(WILD CHEERING)
# Come on, come on, come on, come on... #
MAN: INXS have sold more than 12 million albums
and are now considered the most successful band in the world.
Made up of three brothers and their school mates
from the Northern Beaches of Sydney,
Michael Hutchence, Jon Farriss, Andrew Farriss,
Tim Farriss, Garry Beers and Kirk Pengilly
burst onto the international scene in 1983
with their combination of hard-driving Aussie rock
and black funk rhythms.
Kirk, how's it look out there?
Remember that crap pub in Nambucca Heads?
It's nothing like that!
-How's the ankle? -She'll be right.
Today, I feel no pain, Timmy.
I've got you booked for
a recording session in the morning.
-Tomorrow? -10 o'clock, bright and early.
Are you kidding? When are we supposed to sleep?
When you get old.
No-one's sleeping tonight, Garry.
Not you, not me, not Andrew, not no-one!
(WOMEN SCREAM)
Hey!
Kimmy, baby! Mwah!
Oh, I like those glasses.
-You keeping them on today? -No way.
I wore contacts once, and I could see the audience
and everything they do.
(LAUGHS)
When I see that audience, I run!
-I'm Michael. -And I'm Tim.
We're INXS. It's Saturday, and we're playing live at Wembley.
-How do I play this thing? -(LAUGHTER)
Hey, I got this made.
Are you gonna wear that on stage?
Yeah. The dude rocks!
Long hair, beard, supposed to be the son of God -
how much better can you get?
Maybe I'll get one that says 'Mohammed'.
-Wardrobe! -You right, mate?
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah.
OK, everybody out now! Just the guys in here, thanks!
-'Bye, babe. -See you soon.
(CHATTER)
-'Bye. -See ya.
-Whew. -(CROWD ROARS OUTSIDE)
(RADIO CHATTER)
-MAN: You ready, Jon? -Yeah.
(WILD CHEERING)
(MUTTERS) Oh, shit.
(DRUMS REVERBERATE)
-He's started. -Time to go, boys!
Whoa! Here we go!
-Whoo! -Get out there!
Come on! Get out there!
-Have fun out there. -I will.
(SINGS) # Hey!
# Mm, yeah!
# See the sound
# Crashes in
# All around
# It gets in
# Now take your hands
# And raise them up
# Into the air
# That's all around ya
# Guns in the sky
# Guns in the sky. #
-(WILD CHEERING) -Hello, Wembley!
('NEW SENSATION' INTRO PLAYS)
# Live, baby, live
# Now that the day is over
# I got a new sensation
# Mmm, perfect moment
# It's so impossible to refuse, now
# Now
# Are you ready for a new sensation?
-# A new sensation -# Right now
-# It's gonna take you over -# A new sensation
# A new sensation A new sensation
# A new sensation. #
(WILD CHEERING)
-So, Wembley. -It was amazing.
Biggest pub gig we ever did.
For a moment, INXS was the biggest band in the world.
Hard to believe, really. It didn't start out that way.
# We have climbed so high
# Never wanna die
# Born to be wild
# Ow! Come on, come on!
# Looking for adventure... #
-(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) -Thank you.
Thank you. We're The Farriss Brothers.
We're gonna take a short break. Don't go away.
Hi, Dez. What's the matter? We played covers.
That song is from 10 years ago!
Yeah, you said covers first set. That's what we did.
Second set, we play our own stuff.
Do you want to lose all your gigs?
-We're not gonna lose gigs. -How many last week?
I'll tell you. Six. 'Cause I booked them.
-How many you got this week? -Two.
Two. That's right.
Come with me. There's something I want to show you.
OK. See this?
This is Wes's car.
You boys are just as good.
You could be as big as The Fingerprints.
Big crowds, top dollar. But you have to play covers.
Covers from the radio.
-Do I make myself clear? -Yeah, mate.
Radio covers!
And you, you play bass. You do it!
(ALL LAUGH)
-Don't do it. -No, fuck him, let's do it.
Andrew?
-Go, Jonny. -Oh, shit!
# Well, just the other day while alone in my room
# I said to myself I need something new
# I've cut a new life slice Feed the lions twice
# And they'll shake their manes in confusion
# My love, my love's in vain
# My love... #
(SILENCE, PATRONS EXCLAIM)
You could have been alright, boys!
But now you'll be nothing,
and nobody will know who you dickheads are!
And you, you play bass. You do it!
(ALL LAUGH)
What do we do now?
None of us want to do what we're doing in there, right?
-I didn't mind having a job. -I mean playing covers.
-This is the moment. -What moment?
This is the moment when we say, "No matter what,
"no matter what anyone says, no matter how long it takes -
"five years, six, who cares? - we will never do that again."
Unless you want to keep playing covers.
-God, no! -Right.
Then from now on, we play only our own music.
We say, "No matter what, that's what we're gonna do."
Dez thinks no-one's ever gonna hear of us.
-Dez is wrong. -Fuck Dez!
-Yeah, double-fuck him! -What does that mean?
-I'm agreeing with you. Twice. -(OTHERS LAUGH)
-Andy. -Well, it's a million to one.
Andrew, I'm trying to be inspirational here.
-I'm just trying to... -Andrew, come on.
Are we serious about this? Only our own music.
-Yeah? -Yeah, let's do it.
Great! Well, I've got good news. We've got a gig.
Dez will never get us another gig.
-It's not in Perth. -Well, where?
At a mine in Mount Goldsworthy.
Mount Goldsworthy?
That's the arse-end of Australia.
3,000 bucks. Cash in advance.
-T... -A...
-Yeah! -(ALL LAUGH)
(BAND PLAYS INTRO TO 'SIMPLE SIMON')
Get off!
Where's Michael?
WOMAN: Oh! Oh!
You gotta take these off. I'm supposed to be on stage!
Oh!
Get on the mic.
-What? -Get on the mic!
# Simon found love...
# In love he thinks he found himself
# Only has a heart for her and her alone
# He walks down crowded streets and doesn't feel alone
# No, never alone
# Walks in space with his feet firmly on the ground
# Camp on love sign People I talk about
# Johnny knows love song People I talk about
# Simon Oh-oh-oh, Simon
# Oh-oh-oh, camp on love sign People I talk about
# Johnny knows love song People I talk about
# Simon Oh-oh-oh, Simon
# Oh-oh-oh... #
Close your eyes and think of Sydney.
