Paradise Papers reveal owner of Michael Hutchence’s rights

Michael Hutchence’s (pictured) business manager allegedly used a tax haven in Mauritius to cash in on the dead rock star’s unheard songs, though his family claims the rights to the music should have been part of his estate and given to them

The brother of INXS star Michael Hutchence has accused his business manager of ‘stealing’ and ‘holding estate items for profit’ after Channel Seven produced a documentary on the singer.

Rhett Hutchence unleashed a tirade through Facebook on Monday morning, claiming his family were left with nothing after the tragic death of his brother – not even his diary.

His heartbroken rant came just hours before Four Corners revealed allegations concerning the dealings of Colin Diamond, Michael Hutchence’s business manager, in regard to his estate. 

The program reported Diamond set up a company in Mauritius called Helipad Plain ahead of the twentieth anniversary of the rockstar’s death this month.

The offshore company claimed it had rights to exploit ‘sound recordings, images, films, and related material embodying the performance of Michael Hutchence.’

In a documentary titled The Last Rockstar, aired on Channel Seven, Diamond produced the singer’s diary, revealing his final notes and a song he was working on just before his death. Rhett claims he, nor his family, have seen this diary.

 

Michael's brother Rhett (left) claimed in an emotional post on Facebook Diamond had 'stolen' items belonging to the dead INXS star and held them with the intention of profiting later

Michael’s brother Rhett (left) claimed in an emotional post on Facebook Diamond had ‘stolen’ items belonging to the dead INXS star and held them with the intention of profiting later

Hutchence's business manager Colin Diamond (pictured) allegedly set up a company called Helipad Plain in 2015 in Mauritius. The company claimed it had rights to exploit 'sound recordings, images, films, and related material embodying the performance of Michael Hutchence'

Hutchence’s business manager Colin Diamond (pictured) allegedly set up a company called Helipad Plain in 2015 in Mauritius. The company claimed it had rights to exploit ‘sound recordings, images, films, and related material embodying the performance of Michael Hutchence’

The details of Diamond’s company and its colourful investors were laid bare in an explosive leak of over 13 million confidential documents this week, dubbed the ‘Paradise Papers’.

Rights and royalties to Michael’s work were not originally held by Diamond, Rhett claimed in his Facebook post. 

He said their father was a beneficiary of a trust owned by a British Virgin Islands company called Chardonnay Investments, established in 1992.

Rhett told Four Corners: ‘Colin has taken any of the Hutchence names off the list and replaced [them] with his’.

An email contained in the Paradise Papers from Diamond’s Singaporean lawyer Malcolm Lim, and reported in the ABC, claimed the rights to Hutchence’s music rights belonged to Diamond as he was the sole owner of Chardonnay Investments following Michael’s death.

‘The reason for this is that he was a trusted friend of Michael Hutchence and because of that and the fact that he (MH) had various family issues, he left Colin Diamond to deal with the assets of Chardonnay,’ Mr Lim wrote.

Rhett (pictured) told Four Corners he had a copy of the Chardonnay Trust, which is now operated entirely by Diamond, which had his father's name on it. He claimed Diamond had taken off any Hutchence name and only left his own

Rhett (pictured) told Four Corners he had a copy of the Chardonnay Trust, which is now operated entirely by Diamond, which had his father’s name on it. He claimed Diamond had taken off any Hutchence name and only left his own

The question of what happened to Hutchence's estate has been one of the biggest mysteries of the rock world

The question of what happened to Hutchence’s estate has been one of the biggest mysteries of the rock world

Hutchence's will said he left half his estate to daughter Tiger Lily, who was adopted by Irish singer Bob Geldof at the age of four, and 10 per cent each to his mother, father, brother, half sister and the late Ms Yates

Hutchence’s will said he left half his estate to daughter Tiger Lily, who was adopted by Irish singer Bob Geldof at the age of four, and 10 per cent each to his mother, father, brother, half sister and the late Ms Yates

It is not only the rights to Michael’s music the family were left without. In his social media post, Rhett claimed Diamond went to the Rose Bay police station just two days after his brother’s tragic death.

He claimed Diamond then took all of Michael’s possessions, leaving their family only the belt he committed suicide with in a Sydney hotel in 1997.

‘Two days after Michael died, Colin, the best friend money can buy, went to Rose Bay police station, and took all of Michael’s luggage, clothes and personal possessions,’ he wrote.

