Twenty years after the lonely death of Michael Hutchence in a Sydney hotel room, old rumours and new speculation mean questions about the rocker’s last hours remain.
A coroner found Hutchence killed himself while depressed and under the influence of alcohol and drugs but there was never a public inquest into the INXS frontman’s death.
Hutchence’s partner Paula Yates claimed a year before her own death her lover likely died accidentally while choking himself for sexual pleasure, as the pair had engaged in similar sex games.
At the time of his death – 20 years ago on Wednesday – the rocker was being treated for depression. His band’s best days were behind it and he was still taking drugs.
Rock star Michael Hutchence, who hanged himself at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay in 1997, performs with INXS at San Jose Arena in California in April 1994
INXS frontman Michael Hutchence with his girlfriend, TV presenter Paula Yates, at a screening of The Birdcage at Planet Hollywood in London in April 1996, the year before he died
The corridor leading to Room 524 of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Double Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs where INXS frontman Michael Hutchence was found dead on November 22, 1997
Michael Hutchence’s coffin is lowered onto the shoulders of his five INXS bandmates and brother Rhett (in striped suit) at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney on November 27, 1997
In late 1995 Hutchence told British music magazine Vox: ‘I don’t wanna be a f***ing cliche.’
‘I don’t need to be dropping off in a hotel bath. I’ve come close, though. I’m surprised I’ve survived, and so are a lot of my friends.’
Hutchence’s brother Rhett has even recently suggested Michael could have been killed by someone else.
Earlier this year, Rhett issued a statement on social media on what would have been Michael’s 57th birthday.
‘Only three things could have happened that day,’ Rhett wrote.
‘Michael may have committed suicide. Michael may have passed due to lack of oxygen, due to sexual misadventure, or Michael was killed.’
‘In the last 19 years, looking, searching, talking to people, I have found all three things to be plausible, but I still don’t have a solid answer.’
New South Wales State Coroner Derrick Hand did find a solid answer, albeit without holding an open inquest, which he did not deem necessary.
INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence, considered one of the world’s great rock performers, was found dead in Room 524 of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Double Bay on November 22, 1997
INXS, led by Michael Hutchence, was one of the biggest rock bands in the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s; the band is pictured here at the Miami Arena in Florida in March 1988
Mr Hand’s office only ever publicly released a toxicology report and his reasons for not holding an inquest, which contained the findings about Hutchence’s death.
For the first time, Daily Mail Australia can reveal a full copy of Mr Hand’s report.
Rhett has objected to any material other than what has already been released being made publicly available.
Hutchence was found dead in Room 524 of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Double Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on the Saturday morning of November 22, 1997.
The 37-year-old, who had checked into the hotel four days earlier under the name ‘Mr Murray River’, appeared to have hanged himself with his snake skin belt.
A post-mortem examination found alcohol, cocaine, codeine, Prozac, Valium and other prescribed benzodiazepines – or ‘benzos’ – in Hutchence’s urine and blood. He left no suicide note.
In the hours before his death Hutchence had spoken by telephone to Yates, the former wife of Boomtown Rats lead singer and Live Aid planner Bob Geldof, and to Geldof himself.
Hutchence had been hoping Yates would visit Australia with their 16-month-old daughter Tiger Lily and two of her three daughters with Geldof, ahead of the last leg of an INXS world tour.
Michael Hutchence (left) with younger brother Rhett, who earlier this year suggested Michael could have committed suicide, accidentally asphyxiated or been killed by someone else
Bystanders mill around the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Double Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after the body of rock star Michael Hutchence was found dead in Room 524 on November 22, 1997
Tim Farriss, Garry Beers and Michael Hutchence of INXS perform during the Kick tour at London’s Wembley Stadium in June 1988 when the band was at the height of its fame
But Yates and Geldof were embroiled in a bitter custody dispute and Hutchence learnt on the morning he died the children would not be coming out. That meant Yates would not be coming either.
The night before his death Hutchence shared dinner with his father Kel.
Between 11pm and 5am the next day he was with his onetime lover, actor Kym Wilson, and her then boyfriend Andrew Rayment at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
The trio drank vodka, beer, champagne and cocktails during the night.
Hutchence was apparently upset when he spoke to another former girlfriend, Michele Bennett, at 9.54am. Ms Bennett went to the hotel but could not rouse him by telephone or knocking on his door.