-You're 17! He's 17, Timmy! -Mum, I...
He's not going anywhere, at least until he finishes school.
I can't miss this! I won't.
Was this your idea? He's in Year 11.
Just wanted to keep the band together, Mum.
We can't get gigs in Perth.
We've got 3,000 bucks now. We can pay for it.
We're better than this anyway.
And what if it doesn't work out in Sydney?
Where does that leave Jon?
So this your plan, is it?
All of you?
You just go.
At once?
Mum!
I've got four projects due tomorrow.
I haven't started any of them.
Even if I go back to school I'll still fail.
So I'm not going.
I want to be the best drummer in the world.
Jonny, your mum's scared.
I'm scared.
You're trying to succeed in a luxury trade.
So school is important.
You've got to try and balance what you're doing
with a trade that people need.
You know, like making brooms.
I'll look after him, Dad.
You'd better.
(POWERFUL DRUMBEAT)
ANDREW: The pub scene in Sydney was fantastic.
There was live music everywhere.
You could do a gig at midnight or 3:00am.
We played everywhere
from the Avalon RSL to the Bondi Lifesavers.
We had no money, but at least we weren't playing covers.
We were still trying to find our sound, you know?
We got our first real manager in Sydney. Gary Morris.
He was big. He managed Midnight Oil.
Although he hated our band name, 'The Farriss Brothers'.
He thought it sounded like a bad country and western band.
(COUGHS) Hey, mate.
Hey.
TV: It's in Persia, the home of the quince,
that its merits are appreciated as nowhere else.
If you've never tried the quince as a conserve,
you should.
Real fruit. Now real IXL quince jelly.
Sir Henry Jones said,
"I will excel in everything I do."
IXL conserves, now available at your supermarket.
Wake up!
Wake up, guys, wake up!
I've got your name. For the band.
I was watching this jam ad, right?
And the guy said, "I excel at everything I do."
'IXL' - get it?
And in music, you guys jam, right?
'IXL' there, 'XTC' here.
I'm thinking this is more than a coincidence.
This is a combination of weird shit
just coming together and pointing in the one direction.
Your new name.
"Inks."
-That sucks. -In excess!
Like when you've had too much of something.
Like when you've smoked way too much pot.
It's mysterious too, like 'inaccessible'.
I can see it all right now.
We'll get you back from the audience, prism of white light.
We'll get you, Garry, Jon in white overalls.
Dye your hair black. Ha! It'll be great!
(INTRO TO 'TO LOOK AT YOU' PLAYS)
# What is the name to call
# For a different kind of girl
# Who knows the feelings but never the words?
# To look at you and never speak
# Is so good for me tonight
# To look at you and never speak
# Is so good for me tonight
# What is the name to call
# For a different kind of girl
# Who knows the feelings but never the words?
# Who do you ask when there's no-one left to turn to?
# You ask me and I'll always try to hear... #
(CHEERING)
# Past money and colours and make-believe... #
(CHEERING)
# Good cheap values for a thrifty clown
# To look at you and never speak
# Is so good for me tonight
# To look at you and never speak
# Is so good for me tonight... #
This shit is burning my eyeballs!
(LAUGHTER)
I don't mind the overalls. I reckon they're great.
I look like a John West sardine!
-Look at my hair! -Mate...
I didn't even recognise you out there.
-Did you see that girl? -Couldn't see a fucking thing.
-Which girl? -She was gorgeous.
That's it. That's it!
Every night, find a girl and sing to her like that.
-The whole crowd just wanted... -To fuck you, mate.
-Yes! -(ALL LAUGH)
I wanted to fuck you too!
-I loved this. This was great! -Yeah!
Whoo-hoo! Whoo!
Sounds like you guys were having a great time.
We were getting more gigs, it just wasn't enough.
But we'd worked out a way to keep our heads above water.
(CRICKET ON RADIO)
-Whatcha cooking? -Bass strings.
Gotta keep 'em clean.
Yum! (CHUCKLES)
How you going, buddy?
I made more money when I played that nudist colony gig at 14.
-It's true! -(DOOR OPENS)
Jon Farriss?
-Hey. -Where's your bedroom?
Pardon?
Detective Sergeant Chambers.
This is Detective Loomis.
-Where's your bedroom, son? -Uh. It's...
It's upstairs.
What's going on?
Tim! Tim!
-You selling drugs? -What?
-Um, no. -Save me the time.
Other than that roach in your hand, anything else in here?
No.
-How old are you? -17.
What's this?
(RATTLING)
Now, where'd you get this?
Some guy sold it to me at a gig.
How much you pay?
-Six dollars. -You got ripped off!
-Come on. -Detective, wait.
I'm taking him in.
Call a responsible adult to come and get him.
Fucking...
I'm getting on a plane and I'm coming there to bring him home.
-No, Mum! -You promised me!
You promised you'd look after him!
I know. I stuffed up.
But he's 17. There's no charges.
Right, well, the three of you are coming home, you hear?
-Mum! -Now!
-We've got to clean up our act. -But how do we pay for rent?
-Kirk... -Food, petrol...
We gotta get more gigs, that's how.
Shit, we can't have the cops coming round here.
Yeah. I know.
It almost ended that day. Everything.
If Mum turned up and took Jon back to Perth,
that was it.
And Gary Morris had called a meeting.
Maybe it's a record deal.
Or maybe we're getting the sack.
We haven't been making him much money.
Get in.
I realised something. I've been lying to you guys.
Burying my head in the sand.
You guys could be a great band.
But you need his help.
-Whose? -Jesus Christ.
I went and saw Billy Graham last week,
and when he talked, I saw through all of the bullshit,
and I understood our purpose.
You understand, Tim.
You and Kirk used to play in a Christian band.
I realised that's what we have to do now.
We must become the greatest Christian band in the world.
MICHAEL: What the hell are you talking about?
I know, I know, I know! It sounded crazy to me too.
Until the ethereal beings explained it to me.
OK.
This could be the answer to everything, Garry.
This was meant to be.
Become a Christian band and He will reward you.
-Could use a new van. -No, no, I'm serious, Garry.
He will reward you.
But you have to give up dope, booze and sex before marriage.
KIRK: Couldn't we just cut down?
This isn't splitting the atom, mate.
You paid 300 last time, right?
Did they sell out? Did you make money?
