Two previously unheard Michael Hutchence songs, One Way and Save My Life, will see the light of day next month, with Black Grape producer Danny Saber inviting fans to revisit the INXS frontman’s legacy.
Meanwhile, music publication Brooklyn Vegan has shared the premiere of one of the singles, One Way. A ‘90s groovy rock banger, it’s difficult to hear Hutchence’s familiar, beloved vocal again, but it’s a delight to have the opportunity to become immersed in his previously unheard music. Check out One Way below.
While Michael Hutchence’s debut, self-titled solo album was posthumously released over two years after his death (December 1999), he had a few cuts left over with Saber.
In case you’ve forgotten (or haven’t heard it), Michael Hutchence is a real treat, with the singer collaborating alongside Gang Of Four’s Andy Gill, Timothy Simenon (better known as Bomb The Bass) and Saber.
In a statement shared with Brooklyn Vegan, Saber revealed that he’s been working on sharing unheard Michael Hutchence music with the world “for over 20 years”. Adding that some of the songs were only featured in the 2017 documentary, The Last Rockstar, but weren’t officially released under their fully mastered versions, Saber said:
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.
One Way and Save My Life will be released on 10” vinyl picture discs via Boss Sonics. You can pre-order your copy here.
In July 2016, Ron Creevey, who runs Kings Cross’ X Studio, revealed that he had been working on a project surrounding Hutchence’s unreleased music with Saber for two years and aimed to release the first of 15 songs in November of that year.
“I heard some time ago about some unreleased music that was sitting out there, and then I approached [Hutchence’s] trust directly,” Creevey told The Guardian. “At least five songs are brilliant.”
Saber added that he connected with Hutchence shortly before his passing in 1997. “Me and him sort of connected and started writing towards the end,” Saber said.
On the unreleased music, he commented, “It’s sort of like a little treasure trove of stuff – essentially there were vocals and ideas, and that’s the stuff that I’m reworking and we’re going to be releasing.”
However, the pair likely ran into trouble with INXS manager Chris Murphy—who passed away in 2021—after he said in May that year that he would pursue legal action against anyone attempting to release music under the INXS and Hutchence copyright.
“I do know every single individual and/or company who interfere with INXS/Michael copyrights are about to find themselves in very deep legal trouble,” Murphy said.
Creevey, however, denied that Murphy had any control over the unreleased music.