A maid found Hutchence dead behind his room door at 11.50am. Less than three months later, the police case was closed.
Paula Yates and Bob Geldof (both pictured) were locked in a bitter custody dispute over their daughters Fifi, Peaches and Pixie at the time of her boyfriend Michael Hutchence’s suicide
Here are the complete findings of New South Wales State Coroner Derrick Hand, delivered in Sydney on February 6, 1998:
I have received a completed police brief into the death of Michael Kelland Hutchence on 22nd November, 1997, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Double Bay. I am satisfied that the cause of death was ‘hanging’. I am also satisfied that there was no other person involved in causing the death.
The question of whether the death was a suicide or not has to be considered.
The deceased was found at 11.50am naked behind the door to his room. He had apparently hanged himself with his own belt and the buckle broke away and his body was found kneeling on the floor and facing the door.
It has been suggested that the death resulted from an act of auto eroticism. However, there is no forensic or other evidence to substantiate this suggestion. I therefore discount that manner of death.
With regard to the question of suicide I have to be satisfied on a strong balance of probabilities before I am able to come to such a conclusion. There is a presumption against suicide. Having considered the extensive brief I am satisfied that the standard required to conclude that this death was a suicide has been reached for the following reasons:
The door of Room 524 of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where the body of rock star Michael Hutchence was found on the morning of November 22, 1997
The late rock star Michael Hutchence’s brother Rhett with the model then known as Kate Fischer – now Tziporah Malkah – at the premiere of The Flintstones in Sydney in 1994
NSW State Coroner Derrick Hand found Michael Hutchence committed suicide while depressed and under the influence of drugs including cocaine and benzodiazepines
1. Michelle Bennet, [sic] a former de-facto of the deceased, received two telephone calls from him on the morning of the 22nd November. The first was on an answering machine and Mr Hutchence sounded ‘drunk’. During the second call at 9.54am the deceased commenced to cry and according to Ms Bennett sounded ‘very upset’. She was concerned about his demeanour and for his welfare and told him she would come immediately. However, when she arrived at the hotel she was not able to rouse him by knocking loudly on his door nor by ringing him. She wrote a note and left it at reception. Ms Bennett stated that Mr Hutchence never expressed previous inclinations regarding suicide.
2. The deceased’s father, Kelland Hutchence, dined with him the previous night. The deceased was in good spirits, however appeared very worried in regard to the outcome of a custody suit in London. Mr Hutchence could offer no explanation as to why his son would take his own life.
3. Ms Kym Wilson and Mr Andrew Rayment were with the deceased in his hotel room from sometime after 11pm and left about 5am. According to Ms Wilson the deceased appeared to want both of them to remain with him to offer support if the result of his custody hearing was unfavourable. His mood was described as ‘elevated, however pensive when discussing Court proceedings’. All three persons consumed alcohol, including vodka, beer and champagne together with cocktails during this time.
INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence with his father Kel, with whom he dined on November 21, 1997, the night before Michael was found dead in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Double Bay
Michael Hutchence with former girlfriend Michele Bennett, with whom he had two telephone conversations on the morning he died in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay
NSW State Coroner Derrick Hand detailed the conversations Michael Hutchence had with his lover Paula Yates and her former husband Bob Geldof on the morning he was found dead
4. Whilst Ms Wilson and Mr Rayment were in the room Ms Martha Troup, the deceased’s personal manager, rang from New York. Then later at 9.38am she received, via voicemail, a call from Michael Hutchence in which he said ‘Martha, Michael here. I f***ing had enough.’ She rang the hotel immediately and the telephone rang out. A further call was received at 9.50am on Ms Troup’s telephone answering machine. The deceased sounded as if he was affected by something, and was slow and deep. This call worried Ms Troup and spoke to John Martin the tour manager for INXS about her concerns. Mr Martin refers to a note received from the deceased stating that he was ‘not going to rehearsals today’. The rehearsal was to be the last one prior to the start of the tour and was quite important.
5. Ms Paula Yates provided a statement. She provided background to the custody dispute between her and Sir Robert Geldof. She stated that she rang the deceased at sometime prior to 5.38am on the 22nd November and he told her he was going to beg Geldof to let the children come out to Australia. She had told the deceased that the custody matter had not been finalised and was adjourned until the 17th December and she would not be bringing the children out. Ms Yates stated that the deceased sounded ‘desperate’ during the conversation.