Right. So now you pay 350.
That's the way it fucking works.
As for what Stivala says, quote me.
What do you want?
(INTRO TO 'JUST KEEP WALKING' PLAYS)
# Green fields, grass and earth
# Broken bottles, bricks and dirt
# Sunshine soothing Clouds are hazy
# Dark street corners Feeling lazy
# Fast car driving Sleek and modern
# Public transit Photos waiting
# Blood and glass... #
They're not bad, eh?
OK, why do you want to give them to me? You hate me.
I can't serve both Christ and the band.
Gonna convert the Oils?
Ha-ha! Garrett already thinks he's God.
They're great guys, Chris.
I don't want to leave them in the lurch.
I'm a booking agent, Gary.
My mum was a booking agent. My dad was. I'm not a manager.
Just have a chat to them.
# A country home It's a kitsch living
# Money can buy almost anything
# But anything's nothing when you're dead
# Fast car driving Sleek and modern... #
KIRK: Oh!
-(LAUGHTER) -No.
We don't need a booking agent, Chris.
-Gary's gone. We've got no-one. -I told you, it's not what I...
We need a manager.
Come on, you know how the system works. You know the steps.
How to get us a record deal, how to get us on the charts.
-Is that what you want? -Yes!
I don't want to sound like a wanker,
but I could have managed Chisel, The Angels.
-I could have. -Manage us.
I have, arguably,
the most successful booking agency in Australia.
We know.
And you're asking me to give that away to be your manager?
To get you a record deal and book you on 'Countdown'?
I'm not interested in that. That's not enough for me.
Here you go. They're a little overdone, but...
Thanks.
Too many Australian bands get a record deal, hit the charts,
they think, "Oh, we've made it."
But Australia's too small.
If I'm going to be your manager - IF -
you gotta want more than that.
You gotta play every night, up and down the coast.
You gotta get as good as you can here.
You can't stop.
You can never say, "That's enough."
You're gonna hate it sometimes. You'll want to quit.
But if you don't, I promise
you can be more than just another Australian pub band.
A lot more.
And that's...
..that's what interests me.
-MICHAEL: Thanks, Chris. -(ALL EXCHANGE GOODBYES)
-(DOOR CLOSES) -(ALL EXCLAIM EXCITEDLY)
ANDREW: You guys can jump up and down all you want,
but we just gave away 20%.
Yeah - of pretty much nothing.
-Andrew, you heard him. -Oh, come on!
It's a lot of fun and I love doing it,
but you guys are out of your minds if you think like him.
If you think this is gonna be any more...
Can you stop with the dark clouds, just, like, once?
I'm being honest.
You all know we're gonna have to get real jobs one day.
So what? So, what do you want to do till then? Not try?
Go back to Perth and play shitty covers?
ANDREW: Timmy!
TIM: People never want to hear about the hard work,
and that's a shame, because that was our strength.
That's what the band was.
JON: We were doing a gig every night.
We'd sleep for three hours, wake up.
We recorded our first album.
We did 600 shows in two years. 600.
-It was a blur. -(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
Some nights, I wouldn't even know where I was.
We've got nothing else to play.
Get them to cut the lights.
-What?
(AUDIENCE CHEERS FOR AN ENCORE)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
(CHEERING GETS LOUDER)
Anybody out there want to join us?
(WILD CHEERING)
You've been banned from Kempsey.
This is the first time anyone's ever been banned.
-Is that what you wanted? -We wanted to entertain them.
And we did. Except maybe Kirk.
I don't think anyone wanted to see that!
Go, on, chief, any publicity's good publicity.
-Yeah, I hear you. -(ALL LAUGH)
You could have been arrested. Was that part of the plan?
No, the plan was - if I remember correctly -
to hammer Australia and then go overseas.
Yeah, I'm working on it, mate. You stick to the music.
All of you, or your next gig will be in bloody Long Bay.
-They'll like me there. -(ALL LAUGH)
Alright, let's go do it again in the next town.
(ALL CHEER)
(PLAYS OFF-KEY NOTES)
-How much did you pay for that? -20 bucks.
TIM: Worth every penny, wasn't it, Kirk?
(PLAYS JUMBLE OF OFF-KEY NOTES)
-(ALL GROAN) -Stop that!
You want sax on the songs, I need practice.
TIM: This'll be a long fucking car ride.
-Are we there yet? -OTHERS: No!
-GARRY: Guys, shut up. -Do you want me to drive?
-OTHERS: No! -Guys, shut up! Listen!
('SIMPLE SIMON' PLAYS ON CAR RADIO)
-Oh, my God. -We did it!
-We're on the fucking radio! -(ALL SHOUT)
(ALL SING ALONG) # Simon found love, he thinks he found himself
# Only has a heart for her and her alone
# He walks down crowded streets and doesn't feel alone
# No, never alone
# Walks in space with the feet firmly on the ground
# Camp on love sign People I talk about
# Johnny knows love songs... #
More and more people at every gig.
These fans would come from everywhere just to see us.
(BAND PLAYS LANGUID ROCK)
Come in from Tarcutta, 30 miles, just to see the band.
They're all cute. (LAUGHS)
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
(TV PLAYS)
Hey, it's on. It's on!
KIRK: Smells good. Dinner ready yet, Nan?
Not yet, sweetheart.
Chuck us an orange, man.
-Oh, look at Michael! -TIM: Shhhh!
-We're on 'Countdown'! -Shut up, shut up!
'Just Keep Walking', the whole thing?
-What is Molly wearing? -(LAUGHS) Shut up!
..why you didn't release a second single off the album.
-Because Deluxe is too cheap. -(LAUGHTER)
Well, we always intended to release just one single
because we wanted to go into recording the next album.
We've got a lot of material we're working on
that we're gonna record after this tour in July.
Oh, we've made it, boys! We're on 'Countdown'!
-(ALL LAUGH) -(ZAPPING)
It's not my fault. I...
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS)
(BOTH TALK INDISTINCTLY)
Excuse me.
Hi. I'm...I'm Michael.
(SPEAKS MANDARIN)
(LAUGHS)
I'm studying it.
They say that it's the language of the future,
which, if that's the case, my future looks pretty bleak.
No, no, it's good.
But how did you know?
That you grew up in Hong Kong and that you speak Mandarin?
-Yeah. -I did my homework.
