Michael Hutchence and Kylie Minogue: A Look Back at Their Tumultuous Relationship

A new biographical study delves into the career of pop superstar Kylie Minogue, examining her enduring appeal through the lens of her "chameleonic quality" and her past relationship with INXS frontman Michael Hutchence.

The book, "Can't Get You Out of My Head: In Search Of Kylie" by Guardian writer Michael Cragg, divides Minogue's career into ten chronological "image-phases," starting with "CuteKylie" in the mid-1980s, when she transitioned from the soap opera "Neighbours" to a pop career. Later phases include "IndieKylie" during the Britpop era and "ImperialPhaseKylie," marked by the success of her hit song "Can't Get You Out of My Head."

Cragg's book is described as a "delightful biographical study" and a "celebratory brazenness" that sets it apart from more critical analyses. The author is noted as a "Kylie super-fan."

Early Encounters and Lasting Impressions

The book touches on Minogue's early encounters with Hutchence, the charismatic frontman of the band INXS. Their first meeting at a music awards after-party in 1987 reportedly involved a crude, drunken proposition from Hutchence. Years later, he is said to have seduced Minogue by reading Milan Kundera's novel "Immortality" to her, a book Minogue later named as her favorite.

Minogue reportedly took away several lessons from her two-year relationship with Hutchence, including an understanding of fame as a "masochistic pursuit" where success leads to becoming the target. She also learned about the necessity for performers to adopt an "ego jacket"—a blend of persona and personality to shield them from public scrutiny.

Hutchence reportedly ended the relationship by phone. He died by suicide in 1997.

The Essence of Kylie

Despite Minogue's "bruited reinventions," the book notes a surprising consistency in her music, with songs from different eras often sharing a similar mood. This underlying consistency is presented as a key to her sustained success. Critics and fans alike have attempted to define Minogue's unique appeal.

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright is quoted as calling her "the anti-Madonna." Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters offers further insight, explaining Minogue's status as a gay icon by calling her "a showgirl at heart" and comparing her to Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, in contrast to Madonna's perceived role as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Enduring Success

Minogue's career has seen her achieve the remarkable feat of having a number one album in five consecutive decades. Her 2001 hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head" was released shortly after the September 11th attacks and was seen by some in the press as an anthem representing values worth defending. The song's hypnotic refrain was characterized as "the West's best response to Allahu Akbar."

The book posits that Minogue's "weightlessness," akin to Glinda's bubble, has been instrumental in her longevity, contributing to her continued presence in the charts.