guitar. Farriss and his two brothers, Tim and Jon (who were also to become members of INXS), got their professional music start in Sydney, Australia, in 1977 with a group aptly named The Farriss Brothers. It was in high school when Andrew stepped in to prevent two bullies from picking on Michael Hutchence, that a strong bond, that would later turn into INXS, was born. INXS swiftly grew into one of the most popular bands of the era. It was then that the songwriting partnership of Farriss and Hutchence blossomed. Quickly outgrowing their regional popularity in Australia by 1983, INXS was one of the featured acts at the Steve Wozniak (Apple Computers co-founder) produced US Festival in southern California in front of an estimated 250,000 people. They remained in the stratosphere for the rest of the decade and well into the new one selling out arenas worldwide. After the tragic passing of frontman and cohort Michael Hutchence in 1997 at age 37, Farriss and INXS soldiered on with a new lead singer, Canadian, J.D. Fortune. The band decided to call it a day in 2012. We were fortunate to have Farriss visit our studios recently to tell us all about his new musical journey, reminisce about the past, and what's coming next. This is a LifeMinute with Andrew Farriss.
