It is one of the most anticipated television dramas of 2014 but does INXS: Never Tear Us Apart live up to expectations?
Airing over two Sundays the mini-series chronicles the highs and lows of one of the world’s most successful bands – INXS.
Part one of the series follows the band from 1979 all the way through to 1987.
In the beginning the band, originally called The Farris Brothers, consisting of Andrew Farriss (Andy Ryan) on keyboards, Jon Farriss (Ido Drent) on drums, Tim Farriss (Nick Masters) on guitar, Kirk Pengilly (Alex Williams) on guitar and saxophone, Garry Gary Beers (Hugh Sheridan) on bass, and main lyricist Michael Hutchence (Luke Arnold) on vocals, was told they could be big if they only did covers. The band doesn’t agree and come to an agreement to never do covers again. After doing one gig in Mount Goldsworthy the boys decide to travel to Sydney to try their luck on the pub scene. They manage to meet Garry Morris (Ryan Johnson) who had previously managed Midnight Oil who doesn’t think the band name is right. After seeing a jam commercial for IXL and taking their name from UK band XTC, INXS is born. After a police raid, the manger decides the boys need to clear up their image and become a Christian band. The boys decide to part ways and are then managed by CM Murphy (Damon Herriman) who takes them on under the condition that worldwide success will follow. The rest as they say is history
The casting of the band is absolute perfection. Luke Arnold has a mesmerising quality to him that allows you to just be taken in by his performance. Samantha Jade was also a pleasant surprise pulling off Kylie Minogue very well. It’s hard to believe it’s her first acting role
The script never has a dull moment and goes through key moments in the bands history – occasionally using archive footage to tell the story. Having access to the band’s entire catalogue also makes it hard to not sing along too.
Worth the hype and not to be missed –
4 Stars.
INXS: Never Tear Us Apart airs 8:35pm Sunday on Seven.
