INXS rework greatest hits

Wed 9th Sep, 2009 in Local News

Ageing pop warriors INXS will continue to churn out music with a rumoured ‘greatest hits album’ in the works in tribute to late frontman Michael Hutchence. After ditching reality TV-appointed vocalist JD Fortune at a Hong Kong airport and not returning his calls for almost a year, the Grammy-nominated group has recruited a host of modern voices to rework selected hits from their career that has spanned over three decades.

The first recruit, The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers joined INXS in the studio to re-record Beautiful Girl. “I always felt a connection to it. I felt a little bit inferior as I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes but it was fun,” Flowers said. A demo was compiled featuring this track so the ARIA Hall of Fame inductees could approach other singers with the project.

The idea was pitched to Rob Thomas as a ‘greatest hits album re-imagined with different singers’ and the Matchbox 20 frontman agreed to lay vocals down on several tracks. “I sang Never Tear Us Apart and Original Sin ... because I got in early, I got to ask,” Thomas said.

The album will have a distinct Aussie touch with Gabriella Cilmi and Kav Temperley of Eskimo Joe also confirmed to record tracks on the forthcoming release. James Ash of Rogue Traders fame is reportedly producing the album, fitting seeing as the ‘Aussie-born Englishman’ won the 2003 Aria Award for Best Dance Release for his take on INXS’ Need You Tonight, aptly renamed One Of My Kind.

Coincidentally, Irish indie kids Snow Patrol have recently recorded a cover of New Sensation to be included on their upcoming mix tape album Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol, which may also get a run on the greatest hits collection.