(INTRO TO 'BEAUTIFUL GIRL')
(BOTH CHAT INDISTINCTLY)
-WOMAN: Are you sure? -TIM: Absolutely.
I don't want to get married and then divorced a year later.
That's not gonna happen.
Well, I don't think there's any point getting married.
-Unless we want children. -I want kids.
As many as you want. 10, 12...
-I'm serious, Tim. -So am I.
No! How can we get married?
You're barely a boyfriend, let alone a husband.
-Please, Buffy. -This is insane.
Nobody in a band gets married. That's what normal people do.
I am normal. This can work.
I can make it work. You'll see.
There will be lots of girls.
That is why I want to do this.
To show you I mean it.
Come on, Buff.
Are you gonna marry me or not?
I bought this
to take us to Sydney.
If you want.
Well, you can put all your clothes and books in...
..here.
Do you have a place to stay in Sydney?
Yeah. Just rented one in Paddington.
-And the guys? -Just us.
Well, Jon might have to stay sometimes, but no-one else.
So you would like me to leave uni?
Yes. Please.
Do you even have a driver's licence?
(LAUGHS) No.
-Rego? -No.
-Insurance? -No.
(LAUGHS) Well, what could go wrong?
SONG: # Nicky's in the corner
# With a black coat on
# Running from a bad home
# With some cat inside
# Now, where did you find her
# Among the neon lights?
# That haunt the streets outside
# She says
# Stay with me
-# Beautiful girl -# Stay with me... #
(ALL CHAT AND LAUGH)
Come here!
Here's something to get you started in your new life.
That's a lot. Where'd you get this?
-It's only ones for now, mate. -(ALL LAUGH)
-Thanks a lot. -I love you, mate.
You should try it one day.
Ooh, is that an offer, Mrs Farriss?
ANDREW: Group shot!
# Street corner to corner
# With the neon ghosts in the city... #
MAN: I'm talking to you!
-WOMAN: Please just go. -(CLATTERING)
MAN: You were flirting with him.
WOMAN: Piss off. You were drunk.
MAN: Me? It was embarrassing. Even Marci saw it.
WOMAN: Just leave, Kell.
(CLATTERING)
(DOOR SLAMS, CLATTERING CONTINUES)
KELL: Oh, that's it. Bust it all up. Go on! Great job!
WOMAN: This is my house more than yours.
-(CLATTERING CONTINUES) -WOMAN: Just go!
KELL: You want me to leave? I'll go and never come back.
-WOMAN: Do what you want! -(CLATTERING)
Back in a week. Left you some money on the table.
Right to get yourself to school?
Don't worry about him, I'll take him.
I'll bring you back something. A present.
-OK? -Thanks, Dad.
Yeah.
(COWBOY MOVIE PLAYS ON TV)
What do you want, love? Haven't you got homework to do?
-I need some help. -Ask Janey.
That's why we have her, to look after you and your brother.
I thought you liked this nanny.
Don't be rude. Say hello to Mr Banks.
-Hello, Mr Banks. -Hmm.
Janey?
Michael.
It's OK to look.
(LIP-SYNCS) # Well, you know just what you do to me
# The way you move
# Soft and slippery
# Cut the night just like a razor
# Rarely talk
# And that's the danger... #
Wow. He's gorgeous.
Yeah?
-Is this on your new album? -It's called 'The One Thing'.
That's a single.
# You are
# My thing
# You know your voice is a love song
# It's a catcall from the past
# There's no ice in your lover's walk
# You don't look twice 'Cause you move
# So fast... #
I can see Mick Jagger, but where are the Rolling Stones?
(SIGHS) I want to sign them, Doug.
I don't know.
-I mean, they're no Foreigner. -Thank Christ for that.
Trust me on this.
Welcome to MTV, Music Television,
the world's first 24-hour stereo video music channel.
I guess you can have INXS for the US.
What? I want more than that.
I want the rest of the world. Everywhere.
-That's not my policy. -Your policy?
You haven't signed the band overseas.
You don't even have a goddamn phone in here yet.
You don't have a policy.
I plan to sell each territory separately.
-No-one does that. -I'm going to.
Chris, if I go back with just the US,
Doug will have a fit.
Well, maybe you can have Canada too.
But I'm gonna have to meet the reps first.
(SCOFFS)
You're gonna get me in a lot of trouble.
(JET ENGINE ROARS)
Morning.
-Chris Murphy, how are you? -How are we?
-G'day, Murphy. -Where's Michael?
-I told him, twice. -Why'd you drag us out of bed?
You're lucky you had a bed.
I was in the plane like a fucking sardine.
-Did you get us a US tour? -Wait till Michael gets here.
-That could be tomorrow. -How's the recording going?
-You happy with Opitz? -Did you get us a tour?
-Think of a title for the album? -'Shabooh Shoobah'.
-What is that? Persian for pot? -MICHAEL: Morning, all.
How can I fly across the world and still get here before you?
-Better drugs? -CHRIS: OK, listen up.
The whole game in the US is about to change.
The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, guys like that, they're fat and lazy.
The hot new vibe is video.
You mean, like, Swedish nurses?
-(LAUGHS) -Not like Swedish nurses.
No, there's a new station there called MTV - Music Television.
And all they play is music videos.
Everybody's watching it. They're breaking all the new bands.
We've been making videos for 'Countdown' since we started.
That's right, and what you're doing
is miles ahead of what's over there.
So if we attack now,
we can be part of what they're calling 'the new wave' -
the Police, the Pretenders, bands like that.
Are you going to make us get poncey haircuts?
You've already got poncey haircuts.
America's got to be our whole focus now, OK?
No more Australia.
So last week I moved my office to New York,
and Gary Grant's coming too,
because we got you a 3-month tour of the US.
(ALL CHEER AND LAUGH)
(LAUGHTER AND CHEERING CONTINUES)
-Who are we opening for? -Well, that doesn't matter.
All that matters is you go out there and kill 'em.
Chris, who are we opening for?
Adam Ant.
That's teenyboppers in training bras.
Yeah, who gives a rat's?
It's 5,000-seaters across America.
You blow him off the stage, I'll get you better gigs.
Now, come on, guys. It's always like this.
There's a door, you gotta unlock it.
What's inside? Another door. Then you gotta unlock that.
Other than that, it was great.
Yeah, so the hotel? We'll stay wherever he does.
-I'm not sure about America. -Hey, I'll call you back.
