INXS is officially no more. The Australian rock band announced Monday that they are breaking up after 35 years in the business.
"We understand that this must come as a blow to everybody, but all things must eventually come to an end," the band said in a statement (via Billboard.com). "We have been performing as a band for 35 years, it's time to step away from the touring arena. Our music will of course live on and we will always be a part of that. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the friends and family that have supported us throughout our extensive career. Our lives have been enriched by having you all as a part of the journey."
INXS, made up of founding members Garry Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, and Kirk Pengilly, lost its frontman, Michael Hutchence, when he died at age 37 in 1997.
"It's been 35 years for INXS as a live touring band and unbelievably it's been 15 years ago since we lost Michael," Jon Farriss said in the band's statement. "We lived for each other in the trenches and we loved each other. It was the six of us against the world and then suddenly and inexplicably we were but five. We were lost right at the moment we were on top."
The first news of the split came on Sunday night when INXS played a concert in Perth, Western Australia. John Farriss reportedly announced to the crowd, “Tonight is very likely to probably be the last show we ever do ... Seriously we kind of kept it under wraps but we wanted to leave it till tonight to let you guys know and Perth is really important to us because we feel very connected to this wonderful city. I’m getting all teared up.”
[via Billboard]
