April 26, 2006

Michael Hutchence Movie?


Michael Hutchence has a special place in my heart and memory. I just heard that they may be making a movie of his life starring Johnny Depp.

I have mixed feelings about this. First, yes, Johnny would be the only person (other than maybe Val Kilmer but everyone would associate him with Jim M.) to play this role.

What side of the story are they going to tell? How will we know its the truth? And how will this affect and his family? Why all of a sudden is this surfacing after all these years (because "INXS" needed some money and went on a stupid reality show to replace the one member that made them who they were? No bitterness here.)

And, the biggest question I have:

WHO IS GOING TO MAKE A PROFIT OFF THIS FILM?

I have a big problem with this film being made in the first place, if only for personal reasons. I really don't want to re-live his death. I know, I know...I didn't even know the guy, but I felt like I did. Very few people seem to have realized what an incredible artist he was, the lyrics he wrote are amazing to me. I wish I would have written them. Many of his words hit close to home.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding his death. He committed suicide while in a hotel room. There were rumors of auto-eroticism or a conspiracy because of Sir Bob Geldoff's child custody case with Michael's girlfriend. Here is the very sad twist...she died of a drug overdose a few years later. What does that mean? Who looked into this? Was it investigated properly? How does Sir Bob feel now that he has his child but her mother is dead? Was this a coincidence?

The fact was - he hung himself with his belt and they found him there, kneeling on the floor, naked and dead.

When I heard the news, I wanted it to be a bad dream. I wanted them to turn back the clock so he could change his mind. I remember suddenly identifying with a generation years younger than me, who heard the same thing about their "idol", Kurt Cobain, in '94.

There were millions who loved and understood Kurt and his message. They say that's one reason he "left us". He never wanted Nirvana to be "popular" he wanted them to make a difference. I think he used his suicide as a very strong statement.

Not too many people even know who Michael is when I mention his name. It was a news story that lasted a day here in the States and was forgotten. I can't forget him because of the way his songs made me feel (and still do).

Anyhow, the point is....I think I know why he did it. He was tired. He was depressed. He was hopeless. Simple as that. That's why most people kill themselves. They can't take life anymore. The pain becomes unbearable. There is no hope for tomorrow. Every day is dark and dreary. The real question is not why did he kill himself, but why did his life become so bleak? He was talented, famous, rich, HANDSOME, sexy. Yet, none of that matters. When you are depressed it just does NOT matter. You have lost the will to continue living. The only people who truly understand have already pulled the trigger, tied the noose, took the pills or slashed their wrists.

I sometimes wonder about those famous people that got labeled with "accidental drug overdose?". Undoubtedly some of them were intended suicides. Some may have been murder.

Is it better to leave the world thinking you screwed up and OD'd or that you purposely ended it? What if someone killed you, and no one sought justice for your death.

What bout Maryilyn Monroe and Judy Garland? Or Keith Moon and Brian Jones? What about Jim, Jimi and Janis? Chris Farley and John Belushi? What really happened?


I guess we will never know for sure.

If you read this, go put on some of the real INXS in honor of Michael - Suicide Blonde would be perfect for the occasion.

13 comments:

BeckEye said...

It doesn't really matter if he meant to kill himself, if it was done in a drug-induced haze or if it was sex-games gone wrong. No matter how you slice it, he's gone and it's a shame. I wasn't surprised when Kurt Cobain ended up dead. I was surprised that Michael did. He always seemed so full of life.

I wouldn't be opposed to a movie about his life, as long as it were done tastefully,and without assumptions about "what really happened" the night he died. I think Val Kilmer and Johnny Depp are both excellent choices to play Hutchence, although they might be a bit too old now? Johnny still looks pretty young, but Val is getting up there...even though he still looks damn good.

Perplexio said...

When I watched the Behind the Music on Chicago, their former drummer, Danny Seraphine, said something similar about the death of guitarist Terry Kath-- I don't remember the exact quote but it was something to the effect of, "Drugs and alcohol didn't kill Terry. Drugs and alcohol got him messed up to the point where he didn't know what he was doing and made him careless enough to kill himself."

I think something similar can be said for Michael.

Perplexio said...

Check your yahoo email. I sent you an mp3 by another Aussie band, Hunters & Collectors, that has a style/sound very reminiscent of INXS. Methinks you'll really enjoy it. It sounds like INXS meets U2. I hear hints of both Bono and Michael Hutchence in their lead singer, Mark Seymour's voice. Although, I actually like his voice even more than either Bono or Michael!

steve said...

Hunters is a good band.

Yes I loved Michael also. I was a BIG INXS fan back in the day...

Anonymous said...

The original lead singer of Hunters and Collectors was a very close friend of Michael's. He was gutted by Michael's demise and has honoured him whenever he has had the opportunity such as attending memorial gatherings, writing poetry, appearing on docos to put the record straight. Greg is still a loyal friend of Michael's.

Anonymous said...

You wrote a beautiful article about Michael. I feel ashamed because I have known INXS just for a month. I just heard one song by chance a month ago and since then I can´t stop listening to them. I look for new information especially about Michael every single day. I remember having heard their songs during 90s but wasn´t interested in it. Now I´m sure that Hutch (together with Johnny Lennon) will always be my beloved. Evusik

Anonymous said...

Here is a link to the IMDb page
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0839985/

Lots of info here also
http://hutchinfo.proboards106.com/index.cgi

Anonymous said...

Inxs died when Michael Hutchence did. He was Magic and a true original. Any replacement singer is a manufactured copy and impersonation of Hutch. They could have gone on in a different direction musically as they are great musicians but to go the slum route of reality tv contestants to replace a true rock icon is demeaning degrading and a loss of all dignity they once had.

Bar L. said...

Anon, well said - I agree 100%. Thanks for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

Michael Hutchence has now been used and defiled by his so called friends or bandmates.
They claimed they just wanted to go on with music. There were so many ways that a 25 year old band with their experience and money and fame to which they could have done this. They chose the most degrading and loathesome way going with the reality route of " survivor" and "the apprentice" creator mark burnett. A reality tv show, 15 contestants they gave away the position of the most talented and beloved rockstar we have known Michael Hutchence. They claim they miss him and that he meant so much to them. Choosing to do this really shows their true colors of how much he meant to them. That piece of garbage who now is part of the inxs legacy because of the stupidity of the idiots of the remaining band members is gloating and couldn't be more of a pitiful poser and every time he is on the stage he insults the memory of their former lead singer who is quite simply a Rockgod. I can't stand any of them anymore and they certainly didn't care if they offended hundreds of michael hutchence fans who consider this new inxs the biggest joke since spinal tap. Good riddance to all of them.

Anonymous said...

Inxs died with Michael Hutchence. So many people reiterate this over and over again because it is true.
The band can and should continue making music but in a different direction they are a talented group and stand out individually as well. Their legacy as Inxs was with Michael. It really was an enormous mistake to try to replace Michael with the Las Vegas impersonator. If they felt like they wanted to get a singer for their band they should have changed the name of the band.
Inxs as a band had such a legacy. I pray that it isn't tarnished beyond redemption by that reality tv show competition. To be that great and to have what they had with MH and then in a desperation move go with a competition and someone so ridiculous as the winner of the competition show is tragically sad and unworthy of the brilliant work from this band with Hutch.

Bar L. said...

Anon, thanks for this comment! I agree 100% you said it very well.

Anonymous said...

I would like it so much if jd went back to las vegas and did elvis or other impersonations. I never saw him as elvis but I can imagine he was terrific because he impersonates so well. It would be a thrill to see him do this.

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