Michael Kelland John Hutchence was born on January 22, 1960, in North Sydney, Australia, to Patricia Glassop, a make-up artist, and Kelland Frank Hutchence, a businessman. He spent his early years in Sydney and Hong Kong, where he developed an interest in music and poetry. Hutchence's musical journey began in earnest when he returned to Sydney and formed the band Doctor Dolphin with Andrew Farriss, whom he met at Davidson High School.

In 1977, Hutchence became the lead singer and lyricist for the band INXS, which he co-founded with the Farriss brothers. INXS achieved international fame, selling over 50 million records and becoming one of Australia's highest-selling music acts. The band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. Hutchence was also involved in the band Max Q and pursued solo projects, including acting roles in films like "Dogs in Space" (1986) and "Frankenstein Unbound" (1990).

Hutchence's personal life was often in the spotlight due to his relationships with high-profile women, including Paula Yates, with whom he had a daughter, Tiger Hutchence-Geldof. Tragically, Hutchence died by suicide on November 22, 1997, in a Sydney hotel room at the age of 37. His death was ruled as suicide by hanging during a depressive state. Hutchence's legacy continues through his music and the impact he had on the rock and alternative music scenes.