Actor Kym Wilson, pictured here in January this year, was drinking vodka, beer, champagne and cocktails with her boyfriend and Michael Hutchence on the morning the rock star died
Police at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Double Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after the body of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence was found in Room 524 on November 22, 1997
NSW State Coroner Derrick Hand dismissed any suggestion Michael Hutchence died of auto-erotic asphyxiation in a report which concluded the rock star committed suicide
6. Sir Robert Geldof received two telephone calls from the deceased, the first at about 6.30pm London time on evening of 21st November. It was a short duration and Geldof asked the deceased to call back. The second call was received by Geldof about 5.30am on 22nd November, Sydney time. This call was of some length. Geldof refers to deceased’s demeanour as being ‘hectoring and abusive and threatening’ in nature. He refers to the deceased as ‘begging’ to allow him to let the children come to Australia. He did not sound depressed during the conversation. A friend of both Geldof and Paula Yates, Ms Belinda Brewin, confirms the substance of the conversation between the two. A statement obtained from a Gail Coward, the occupant of the room directly next to the deceased’s room, alludes to her hearing a loud male voice and expletives emitting from the deceased’s room about 5am that morning. I am satisfied that she was hearing the telephone conversation between the deceased and Geldof.
7. A statement obtained from the mother of the deceased, Mrs Patricia Glassop, confirms her opinion that the deceased was in a depressed state.
The late TV presenter Paula Yates pictured with rock star Michael Hutchence, who died in a Sydney hotel room 20 years ago, walking with her daughters Pixie, Peaches and Fifi
Michael Hutchence with his mother Patricia Glassop, who made a statement to police that she believed her son was in a depressed state before he was found dead at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel
8. In December, 1995, Michael Hutchence was first prescribed Prozac by Dr J. Borham, a London medical practitioner to treat a pre-existing depressive problem. He was last so prescribed on 1st November, 1997. A London psychiatrist, Mr Mark Collins, was consulted by the deceased on 17th October, 1997 in regard to a minor depression being experienced by him. According to the Doctor there was no hint of suicidal thinking by the deceased.
9. An analysis report of the deceased’s blood indicates the presence of alcohol, cocaine, Prozac and other prescription drugs.
On consideration of the entirety of the evidence gathered I am satisfied that the deceased was in a severe depressed state on the morning of the 22nd November, 1997, due to a number of factors, including the relationship with Paula Yates and the pressure of the ongoing dispute with Sir Robert Geldof, combined with the effects of the substances that he had ingested at that time. As indicated I am satisfied that the deceased intended and did take his own life.
I am also satisfied that this death is one in which nothing will be gained by holding a formal Inquest. The identity of the deceased, the date and place of death and the manner and cause of death are clearly set out and the time and expense of holding an Inquest is not warranted and therefore such will be dispensed with.
May I offer to the family of Michael Hutchence my sincere condolences on their sad loss.
INQUEST DISPENSED WITH.
(D.W. HAND)
N.S.W. STATE CORONER.
Glebe. 6th February, 1998
Michael Hutchence and Paula Yates with Yates’s daughters Peaches (left) and Pixie (right) and another friend of the Geldof girls (centre) at a London cinema in February 1996
Sir Bob Geldof (pictured) was engaged in a bitter dispute with his former wife Paula Yates over the custody of their three children at the time Yates’s boyfriend Michael Hutchence died
Shortly after Hutchence’s death, Sir Bob gained custody of his children with Yates, Fifi, Peaches and Pixie.
Paula Yates died of an accidental heroin overdose aged 41 in 2000. Sir Bob soon became legal guardian of Tiger Lily and later legally adopted her.
Hutchence’s father Kel died aged 78 in 2002. His mother, Patricia Glassop, who had objected to Sir Bob adopting Tiger Lily, died in 2010. She was 84.
Peaches Geldof, mother of two sons, died of a heroin overdose aged 25 in 2014.
Michele Bennett has had a successful career as a producer of documentaries, music videos for acts including Prince and Foo Fighters and films including Chopper, about the Melbourne criminal Mark ‘Chopper Read’.
Coroner Derrick Hand retired in 2000 after a distinguished 47-year career in the state’s courts.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is now the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay.
For confidential support call the 24-hour crisis support Lifeline on 13 11 14