Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips recently interviewed INXS bass player Garry Gary Beers as part of NAMM’s Oral History Project to discuss his career with the world beating band, his memories of Michael Hutchence, his gear, his own line of basses and his new musical project Ashen Moon. NAMM has kindly granted us permission to create an Australian Musician edit.
Formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales, INXS rose to become one of the world’s biggest bands with a series of hit recordings in the mid-to-late 1980s and the early 1990s, including the albums Listen Like Thieves, Kick, and X, and the singles "What You Need", "Need You Tonight" , "Devil Inside", "Never Tear Us Apart", and "Suicide Blonde". After singer Michael Hutchence death in November 1997 the band tried different guest vocalists but finally disbanded in 2012.
INXS were always about rhythm and groove as evidenced in their hit singles and stunning stage shows. Bass player Garry Gary Beers and drummer Jon Farris were a huge part of that process, creating and then laying down those contagious beats. Garry Gary Beers spends most of his time these days in LA, where he has been concentrating on his own line of basses, which he has named GGB basses. Garry also has a new musical project, AshenMoon, formed with fellow Aussie expat Toby Rand of Juke Kartel. The band has released 6 original songs and videos so far and have plans to release a full length record soon.
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