Before his untimely death in 1997, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence had been working on a debut solo album.
Collaborators who contributed to the album included Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill, Bomb the Bass' Tim Simenon, and Black Grape producer Danny Saber. Upon its posthumous release in 1999, the Gill collaborations were mainly included on the official release.
Now, over two decades later, two previously unheard tracks from Hutchence have dropped, which feature work by Saber. "One Way" and "Save My Life" will be released through a limited-edition picture disc vinyl this May.
"I have been working towards bringing this music to the public for over 20 years," Saber said to Brooklyn Vegan. "Some of the songs were featured in the Last Rockstar documentary, but the full mastered versions were not released with the airing of the film as the Last Rockstar was only broadcast in Australia and New Zealand."
The 10" vinyl will be released on May 15 and is now available to pre-order. Ahead of the official drop, "One Way" has been unleashed on streaming services. The song had previously leaked online, originally surfacing as "Kick It Around."
Saber says that the release of the new music is an effort to carry on Hutchence's legacy, giving his fans a fresh perspective on the late artist's talents.
"One of the fundamental reasons for releasing this music is to give the fans the opportunity to hear Michael's voice on something new and fresh, offering a glimpse into what might have been, and, in turn, reawakening millions of people who may have simply forgotten about him."
Hutchence died by suicide in a Sydney hotel room at age 37. The Australia-native first formed INXS in 1979. The rock band's biggest songs included "Never Tear Us Apart," "Need You Tonight," and "Original Sin." Following reduced success with the band, Hutchence began to record the solo album in the mid-1990s, before the band reunited to record their tenth and final album with him.
"I want to share that perspective as I really feel Michael's story has so much relevance and value on so many levels. And along the way we can hopefully shift the focus to how he lived, and not how he died," Saber concluded.
20 years after the release of his self-titled album in 1999, a new album featuring live recordings, unreleased solo singles, and INXS tracks was released. Mystify: A Musical Journey with Michael Hutchence also featured contributions from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and more.
Throughout his life and career, Hutchence's romantic life was a frequent subject of conversation in media. He had past relationships with Kylie Minogue, Belinda Carlisle, Helena Christensen, and Kyn Wilson. In 1996, he and Paula Yates welcomed a daughter, Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof, who is now a songwriter.
