May is proving to be a very good month for our TV screens — and a very bad one for our dating apps. We’re firmly planted on the sofa with a run of standout new releases. From Off Campus to Rivals, Worst Ex Ever to the Kylie Minogue documentary, there’s genuinely no incentive to leave the house right now.
In particular, Netflix’s new documentary on Kylie Minogue has us completely hooked. The Australian pop icon is known for her euphoric pop hits, headline-making romances, trademark megawatt smile, and highly publicised battle with breast cancer, and now she’s telling her own story on her own terms. We see her beginnings as a soap opera actress, the early criticism of her music career, the brief pivot into indie, her return to pure pop, and the reality of her cancer journey.
A second cancer diagnosis?
We also hear from two significant men in Minogue’s life, Jason Donovan and Nick Cave, but the emotional centre of the story is Michael Hutchence. The documentary soon reveals why Hutchence does not appear in interviews himself. While many viewers will already be familiar with him, for younger fans this may be their first introduction to the late INXS frontman.
Here’s everything you need to know about Michael Hutchence and his brief relationship with Minogue.
Who is Michael Hutchence?
An Australian singer-songwriter, Hutchence is best known as the lead singer of the rock band INXS. He performed with the group from 1977 until his death in 1997, and was widely celebrated for his magnetic stage presence, poetic songwriting and genre-blending vocals. As the band’s frontman, INXS became one of the most successful Australian music acts of all time, with major hits including Need You Tonight and Never Tear Us Apart.
Known for his rock-star lifestyle, Hutchence was also a highly publicised media figure, with high-profile relationships including Minogue, model Helena Christensen, and UK television presenter Paula Yates.
When did Michael Hutchence and Kylie Minogue date?
Minogue and Hutchence first met in 1989, the same year she split from her Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan. We hear about their initial meeting from Donovan himself, who was also at the party where they were introduced.
Describing the immediate spark between the pair, Donovan says: “I wasn’t the only one to notice the buzz between Kylie and Michael that night. I’d seen him staring at her when we met backstage. He kept whispering in her ear and she kept laughing.”
Minogue and Hutchence went on to date for two years, from 1989 to 1991. At the time, Hutchence was touring extensively around the world, and the relationship became increasingly difficult to maintain.
“Michael was touring all over the world so it became really hard to see each other,” Kylie explained of their breakup, adding: “I would send video messages to him, but it became more and more difficult.”
Eventually, the couple decided to part ways. Reflecting on him more recently, Kylie has described Hutchence as her first real heartbreak, saying: “He was the first in so many ways. And one of those firsts was heartbreak. I was devastated.”
A few months after their split, Hutchence began a relationship with supermodel Helena Christensen. Despite no longer being romantically involved, he and Minogue remained close friends until his death.
What happened to Michael Hutchence?
On 22 November 1997, Michael Hutchence died by suicide at the age of 37. The INXS frontman had struggled with heavy substance use throughout his fame, with those close to him also noting periods of severe mood swings and depression.
The documentary does not focus on the specifics of Hutchence’s cause of death, instead turning its attention to the impact of his passing on Minogue, who was deeply affected by the loss.
Recalling attending his funeral in Sydney, Kylie says: “I remember being at the church and it was overwhelming, the outpouring of love for him.” In the midst of her grief, she also describes an experience she still struggles to fully explain: “This is going to sound totally crazy, but I felt him going, ‘It will be OK.’ I always feel he is with me, which is kind of crazy.”
Campus romances galore.
He left behind his daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence, who lived with her mother, Paula Yates, until her death three years later. She was then raised by Yates’ former husband, Bob Geldof, alongside her three half-sisters.
Following Hutchence’s death, there was initial media speculation surrounding the circumstances, including unfounded theories about autoerotic asphyxiation. However, this was widely disputed by those close to him, citing emotional phone calls shortly beforehand, no known history of such behaviour, and the media’s tendency toward dramatisation.
What did Kylie Minogue say about Michael Hutchence in her new documentary?
In KYLIE, Minogue speaks about the deep impact Hutchence had on both her artistry and confidence, particularly during a period when she was frequently ridiculed by the tabloids.
“You can have relationships, but really someone that believes in you so much. He really didn’t want me to be someone else for him at all. He was encouraging me to discover me [...] Whenever the going got tough, I had that love and support from Michael.”
In one of the most vulnerable moments of the three-part documentary, Minogue admits: “It was definitely an amazing point in time and I’ve probably been looking for something like that ever since — and I haven’t got it.”
Watch KYLIE on Netflix.