-What are you talking about? -I've just been thinking.
You know, for the first time we're making some good money,
and the guys in Chisel are all buying houses...
If you make it in America,
you'll be able to afford a house or two.
What if we don't, though?
What if we strike out and lose our audience here?
-You won't. -Yeah, but, Chris...
If it doesn't work out, you can go back to accounting
or come home and be the Radiators or the Models,
make a fortune.
But in the meantime, just give this a shot.
Andrew, I promise you I'll be the first one to tell you
if it's not working.
Mum and Dad are living in Indonesia.
-We've got a baby. -I know.
You play music, you party, you get off your face.
That's if someone's not sitting on it.
Wow. Where did that come from?
Look, I love you. I will not let you down, I won't.
I won't!
It's just one tour.
ANDREW: You really think we can make it in America?
MICHAEL: We'll never know unless we try.
-They're my books. -Mm-hm.
Accounting is very dependable.
Piss off.
Don't...
(BOTH LAUGH)
-Oh, oh! Sorry! -Sorry!
America? How can you guys go to America?
Qantas, last I checked.
Guys, you haven't even had a number one in Australia yet.
The mistake Australian bands make is they hit it here,
they climb to the top of the mountain,
then they go overseas and open for schmucks.
They play to small crowds, they can't take it,
so it's one tour and boom, they're back home again.
Are you calling Adam Ant a schmuck?
-No. Please don't print that. -WOMAN: Sorry.
I just meant you have to focus on America
while you still have the energy.
So we're announcing today
that INXS are officially heading overseas.
But you're not even the biggest band in Australia.
I can see Chisel or the Oils trying this, but you?
Oh, piss off, Lee.
Why would the Yanks take you seriously?
-Because we're fucking good. -(JOURNALISTS LAUGH)
What if the prick was right?
What if we just bombed? If nobody liked us?
'Shabooh Shoobah' had reached number five in Australia
but there were no guarantees.
This wasn't Albury-Wodonga.
This was America.
And we were opening for...
..Adam Ant.
SONG: # Could be clear Black and white
# Make a decision... #
G'day, mates.
# It's a strong feeling that grows and grows... #
-How'd you go? -KIRK: We killed him.
(LAUGHS) We blew him off the stage every night.
He tried to get the crew to turn the sound down on us,
the lights down on us, but they wouldn't do it.
People started coming to see us
and, you know, not him.
(DOOR OPENS)
Where are they?
Where are my fucking girls?
Come on, you fuckers, open up!
# Stealing the hours that keep you away
# It rushes through my veins Straight to my head
# My mind is a planet for you to roam... #
I'm gonna fucking sack you.
Fucking sack the twatting lot of you!
# It's the beginning
# There's nothing to stop
# The thief of time
# Stealing the hours
# That keep you away
# One day My life is out the door... #
(EARLY VERSION OF 'ORIGINAL SIN' PLAYS ON KEYBOARD)
(REPEATS 'ORIGINAL SIN' RIFF)
('ORIGINAL SIN')
KIRK: We did 13 three-month tours of America.
39 months on the road.
Then Asia, Europe, South America.
And every time we went, it just got bigger.
You didn't think it could.
It was just like this giant wave, just motoring.
(INTRO TO 'ORIGINAL SIN' CONTINUES)
# You might
# Know of
# The original sin
# And you might
# Know how
# To play with fire
# But did you know... #
And who's checking in, sir?
-Rock Melon. -Basil Leaves.
-Jet Lag. -Murray Rivers.
Hugh Jardon.
Andrew Farriss.
-# Dream on, white boy -# White boy
-# Dream on, black girl -# Black girl
# And wake up to a brand-new day
# To find your dreams have washed away
# There was
# A time
# When I did not care... #
(PHONE RINGS)
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(PHONE CONTINUES RINGING)
Yeah?
Hang on.
Michael!
Wake up!
'Original Sin' just went number one in France.
Number one?
Yeah! (LAUGHS)
Oh, we're number one! Oh, we're number one!
La la la la la la la la la! Yeah!
Yeah. Yeah, believe me, he's happy.
-We're number one! -(MAN SHOUTS)
Oh, hello!
Mwah! Mwah! Numero uno!
(DRUM INTRO TO 'THE SWING')
TIM: Where are we? Anybody know?
GARRY: Buenos Aires...I think.
TIM: Where was last night?
KIRK: Colombia.
Holy shit.
# It's the swing... #
Jeeps. Guys, jeeps.
Are they coming for us?
-Yeah, yeah. -Don't screw around, guys.
If anybody's got anything, get rid of it now.
They'll shoot you if you're carrying here.
-What have you got, Michael? -Nothing.
Mate, can you hold this?
GARY: Come on, hurry, hurry!
I'm not carrying this!
Be a mate.
# That scratched and crawled up the wall... #
Holy shit! Here they come.
-You're gonna get us fucked! -It's cool, OK.
# Into my destiny... #
(COUGHS)
-# Into my desire... # -(SNORTS) OK.
-(DOOR OPENS) -(MUSIC STOPS)
-Pasaportes. -Yep.
-Firearms? -No. No.
Narcotics?
No.
Gracias.
ALL: Gracias.
Everybody happy, no?
(ALL LAUGH)
-Muchos happy. -We're very happy, senor.
Muchas gracias. Oh, yeah. Thanks, mate.
Wait. You.
I want to check your bag.
Mine?
(SINGS) # Tilt my hat at the sun
# And the shadows, they burn dark
# Light me and I'll burn for you
# And the love song never stops... #
Happy birthday, Michael!
Whoo!
(PLAYS BADLY)
# I like the look in your eyes
# When you talk that certain way
# I love the day in the life
# When you know that lover's way... #
(WOMEN GIGGLE)
Buffy. Oh, yeah.
-BUFFY: You said one tour. -We're killing it, hon.
BUFFY: But it's lasted two years!
I love you. Oh!
(SHIP HORN BLOWS)
The tour finished a week ago.
Hey, I just had some loose ends to tie up.
Uh-huh. Is that what you call them?
Hey. I missed you.
Jesus, Michael. I can't do this.
Do what?
I can't...I can't just sit around and wait for you.
-It's the band, Michele. -I know, I know.
I love what you do,
but...but I'm turning into someone that I don't like.
And...and I'm jealous,
and I feel shit all the time.
