INXS Top Triple M's 'Election 300' Countdown
“I’m flabbergasted," INXS saxophonist and guitarist Kirk Pengilly said of the win. "It’s really unbelievable."
INXS (Credit: Phil Mortlock)
While this past week has undoubtedly been focused on the Australian Federal Election, music-lovers across the country have been focusing heavily on two things – what a Labor win means for Australian music, and the results of Triple M’s Election 300 countdown.
The product of thousands of listener votes, Triple M kicked off their countdown at the start of last week, slowly unveiling the list of songs until it reached its inevitable end on the eve of election day.
Describing it as “the election that really matters,” the countdown was a strong showing of Triple M fare, ultimately being topped by a homegrown classic, INXS’ Never Tear Us Apart. Released in 1987 and featured on the Kick album, the track charted globally at the time, and in 2025 has beat out the likes of Nirvana, AC/DC, Cold Chisel, John Farnham, and Queen to nab the top spot.
INXS drummer Jon Farriss and saxophonist and guitarist Kirk Pengilly were on hand to receive the news from hosts Dangerous Dave and Dave ‘Gleeso’ Gleeson. (Notably, Gleeson himself appeared twice in the poll when The Screaming Jets’ Better and Helping Hand hit #82 and #255, respectively.)
“Get out of the house! Ya kidding!” said Pengilly. “I’m flabbergasted. It’s really unbelievable. I mean, we recorded that song, oh, gee, must be 38 years ago, and that’s just incredible.”
Noting that the track originally had a far more “bluesy” vibe to what we hear now, it was one of 11 INXS songs featured in the countdown, with its closest neighbour being Need You Tonight at #35.
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INXS tied with Queen as the most featured artists, while the likes of Bon Jovi and Cold Chisel nabbed seven each, while the Foo Fighters and AC/DC also tied with six apiece.
All told, the representation was heavily skewed toward the US, with 125 songs (a 42% share) coming from America, while Australia trailed behind in second place with 78 songs to make up 26% of the total amount.
View the top 20 below, and check out the full 300 via the Triple M website.
Triple M’s Election 300 – Top 20
1. Never Tear Us Apart – INXS
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
3. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
4. Khe Sanh – Cold Chisel
5. You’re The Voice – John Farnham
6. We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions – Queen
7. Wonderwall – Oasis
8. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
9. Great Southern Land – Icehouse
10. Mr. Brightside – The Killers
11. Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin
12. When Doves Cry – Prince
13. I Touch Myself – Divinyls
14. Back In Black – AC/DC
15. Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
16. Alive – Pearl Jam
17. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
18. Down Under – Men At Work
19. Hotel California – Eagles
20. (Baby I‘ve Got You) On My Mind – Powderfinger
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