From the first moment, what happened between Michael Hutchence and Kylie MInogue it was pure chemistry. The pop star defines her intense romantic relationship with the INXS frontman as a “magical moment” of his life: “He opened up a whole new world to me.” And for him, she was his muse. His inspiration to write one of the great hits of the Sydney group, ‘Suicide blonde’. Between 1989 and 1991, the couple was inseparable… and when there was distance, love letters were exchanged by fax.
“I don’t know what we should do first, have dinner or have sex”
That opposites attract was a more than obvious fact in the case of Kylie Minogue and Michael Hutchence. In 1989, she was 21 years old. He had just left the Neighbors series and was beginning to take his first steps in pop music. Her public image was that of a “good, outspoken girl.” He was 29 and a rock star. INXS it oozed “sex appeal” on all four sides. That the “bad boy of rock” would have a torrid affair with the “princess of pop” seemed unlikely. but it was inevitable.
After a fleeting meeting at the 1987 Countdown Awards (Australian Pop Music Awards), the two reunited in 1989. Minogue – then in a relationship with Jason Donovan – had gone to an INXS concert and Michael invited the couple to an after party. According to the singer of the television show “A Current Affair” in 2014, The chemistry between the two was instantaneous.He told her, “I don’t know what we should do first, have dinner or have sex.” According to Kylie, “He wanted to kiss me several times and I said ‘no’ several times.” Shortly after the party, Donovan was no longer in Minogue’s life.
The “first” of Michael and Kylie and the “suicidal blonde”
On December 21, 1989, the film “The Delinquents” premiered at the Darling Harbor Convention Center in Sydney. It was the directorial debut of Kylie Minogue, who starred in 1950s Australian film alongside Charlie Schlatter. I played Lola Lovell, a rebellious teenager who falls in love, becomes pregnant, has an abortion by her mother, leaves home, becomes a waitress… And she dyes her hair platinum blonde.. The day of the premiere, Kylie he caused a sensation among everyone present when he arrived hand in hand with Michael Hutchence.It was also their public “first” as a couple.
Michael Hutchence and Kylie Minogue. / Mick Hutson/Redferns
Funnily enough, Kylie had a lot to do with INXS’ controversial hit, Blonde Suicide, since Michael’s makeup references his rebellious blonde persona, Lola Lovell. She herself confessed in an interview with New Corp in 2020: “Suicide Blonde was born when I was talking about my character in ‘Les Délinquants’. My hairdresser told me that the color of the wig I had to wear in the film was ‘suicide blonde’.” There are other versions of the origin of what was X’s first single (1990) which claim that the “suicidal blonde” refers to to the hair color Kylie wore on premiere night – which made her almost unrecognizable to many – described by herself as a “suicidal blonde”.
The title of the song caught the most attention of INXS keyboardist and songwriter Andrew Farriss: “My concern wasn’t so much about Kylie or their relationship, it was about the word ‘suicide’ in a song. He was like ‘don’t worry, it’s not about ‘a suicide’”. And it was true. The song has nothing to do with suicide, and despite the awkward title, the band continued to play it at their shows.. He continued to do so even after the death by suicide of Michael Hutchence in 1997..
“Sex, love, food, drugs… I wanted to experience it all”
The relationship between Michael and Kylie lasted a year and a half and drastically changed the public’s perception of Kylie. In the 2019 documentary ‘Mystify: Michael Hutchence’, Minogue admits he was “a bad black boy and I was the pure good girl.” And adds: “Sex, love, food, drugs, music, travel, books, you can put it that way, he wanted to experience it all.. I had one insatiable curiosity for all the good things in life and some bad. He opened up a whole new world to me. It awakened my desire for things. and many of these things They were based on pleasure. let’s be honest. If you are a sensual person, all of your senses need to be stimulated.
Speaking on ‘A Current Affair’ in 2014, the singer claimed that Hutchence “took my blindfold off”. “It was a magical moment in my life.. You become a woman, you still have a lot to learn and you have someone who opens your eyes to many aspects. Even when he bordered on the wild side, he was always very kind to me. He was always very nice.” “Obviously it was a good time,” Kylie said. And, probably, doomed to fail.
“Yes, it broke my heart”
Despite their obvious love for each other, Michael’s deceptions came to light.. The Sydney gang leader started dating Danish model Helena Christensen (they would be together for four years). In the documentary ‘Mystify’, Minogue confesses that she does not remember the reason for the breakup. “Was it work?” Was it the drugs? I don’t know”. What he admits is that he suffered a lot: “I was left very confused and devastated. Yes, it broke my heart. I must admit that the pain remained for quite a long time.
Kylie Minogue and Michael Hutchence, in 1990 at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles (California) / Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
fax love letters
In those “magical times,” the lovebirds used assumed names when booking hotels: “Gabby Jones” was Kylie and “Swordfish” was Michael. They also exchanged love letters… by fax. Some were with sexual suggestions. In others there were phrases like ‘hello, princess’ or ‘my wonderful love’. In March 2007, one of these faxes was put up for sale on eBay. And it was Rhett Hutchence, Michael’s brother, who did it. “This is a fax that Michael wrote and sent to Kylie on September 19, 1990. I have a similar, even more daring one that I will keep. Yet this authentic piece of history could be yours.” The text read “Hello” and was signed with kisses and a heart.
The sale, which also included annotated lyrics, sketches and T-shirts, was criticized by his mother, Patricia Glassop. He didn’t understand that his son tried to make a box out of his deceased brother’s belongings, and disinherited him: “Rhett has gone too far this time. I don’t know who he is, but he’s not my son anymore.”