‘The day following the funeral, my father went to get his sons belongings, to be given the only thing Colin left for the Hutchence family, Michaels belt. 

‘Colin has never returned one of the 169 items on the police inventory.’

Four Corners reported only Tiger Lilly has seen any money, with Diamond making payments over the years, but claim it is not enough to cover what she is owed

Four Corners reported only Tiger Lilly has seen any money, with Diamond making payments over the years, but claim it is not enough to cover what she is owed

Rhett, whose family has been in a legal battle with Diamond for Michael’s possessions and the rights to his work for years, said Channel 7’s documentary, The Last Rockstar, ‘brought home memories of those times we had peace of mind’.

‘Thanks also, for allowing me, and the world to see for the first time in decades, my brothers personal possessions, and ever, his private thoughts and notes,’ he wrote.  

Rhett claimed Diamond held Michael’s ‘personal possessions and his private thoughts and notes’ – which the Hutchence family had never seen. 

‘Colin has held these items to profit on my brothers anniversary by exclusively allowing them to be seen for the first time, on TV,’ he wrote.

‘This doco [The Last Rockstar] and the subsequent release of his ‘unheard music’ album (another story) is all an attempt for Colin to gain profit from my brothers hard work.’

Diamond released parts of Michael's diary and unheard lyrics to Channel Seven for their documentary on the INXS singer titled The Last Rockstar. Rhett claimed his family had never seen these as Diamond took the diary from Rose Bay police station before his family could collect it

Diamond released parts of Michael’s diary and unheard lyrics to Channel Seven for their documentary on the INXS singer titled The Last Rockstar. Rhett claimed his family had never seen these as Diamond took the diary from Rose Bay police station before his family could collect it

Hutchence died in a Sydney hotel room in 1997. His partner Paula Yates died of a heroin overdose in 2000. Their daughter Tiger Lily (pictured with Michael) was adopted by Irish singer Bob Geldof

Hutchence died in a Sydney hotel room in 1997. His partner Paula Yates died of a heroin overdose in 2000. Their daughter Tiger Lily (pictured with Michael) was adopted by Irish singer Bob Geldof

He continued to claim Diamond has held Michael’s diary, and has not made any attempt to give it to his daughter, Tiger Lilly, as he wanted to ensure there was nothing which could reflect poorly on him.

‘Colin has been holding Michael’s diary for 20 years and never once attempted to contact or give it to Tiger,’ he wrote.

‘He needed to get to it first to make sure Michael had no incriminating evidence on him in it.

‘Michael loved his family deeply, worked hard for his money, and would have wanted his wishes carried out.’

'Michael loved his family deeply, worked hard for his money, and would have wanted his wishes carried out,' Rhett said of his brother (Michael pictured right with Kylie Minogue) 

‘Michael loved his family deeply, worked hard for his money, and would have wanted his wishes carried out,’ Rhett said of his brother (pictured right with Kylie Minogue) 

The details of Colin Diamond's company, which owns the rights to Michael Hutchence's (pictured) music were laid bare in an explosive leak of over 13 million confidential documents dubbed the 'Paradise Papers'

The details of Colin Diamond’s company, which owns the rights to Michael Hutchence’s (pictured) music were laid bare in an explosive leak of over 13 million confidential documents dubbed the ‘Paradise Papers’

The question of what happened to Hutchence’s estate – said to be worth as much as $27million – has been one of the biggest mysteries of the rock world.

The rocker’s death 1997 death sparked a bitter war over who should inherit his vast riches.

His mother Patricia Glassop, father Kel and sister Tina fought through the courts for eight years only to be told by the executor that Hutchence owned virtually nothing.

The 2005 court case revealed Hutchence’s assets were being kept in a complex web of offshore trusts set up in tax havens and run by Diamond and others. 

Diamond maintained Hutchence had never wanted his relatives to inherit his fortune.

However, this appears to clash with the rock star’s will, which said he left half his estate to daughter Tiger Lily, who was adopted by Irish singer Bob Geldof at the age of four.

Four Corners reported Diamond has made payments to Tiger Lilly over the years, but claims the money paid does not equal the full amount of Michael’s royalties.

The rest of the Hutchence family has been left with nothing, the program reported.

Diamond did not respond to requests for comment to the ABC. 

 

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