Michael Hutchence - The Last Rockstar: new documentary to cover the rocker's last hours

Words: Ellie Ward

Coming three months after the death of Princess Diana, Michael Kelland John Hutchence, the frontman of rock band INXS, was found dead in a room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney on November 23 1997. Much like the beloved Diana, the death of Hutchence too brought forth an outpouring of grief, controversy, conspiracy theories, and a name that 20 years later still commands headlines.

Now to mark the anniversary of his death, a new documentary, Michael Hutchence - The Last Rockstar, which charts his final hours, promises to "make headlines around the world," according to its producer Mark Llewellyn.

The Australian Seven Network in-house production, created over a two-year investigation into Hutchence's life, shows in its promo a piece of paper with Michael's handwriting scrawled across it detailing lyrics for presumably a song he was working on, which was discovered in a bank vault.

The lyrics read: "Look at the mess your [sic] making / Look at the mess across your face / All the bitterness has started showing / Five years no one hears / Just another heart to scared to..." while the last word is obscured, it appears to read 'beat'.

In a statement, Llewellyn adds: "This is not a biopic treading over old territory - this will make headlines around the world. This is not Michael Hutchence defined by how he died but how he lived: a brilliant musician, a brilliant man, a loving father, a true rock star.

“Michael left more questions than answers when he left us, and this documentary will provide those answers and much, much more.”

Llewellyn was allowed unprecedented access to the singer’s estate, diaries, home movies, photos, and possessions. The trailer also teases that there will be songs  heard for the first time as well as personal family videos and photographs that shed light on the man behind the legend.

The documentary will air in Australia as INXS unveil their plans to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary in Sydney in October. There is no confirmed date at this time for UK transmission.