AustLit

Rhett Hutchence, the younger brother of rock superstar Michael Hutchence, tells of the early days of INXS when they began performing in pubs and how the band is discovered, their tours around the word and string of hit albums. Rhett’s story gives a rare insight into Michael’s rise to fame in intimate letters and conversations while at the same time revealing Rhett’s journey into drugs and living the life of an addict. Along the way Rhett meets Michael’s lovers, friends and acquaintances - Kylie Minogue, Helena Christensen, Paula Yates, Bono, Nick Cave, John Lyndon and Bob Geldof. He works on the bands X Tour of Europe in 1991 as a roadie, joins Michael on the band's outrageous tour of Japan, and is with his brother at the Plaza Hotel in New York when Michael breaks up with Kylie. Through Rhett’s eyes, we get a new perspective on Michael Hutchence, the charismatic rock star, and of the glamorous world he inhabited of fast cars and gorgeous women. Rhett and Michael both start families around the same time in the mid 1990s, but soon Michael’s life is tragically cut short. Rhett gives a unique personal insight into Paula and re-creates the media frenzy which accompanied her and Michael, both in life and in death. He also re-examines closely the circumstances surrounding his brothers death. Despite so much loss in his life, Rhett’s story is one of triumph, that while being hopelessly addicted to drugs, he has come through it all, and written his own story.

Source: Publisher's summary.