And I want you to turn around
and say that you'll quit all of this and be with me.
But I know that you can't.
-Hey. -No, no, no. Don't. Don't.
You're this rock star and everyone wants you.
And that's OK. If that's what you want.
MICHAEL: That is not all I want, OK.
I want you to take this as far as you can.
I just...I just can't be a part of it.
Michele.
Hope you don't win many more of these.
They'll bring the bloody house down.
Andy, could you give us a hand?
-I'll do it, Mum. -(SIGHS)
Oh, Jonny.
Mum, it's not that bad. It's just a bit of viral arthritis.
-Have you seen a doctor? -Mum, I've just come off tour.
-Bit of rest and it'll be fine. -Alright. Sorry I spoke.
(DRUM KIT IS PLAYED)
(BOY PLAYS ROCK RIFF)
(KEYBOARD STARTS)
(CACOPHONOUS MUSIC)
MUM: The neighbours are going to complain.
DAD: What?
MUM: I said the neighbours are going to complain!
DAD: About what?
Mrs Briscoe came by the other day and made a point of saying
the boys are sounding much better.
MUM: What?
-(MUSIC STOPS) -Boys, come here, please.
Follow me.
(DOOR OPENS)
-In you go. -Cool.
-Mum, this is amazing. -Jeez, Mum. Thanks.
Now, play TOGETHER.
Ah, Andy, do you wanna go F-sharp, E to B?
Jonny, you lead us in.
One, two, three, four.
(ALL PLAY MELODIOUS ROCK MUSIC)
(MUSIC FADES)
What's the matter?
-We got a number one single. -Yeah, in France.
We didn't improve in the States. We only went sideways.
And once we've done it...
-Done what? -A number one.
-We have to do it again, right? -Mmm.
Otherwise, that's the pinnacle.
That's the biggest hit we'll ever have.
And then what? We're just going backwards.
And more than do it again, we have to do it better...
Andy. It's Christmas. Worry about it tomorrow, yeah?
Actually, that's the Boxing Day test.
Can you leave it to next week?
We could just stop, you know?
Play golf, drink beer, be normal.
We don't have to do this again.
Andy, the new album is gonna blow 'em away.
Chris Thomas is a great producer.
The songs are gonna be great. People are gonna love 'em.
(SIGHS)
You have to get out more and have some fun.
WOMAN: I thought 'Swing' was amazing.
I can't wait to hear the new one.
Such an honour to be...
Oh, have you ever been to a cattle farm?
Pardon?
I'm thinking of someplace where you have to use your hands.
You know, dig holes, like a...like a cattle farm.
WOMAN 2: Hi.
WOMAN: Shelley. Where have you been?
I thought you said there was a whole group of people?
I thought so.
SHELLEY: Well, maybe I should just go?
No, please stay, sit. Have, ah, um...have a glass of wine.
-Really? -Yes. Sit, sit.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
I don't think Annie had a very good time tonight.
She seemed uncomfortable.
Well, I don't think that was your fault
that she was uncomfortable.
She has a boyfriend.
Really?
So I think that is why she was uncomfortable.
Do you have a boyfriend?
No.
What do you do?
-I am in musical theatre. -Really?
I'm touring in 'The Mikado'.
(LAUGHS) That's fantastic.
-Sing me some. -No.
-Yeah, go on. -Absolutely not.
-Come on. Just a little bit. -Andrew.
Come on, just a little bit. I won't tell anyone.
(SINGS) # Three little maids from school are we
# Pert as a schoolgirl well can be
# Filled to the brim with girlish glee
# Three little maids from school. #
(LAUGHS)
That's great! That's great. Sing some more.
# Everything is a source of fun Do, do, do, do, do, do, do. #
ANNOUNCER: 'Swing' went double-platinum
and number one in Australia, and now the boys are back
with their new album 'Listen Like Thieves'.
Thank you, INXS, we love you. You were fantastic.
They know how to relate to the audience,
know how to get the audience going,
keep their hearts pumping.
I'm here with Michael Hutchence,
who's the lead singer of INXS, who are the biggest group
in Australia, and nearly as big in the rest of the world.
-Yeah, nearly. -Nearly, yeah.
Most Australian groups
that have come out here haven't broken, have they?
Why do you think that is?
'Cause the British hate any Aussie that's successful.
Mmm. Really?
-Mmm, really. -No.
Maybe the other bands weren't good enough too.
Michael wasn't criticising Aussie bands.
He said they weren't good enough.
-He just meant that they... -He stuck the boot in, Chris.
Oh, well, maybe he was right.
Where did Midnight Oil's last album get in the US?
I don't know - 197?
197? 'Listen Like Thieves' got to number 11.
And I'll tell you something else, Lee.
That's not good enough. Not for us. You watch.
(MUTTERS) Dickhead.
And the winner is INXS.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
ANNOUNCER: 'Listen Like Thieves'
is a breakthrough album for the boys,
featuring their first top five single
in the US, 'What You Need'.
('WHAT YOU NEED')
SONG: # Hey, here is the story... #
Congratulations, mate. 12 years is a damn fine effort.
Jason, thank you very much. I need a kiss, sweetheart.
Oh. Thanks, Molly.
MAN: Oh, mate. How are ya?
JASON: This is Kylie.
-MAN: Hello. -MOLLY: Hello, sweetheart.
She's tiny...and cute.
Kylie, Kylie.
I don't know whether to ask you to lunch or have sex.
What?
You look like the golden egg they're here to protect.
SONG: # ..in all your crying
# Pick it up and throw it into shape
# Ooh, yeah... #
JASON: Was that Michael Hutchence? What did he say?
He said we should have lunch.
-Really? -Yeah.
It was nice of him to come say hi, don't you think?
JASON: Oh, bloody oath.
# This is what you need
# I'll give you what you need... #
(WOMEN SPEAK INAUDIBLY)
MAN: Ah, just down there.
I'll be right back.
-Hi. -Hi.
I want to apologise.
I have been giving you a hard time in the papers
and that is wrong.
-I think you're great. -Really?
Yeah. Locomotion, baby.
Stop it.
The doc says with all these gigs,
it's a miracle I've still got a voice.
So he gave me these drops.
Apparently they're made from boar gonads.
What? (LAUGHS) No.
-What? Could I make that up? -Yes.
Well, it's six drops every night while on tour.
If they work, I'll bring you back some.
