Michael Hutchence Forums

1. Matt
   Key Master

   Which INXS concert best represents Michael Hutchence? Not the best filmed eg. Wembley Stadium had like 16 different cameras from all angles...

   What era represents MH the best?

   Is the Rockin' The Royals concert in front of Prince Charles and Princess Diana from Melbourne the best?

   What era shows MH at his best was it during Kick or X? Or earlier when they were more popular in Australia with The Swing & Listen Like Thieves?

   Was it Rock in Rio in 1991, Was it Narara in 1984, was it one of the Kick concerts as shown in In Search of Excellence like Wembley Arena 1988?

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. jimavfc
   Member

   I believe that the Rockin' The Royals show is the best snap-shot of the man at his 'natural', in my opinion, best (his charm and sheer confident performance are so effortless and in his eyes IMHO was a man at a peek of his happiness), while the Wembley Stadium show was a more of a rock god swagger/arrogance.
   I loved the Get Out Of The House tour, and to me it summed both of the above 'Michael' personnas perfectly.
   It has to be said though, that I'm far from a completest in regard to having owned or seen filmed live gigs throughout his career. YouTube and bootleggers have enlightened me more than INXS I'm afraid, and I'm still not in possession of many shows IN-FULL. :-(

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. Heather Hartzell
   Member

   For me it will always be Michael at the US Fest in 1983. That's the image I have of him in my head. That's when he was still bouncing around all over the place and I think it was before the 'panther-like' persona he would later develop in the 90's. I loved Rockin' The Royals. It made me giggle that he would swear in front of the royal family and he sure as hell looked good. On the flip side, I have to say the last few shows I saw in California and Pittsburgh showed a Michael who was struggling but trying to find the joy in performing again. He was so out of it for most of that tour. But, at the end, I think I thought I saw him try. I saw glimpses of the Michael I was familiar with. I'd take whatever Michael I could get these days. I'd even take no Michael at all if it meant he could live.

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. cathy v
   Member

   Well, I had a different answer to this on FB, but I'm going to say the footage from In Search of Excellence at the Civic Auditorium, San Francisco '88. That was my first INXS show seeing live. I went and got Rocking the Royals after that, and as much as I liked it, it didn't compare to that first live experience!
   Heather , what California show are you referring to? I was lucky to see the Greek Theater'97, which I thought was good. But I agree, he wasn't himself in San Diego a couple nights later! But even so, it was a very fun and memorable show!

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. jimavfc
   Member

   I didn't enjoy the shows I saw at the Birmingham NEC Areana in 1990 and 1997. Hutch was off his face in different ways for each :-(
   1990 he seemed toooooooooooo mellowed (I believe from what I've read he was DEEP into the Ecstasy at the time - peace and love maaaaan!! :-) )
   1997, well, what can I say. The recorded shows from performances upto the point (1996/early 1997) he looked and acted great/focused/hot. I saw INXS that year in June, and frankly, he was forgetting lyrics, his 'cool' swagger was forced, and he looked like a man trying to get his mojo back. It was heart-breaking then and in hindsight in light of it being the last performance I saw in person :-( Seems he was like it for the remainder of that tour?

   Before, and between the 2 above though, god he was fantastic when I saw him!

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. Heather Hartzell
   Member

   I thought the Ecstasy thing was kind of funny. It made him kind of lovey dovey. The shows in '97..not so much. He had a soul sickness that just showed in his eyes. He didn't move around like he used to unless it was to climb on things and I hated the whole 'Dean Martin' smoking and drinking onstage. But, I believed he'd get help and be ok. He needed to be in a clinic and not on tour. But, that's my two cents worth.

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. DWoodford
   Member

   I LOOOOVE the Summer XS concert at Wembley Stadium. I just cannot get enough of that concert. Michael was really on his game in that performance. It showed in his face, his eyes, his voice, the way he performed, and his interactions with his bandmates and the audience. "Bitter Tears" was especially good, the way he sang that straight from his heart. And that incredible smile. He was giving it everything he had, right from the first time he opened his mouth to sing. That's Michael at his best, in my opinion. I wish I could have been at that concert, but I have the DVD, and I've watched it over and over. Great stuff.

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. jimavfc
   Member

   How has "Civic Auditorium, San Francisco '88" never been released in full?
   Shocking!
   :-(

   Posted 1 year ago #

9. Matt
   Key Master

   Maybe because only certain songs were recorded from that concert for 'In Search Of Excellence' home video. Unless the band pay to record a whole concert like say Wembley Stadium which cost the band heaps, or it's recorded for a tv show special like RockPalast, most concerts only 2 or 3 songs get recorded. Just like how photographers are only usually allowed to take photos for the first 3 songs then they have to leave. With that San Francisco 88 concert it was recorded in full by Westwood One for radio broadcast in USA.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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