’80s New Wave Legends Say Late Lead Singer Would Be 'Proud' of Rock Hall Nod

1980s New Wave legends are celebrating their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination, saying their late lead singer would be “proud.”

INXS, who made a major splash in 1982 with the album Shabooh Shoobah and went on to a career high with 1987s Kick, was recognized as part of the nominated 2026 class. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honors artists who released their first commercial record at least 25 years prior and have demonstrated significant musical excellence, impact, and influence on the evolution of rock music.

In an interview with Billboard, INXS co-founder Andrew Farriss shared his delight at the band’s nomination. “I think everybody in the band is thrilled and excited to be nominated, and obviously we’re very much honored to have something like that.”

He continued, “It’s something, I guess, that goes into the history books, whatever they are. I never started writing songs and playing music to be in a hall of fame; that’s not why I started doing it — but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it. I’m a little philosophical about all that; I think when something’s meant to happen, it’s going to happen in your life, whether you realize it or not.”

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Farriss couldn’t help but remember INXS’ enigmatic frontman, Michael Hutchence, who died in November 1997 at 37. He believes he would be “honored’ by the nomination.

“I know he’d be honored with this,” Farriss said to Billboard. “One thing he said very early on in our career is, ‘One day I’d like to think whatever we did mattered.’ That’s something he said. I think this shows that it did. That’s pretty cool.”

INXS are nominated alongsideThe Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, New Edition, Oasis,P!NK, Sade, Shakira, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a global panel that includes over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals, along with the results of the Hall’s annual fan vote, which counts as a single ballot. Once all votes are counted, seven acts will be named to the Class of 2026.

A date for a full announcement for the official Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be announced in the coming months.