Boar gonads.
Well, it is the price we have to pay.
(LAUGHS)
What?
Nothing. I'm just looking at ya.
-Where's Michael? -I called him.
CHRIS MURPHY: OK. We're at a point.
You are right near the top of the mountain,
but you have to give one final push
that beats everything you've done.
We need an entire album of hits. Not just one or two.
Now, so far, your most successful songs -
'What You Need', 'Original Sin', 'The One Thing'
have been written by Michael and Andrew.
So I've been talking to Chris Thomas, and what he's proposing
is that they write all the songs for the next album.
That's fucked.
We just wanna give ourselves the best shot, Kirk.
So they'll get all the writing, the publishing?
Yeah, just for the next album, and we'll work out
a percentage deal so everyone gets something.
50% of each song to Andrew and Michael,
and then the six of you split the other 50%.
So we get 8% while they get 33%?
I thought we'd made it when I could pay my rent.
But as time went on, 'making it' changed, you know.
'Making it' became this mega album
with five number one singles.
We were touring the globe,
doing better than we'd ever dreamed,
but we still hadn't done what we now thought was 'making it'.
We can make this work.
Yeah, but if everyone's pissed off...
No, it will be fine. We're all gonna be a huge part of this.
Whether we write the songs or not. You know, we all play.
What's the worst that can happen?
You write great songs that we didn't
and we get the hit album we all want.
-Yeah, pressure's on you now. -Yeah.
(LAUGHS)
(TURNS MACHINES ON)
(MUSIC STARTS)
(PLAYS CATCHY ROCK RIFF)
-Michael. -MICHAEL: Yep?
I'm coming to, ah, Honkers on Thursday.
-MICHAEL: Yeah, great. -(HUBBUB IN BACKGROUND)
-We've got to work, Michael. -MICHAEL: Hey, what, guys!
-Michael, can you hear me? -MICHAEL: Look! No, no!
-Michael? Michael? -MICHAEL: No, no, no. Stop.
(DISCONNECT TONE BEEPS)
(CATCHY ROCK RIFF CONTINUES)
(ANDREW OVERLAYS CATCHY TUNE)
(PHONE RINGS)
-(MUSIC STOPS) -Hello, Michael.
-(CROWD HUBBUB CONTINUES) -Michael? MICHAEL!
(MACHINES PIP)
Ah, airport, thanks.
(ENGINE REVS)
Ah, wait. Wait. I'll just be a minute.
(MUSIC STARTS)
(ROCK RIFF PLAYS)
(PLAYS INTRO TO 'NEED YOU TONIGHT')
(DOOR SLAMS)
-Sorry. -(DRIVER STARTS TAXI)
('NEED YOU TONIGHT' INTRO CONTINUES)
(JET ENGINES WHIRR LOUDLY OVERHEAD)
-Here he is! Hey, hey! -ANDREW: Hey.
I just flew in.
Only way I could get the cab driver to stop
was to hold this up, yell out, "Ting, ting, stop here."
He dropped me two kilometres away.
-(LAUGHS) -I also brought you this.
What kind of song is it?
It's sexy. A love song.
Oh, love, Andy boy.
Just...just find us some lyrics.
OK.
-(GROWLS) -OK. OK.
Who are you? Do I know you?
I'm the fucking musical genius.
Hmm.
('NEED YOU TONIGHT' RIFF PLAYS)
(SINGS) # Yesterday's late Tomorrow's early
# Don't regret the mistake Chasing... #
# Your moves are so raw
# I've got to let you know
# You're one of my kind
# I need you tonight... #
SONG: # All you've got is this moment... #
This is fantastic. See how it goes with this.
-# 21st century's... # -ANDREW: 15 minutes.
I swear to God. He came back with words in 15 minutes.
('NEED YOU TONIGHT' PLAYS)
# So slide over here
# And give me a moment
# Your moves are so raw
# I've got to let you know
# You're one of my kind... #
-He's got it. -(MICHAEL SINGS) # Oh!
# I've got to let you know
# So slide over here
# And give me a moment
# I've got to let you know
-# You're one of my kind. # -(SWITCHES RECORDING OFF)
Best album we have ever done.
(LAUGHS) It's good.
Wait. We need one more guitar part in the verses.
('NEED YOU TONIGHT' CONTINUES TO PLAY)
(PLAYS NEW GUITAR PART)
SONG: # All you've got is this moment
# 21st century's yesterday
# You can care all you want
# Everybody does Yeah, that's OK
# So slide over here
# And give me a mo... # (MUSIC ENDS)
-Happy now? -Yeah.
('NEW SENSATION')
SONG: # Live, baby, live
# Now that the day is over
# I got a new sensation
# Mmm, perfect moments
# That's so impossible to refuse... #
-MICHAEL: Hey, hey, hey! -Come here!
# Sleep, baby, sleep
# Now that the night is over
# And the sun comes like a god... #
Hello, sex god! We did it.
# All perfect light and promises... #
(GENTLE MUSIC)
You're a genius.
(HELICOPTER WHIRRS)
Doug.
You are gonna love this.
SONG: # All veils and misty
# Streets of blue
# Almond looks
# That chill divine... #
-(FRANTIC KNOCK ON DOOR) -# Some silken moment... #
-Coming. Coming. Coming. -# Goes on forever... #
Whoa! Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa!
# And we're leaving broken hearts behind
# Mystify
# Mystify me
# Mystify, mystify me... #
Hey, big fella, have you got a light?
I'm nearly naked and cuffed to a fucking chair.
-How am I gonna have a light? -No need to snap.
-A bit bitchy tonight. -# Some twisted selection... #
(ALL SHOUT)
# That tangles me
# To keep me alive
# In all that exists
# But none has your beauty... #
-(GENDARME SPEAKS FRENCH) -# I see your face... #
-(WOMAN REPLIES IN FRENCH) -# And I will survive
# Mystify
-# Mystify me... # -(GENDARME SPEAKS FRENCH)
-# Mystify... # -Monsieur.
-G'day, mate. (LAUGHS) -# Mystify me... #
-Uh, hello? Excuse me.
-Fromage. -Fromage!
# Mystify... #
Can someone get me out of these fucking cuffs?
Smile, buddy!
('MYSTIFY' ENDS)
What do you think?
I'll give you a million dollars
to scrap that and record a new album.
What?
I don't know what Andrew and Michael are on, but that...
