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“INXS's songs set the table for singers."
- Ben Harper

INXS are back with a new album, “Original Sin,” set for release on January 11, 2011.

Two years in the making, “Original Sin” teams INXS with musicians from around the globe, from superstars like Ben Harper, Train's Pat Monahan, Rob Thomas, and Nikka Costa to up and comer DJ Yaleidys of Cuba, to reinterpret and revitalize their own classics for a whole new generation.

An eclectic mix of music including Thomas and Yaleidys' sultry take on "Original Sin" and trip-hop superstar Tricky's electrifying version of "Mediate" to Pat Monahans' emotional "Beautiful Girl" and French pop artist Loane's take on "Mystify" with John Mayer & Kirk Pengilly on guitar, INXS boldly embrace their past and future on one album.

"INXS's material, specifically INXS's songs, set the table for singers," said Ben Harper. "In my opinion, they're any singer's dream songs to sing. Covering, 'Never Tear Us Apart' is like covering 'Dock Of The Bay.' I'm not here to make grandiose overstatements; it's just a fact, that is one of the greatest soul songs ever written."

INXS with Ben Harper – Never Tear Us Apart
Splendour In The Grass – Queensland, AU – July 30, 2010

To have so many of their peers want to perform INXS songs is a testament to the songwriting and something that INXS keyboardist/guitarist and main songwriter Andrew Farriss is immensely proud of. "I'm truly flattered that we have so many artists interested in working with us reimaging these songs. In a sense, it's been re-energizing for us to look at ourselves differently in the context of being in 2010 rather than, you know, 30 years ago. I feel we're very much doing something that's now and significant." Agreed lead guitarist Tim Farriss, "Original Sin is just, for me, so exciting. I know certain people might sort of perceive it as why aren't you doing new material, but the fact of the matter is we're getting to play some of our favorite songs from our history and play them the way we want them to be heard today."

For drummer Jon Farriss, it's all about the music. "We wanted to celebrate the songs, they're such great songs," he says. "I think initially there was a mixed bag of emotions and feelings, which was probably a good thing because we realized how much the songs meant to us. But at the end of the day we started to realize that this is actually cathartic for us and it might be for everyone else as well."

"This is the most beautiful and heart wrenching musical project I have ever had the pleasure to be involved in," said CM Murphy, INXS creative director and global business strategist. "Every track is played with emotion and conviction by the wonderful musicians within INXS. Every artist who performed on this album did so with heartfelt connection to the songs and to Michael's original vocals as well as his soul and his love for music. I had the pleasure of working with Michael for 15 dynamic years and I know for a fact he would love every performer on this album. This is a very special album."

Two singles are expected to be released to radio next week: “The Stairs,” with new singer J.D. Fortune, and “Original Sin,” with Rob Thomas and DJ Yaleidys.

INXS