Producer Blasts 'Bullshit' Legal Threats From INXS Manager Over New Hutchence Music

Sydney entrepreneur Ron Creevey and renowned producer Danny Saber have come out swinging against legal threats made by INXS manager Chris Murphy, after the pair announced plans to release previously unheard tracks by late frontman Michael Hutchence and an accompanying documentary over the next 12 months. 

When news broke in May that 15 songs Hutchence recorded before his death in 1997 were set to be released, Murphy was swift to respond. 

"I do know every single individual and or company who interfere with INXS/Michael copyrights are about to find themselves in very deep legal trouble," Murphy said in an email to AAP.

However speaking to theMusic, Creevey, who runs Kings Cross venue The X Studio, says he is not concerned by Murphy's threats. 

"I don’t have to justify anymore to people what we have versus what Murphy states he has because we actually have it," Creevey says.

"If Chris even had anything…he would have already shown it."

Creevey insists the project has been done "the right way" and that the documentary will show people "how Hutchence lived, not how he died".

"If certain people that are selfishly focused on themselves had what I already have they would have launched this ten years ago. But they don’t," he continues.

"The business that looks after Michael and looks after the family and all the rest of it have been methodical in making sure the timing is right. But more importantly, from my side, is making sure we’ve got everything lined up the right way."

Creevey acknowledges that while any INXS works would involve Murphy, this particular project is solely about Hutchence.

"It’s got nothing to do with INXS. This is Michael’s recordings with Danny Saber. This is Michael as a solo artist," he explains.

"Yes, anything to do with INXS, of course [would involve Murphy], but when it comes to Michael Hutchence as a solo artist, nothing to do with him. Nothing at all. If he’s got those rights that he claims he’s got then go and present them…"

Meanwhile, Saber, who has worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Madonna throughout his career, claims to have never met Murphy in his life. 

"This was something [Hutchence] was working on himself, self-financed," Saber said of the unreleased works.

"I don’t know what [Murphy] is talking about, he’s out of his mind."

The LA-based producer also worked with Hutchence on his only solo and posthumous debut album. 

"Think about this — why didn’t he sue V2 in 1999 when we released the solo album with Michael Hutchence. Where was he then?"

"He’s really out of line right now because he knows that he has nothing to do with this," Saber continues.

"I don’t know what he’s trying to gain here. Michael clearly was pursuing a solo career outside of INXS.

"It’s just really insulting. It’s insulting of Michael, it really is. To come in at this late in the game and try to attach himself to something that he knows he has nothing to do with…it’s bullshit."

Creevey and Saber hope to drop the first track in November, before releasing the remaining songs and documentary next year in support of the 20th anniversary of Hutchence's death.

They say the documentary is so important for Hutchence fans, not only because of the unseen footage featured in it, but because the 2014 miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart was not an accurate refection of the singer's life.

"The truth is he was a lot of different things to a lot of different people," Creevey says.

"We’re about bringing everyone together in a really positive way. In no way, shape or form are we knocking the INXS guys…Michael was pursuing his own career, he was trying to grow as an artist and I was amazed to find out the things on the acting side that will come out in the film that I didn’t even know about.

"It’s unbelievable some of the things that were lined up and that he was doing right before he died. It’s really going to blow people away when they find this stuff out…"