Flame Fortune – ‘After Dark’ Interview with Donnie Sutherland
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During 1984 as Michael Hutchence was creating a frenzy with INXS in the USA on 'The Swing World Tour'. Michael was given a demo tape of LA Valley girl Flame Fortune. Michael was impressed and brought her back to Australia to record the single 'Sex Symbol' backed with 'Jungle Boy'.
Michael co-produced the single and performed backing vocals. The musicians who played on this project were known as 'The Rocking Love Gods'. They included Tim Brosman, Buzz Bidstrup (The Angels, Gangajang), Andrew Farriss (INXS), Rick Grossman (Divinyls), Barton Price (The Models) and James Reyne (Australian Crawl).
Watch Flame interviewed on 'After Dark' by Donnie Sutherland.
The single was released on orange vinyl by Polygram in 1985, with a video clip by Richard Lowenstein which also features the late Troy Davies. At the time there was quite alot of hype about Flame Fortune, and she was featured on the cover of Countdown Magazine in April 1985!
She soon faded from the spotlight but Flame released 'I.O.Pan' during 1991 in Australia. The lyrics seemed to predict her own death…and not long after she was found murdered!
It is believed Michael Hutchence wrote the INXS song 'Show Me (Cherry Baby)' about Flame Fortune, which appeared on his last studio album with INXS 'Elegantly Wasted'. At shows on the 1997 INXS tour Michael often introduced the song as "this is about a girl from LA who was murdered".
Watch the 'Sex Symbol' video clip below, and for details on Flame Fortune releases check out the Discography section. R.I.P. Flame Fortune!
Oh my! I've heard of Michael's interest in Flame Fortune, but never realized she was from LA. And more importantly that she may have been "Cherry Baby". I was at a show that Michael introduced the song as 'this is about a girl who was murdered in LA". Still learning something new everyday!
Matt, where can I read more about the life, and indeed the murder of Flame?