What the fuck is that?
Radio can't play it.
Well, black radio might, but INXS isn't black.
You don't hear it?
Oh, I hear the sound of cash registers
buying up everybody else's album but ours.
Doug, this is...this is where music is heading.
Now, you don't hear it because it's...it's the next sound.
Not at this label it's not.
Turner hates it, so there goes Australia.
PolyGram hates it - Europe.
And Atlantic won't release it - oh, there goes North America.
They're idiots. They're fucking idiots.
You gotta scrap it, Chris.
What do you want me to do? Jump?
No, get away from there. Come on.
Take the money, Chris.
Go back to the guys, say "Sorry, but WE got it wrong.
"No-one likes the record. We gotta start again."
-What? -(INTRO TO 'MEDIATE')
What are you doing?
('MEDIATE' CONTINUES)
CHRIS: Doug loved it
and he wants to get it on the release schedule asap.
He wants to get everybody on board first -
promotions, radio, all you guys.
So have a listen and see what you think.
SONG: # Your love as fate
# A one-world state as human freight
# The number eight A white-black state
# A gentle trait The broken crate
# A heavy weight or just too late
# Like pretty Kate has sex ornate
# Now devastate, appreciate
# Depreciate, fabricate
# Emulate The truth dilate
# Special date The animal we ate
# The guilt debate The edge serrate... #
Wow. This is a smash.
Really?!
A fucking smash.
We've got 82,000 in advances, another 250 in video.
If I can liquidate it and get the album out to college radio
and book a tour right behind it...
-You can't band-fund a tour. -Yes, I can.
-No! -The kids will get this, Kim.
The record companies won't. The critics mightn't.
But the kids will!
And we're gonna pay for it and we're gonna play it live
right in their faces!
We'll play it in their cafes,
we'll play it in their basketball courts,
play it in their fucking dorms if we have to.
-Who'll pay for publicity? -We are!
Who'll pay for the roadies, the pluggers, the transport?
We are! We are! We are!
Fuck, Kim, work with me on this, please!
It's illegal!
We're halfway across the desert.
There's no turning back.
Are you gonna tell the guys what you're doing?
Do you think I'm a complete idiot?
Chris, this is gonna cost a million dollars.
If it screws up, INXS will have nothing left.
I know.
(SIRENS WAIL, HORNS HONK)
Atlantic loves it.
They think 'Kick's the best album you've ever done.
And they reckon the best thing
is to get you here on the road asap.
For how long, Chris?
I don't wanna be on the road for another six months.
Andrew, please, you have to tour. You know that.
Now, I've already booked you a dozen gigs.
-You're flying out on Thursday. -Thursday.
Yeah, we're gonna start at the colleges. Smaller venues, OK?
That's perfect. The college crowd is indie.
-It's exactly what we want. -Yeah!
Yeah, get the kids behind you, then go bigger.
And don't worry - world domination's right on track.
(GENERAL CHATTER, ORIENTAL MUSIC PLAYS)
Excuse me. Sorry, sorry. I am so, so sorry.
I, uh, got you those... those drops.
You're right not to want them.
Really, I mean, they taste just...
(COUGHS) But they do work.
(SINGS) # Every time, every time, every time!
# Every time I see your face. #
I am so, so sorry. Really.
Do you wanna just get out of here?
Go for a walk or something?
Please.
Yeah, OK.
-Thank you. -('SHINE LIKE IT DOES')
I didn't know if I should leave the show, but I had to.
I had to see if singing would work out for me.
It's working.
Yeah, but it's gotta last.
And Disco in Dream is good, but...
(LAUGHS) What?
Why are you looking at me like that?
Can I kiss you?
# Since time began... #
-What? -May I kiss you?
-# Every single hour... # -No.
-Aw, please? -No.
-Please? -No.
-Please? -You're gonna fall, Michael.
# And from each moment
# All that is left
# Sleep of the innocent... #
-May I kiss you? -No.
# Shine like it does... #
Ask me again.
# Into every heart
# Shine like it does... #
(INTRO TO 'KICK')
SONG: # Hey!
# Come on, come on, come on, come on
# Oh
# I look around
# Unsatisfied
# At what they're giving me
# But then I think to myself
# Is there someone else
# Oh
# Feels the same as me?
# Do you feel the same, baby? #
Not a lot of pre-release hype, but I dig it.
The album is called 'Kick', from Australia.
Let me know what you think.
This is KCSU at mile-high Colorado State.
# Sometimes you kick
# Sometimes you get kicked
# Sometimes you kick... #
-WHPK - University of Chicago. -(CHUCKLES TRIUMPHANTLY)
-(PHONE RINGS) -Great!
(SAX BREAK PLAYS)
# Oh, oh, oh!
# Ah, ah, ah! #
Michael Hutchence - he's hot, he's rad.
He's, like, the thing right now and I want him.
The way he dances is totally sexy.
It turns you on.
# Sometimes you kick
# Sometimes you get kicked, baby
# Well, look ahead
# But don't mix it up
# Baby, look ahead
# To better days and better ways
# Make peace with flesh and blood
# Make peace with your love
# Nothing more I could ask of you
# But in the end this is the truth
# Oh, ho
# When my back is broken
# When the mountain moves away
# All the dreams and promises
# Well, that would give... would give away... #
KIM: We did it, Chris. We did it!
# Sometimes you get kicked... #
ANNOUNCER: The fastest sell-out
in the history of Radio City Music Hall -
faster than Prince, faster than U2.
'Kick' has gone four times - four times - platinum.
You out-sold Michael Jackson. You out-sold Guns N' Roses.
The fourth-highest-selling album in the United States,
'Kick'.
Yeah!
A lot of people thought this album would never work,
but you, you had the vision.
Right from the start, you knew it was a hit.
# We give away
# Sometimes you kick... #
-The winner is INXS. -(WILD CHEERING)
-INXS. -INXS, 'Need You Tonight'.
-INXS. -# Sometimes you get kicked. #
WOMAN: 18 million albums sold.
Were you surprised by the massive success of 'Kick'?
Well, have you listened to it?
It's one great album, don't you think?
(LAUGHS) I love it.
Am I surprised?
I don't know.
My motto's always been
'The harder you push it, the harder it comes back'.
-Do you have a goal in life? -Other than this?
Yeah - to die laughing.
(BOTH LAUGH)