Seven’s Mark Llewellyn says tonight’s Michael Hutchence documentary ‘didn’t need the authority of INXS’
The executive producer of Seven’s documentary Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar says he stands by the decision to create tonight’s program without the blessing of the late singer’s band INXS.
Mark Llewellyn’s comments to Mumbrella came after INXS, Universal Music Group and Petrol Records this morning put out a statement distancing them from the two-part documentary, which starts at 7.30pm.
Llewellyn told Mumbrella that Seven has the blessing of the people that matter to the story – Hutchence’s family and friends. Next month will mark the 20th anniversary of Hutchence’s death, which was later ruled at an inquest to be suicide.
Wow, I assumed that this new Doco was about Michaels’ life and not INXS….
Pull your heads in INXS …
Fair go INXs you sucked the life out of Michael not everything is about INXS this story was about Michael and his life seperate from the band and perhaps if he had been allowed some personal creativity rather than being stifled by INXS he would have been far happier than what he was RIP Michael you are still sadly missed
Sunday Night shared an executive with this unauthorised show and was a no-go zone for artists of any standing both in Australia and abroad under the former reign, regardless of the ratings it delivered. It was as tabloid as it gets and no wonder this ratings-grab had to be made without any of the band’s or label’s blessing. Having “great faith in the lawyers at Channel Seven” does not illustrate much regard for ethics and respect.
I think all they’re saying is don’t use images/recordings of INXS as you haven’t received (or even asked) permission to do so.
Michael’s stuff would be his, his estate’s and his family’s but a lot material out there would be INXS (e.g. pretty hard to show a performance of Michael doing “Don’t Change” – my favourite INXS song I’d say, depending on mood – without including the other band members playing music or singing.
There is plenty of INXS material on the web being used without permission and they should not be making Michaels story about them I wonder just how successful INXS would have been without Michael would they have been successful at all ? they should be thankful of the money he made them sad his life ended so tragically let the man Who was loved by many rest in peace!!!
This is a tough one for me. I’ve actually been really disappointed in how the guys of INXS have been so aloof when it comes to authorising, commenting on or attending some of the gorgeous events organised by friends and fans over the years for Michael – the celebrations of his birthday at the Hard Rock in Sydney, the 10th anniversary memorial, the Metro event coming up, etc, etc. I understand that they might not want to go for various reasons, but they could at least let us know? And maybe make a media statement so that more fans can hear about the events and come along? They’ve been almost unreachable to Michael’s family since he passed. I love the guys but am baffled with a lot of their behaviour including how they’ve been all too prepared to put together their own stories (plus a lot of reissues and merch etc) but criticise everyone else’s, especially if they’ve proven to be difficult to reach.
I’m not expressing myself very well, sorry! I enjoyed the show and like most of us, loved seeing new material on Michael and the fabulous news that the unreleased music from his vaults will see the light of day – WOOHOO! ???