Two previously unheard Michael Hutchence recordings are to feature on the soundtrack for Mystify – a new documentary about the late INXS frontman.
Hutchence was found dead on 22 November 1997 after he took his own life, just seven months after the Australian rock veterans released their 10th album ‘Elegantly Wasted’. He was 37.
The new movie Mystify, which was named after the band’s hit on the 1987 album ‘Kick’, is now set to premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival next month.
A statement from Petrol Records reveals that the film will “showcase the musical talents of Michael’s song writing and velvet lyrics,” and “weave recently discovered, and never-before heard, covers performed by Michael, with the much loved INXS classics that led the evolution of the music industry so many years ago”.
Mystify has been directed by Richard Lowenstein, who was also behind more than a dozen of the band’s early music videos.
“Their legacy is growing every day, and a new generation of fans from around the world are discovering INXS through streaming,” said Petrol Records’ Chris Murphy. “We are entering an exciting period of rediscovery of their legacy and a reassessment of their place in music history.”
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He continued: “There will be many insights revealed about Michael’s life and his music, which will create interesting conversations. Movies like Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born remind us of the extraordinary contributions that are made to popular culture when movies and music are creatively intertwined, and I am proud to say Mystify will be another great example.”
Back in 2017, a new documentary revealed what were believed to be the final words of the singer, while last year his sister opened up about the frontman’s final years.
Discussing her book Michael: My Brother, Lost Boy of INXS, Tina Hutchence said that she found it “very upsetting” that INXS’ management did little to help when her brother was visibly distressed during the band’s final tour in 1997.
“I found out more in reading some of the statements to the police,” said Tina. “The fact that the manager wrote Michael a letter saying she was very worried about him, and what can they do? Well obviously the thing to do is call off the tour that he didn’t want to be on, but they didn’t – it was on with the show.”