Jon Farriss
INXS - Australia

Overview

A drummer's drummer by any standards, Jon Farriss knows his craft well. A gifted musician, Jon has been a prolific writer and producer inside and outside of INXS for many years. Away from the band, an avid traveler and citizen of the world, Jon leads a life of creative determination and intellectual fulfillment on many levels.

Jonathon James Farriss was born August 10, 1961 in Perth, Western Australia. The youngest of the Farriss brothers, Jon also has a younger sister, Alison. Turning pro at 16, Jon began learning the drums when he was just four years old. As part of cover band Top Cat, Jon gained invaluable experience with different musical styles - from rock to cabaret. A chance jam between members of Jon's brother's two bands (Guiness and Doctor Dolphin) led to him joining them to become The Farriss Brothers. When the Farriss family moved across the continent from Sydney to Perth in 1978 with Jon still in school, the entire band followed in order to stay together until he could graduate and play drums full time for what was to eventually become INXS in 1979.

Richard Clapton (producer of Underneath The Colours): "There are some amazing players in INXS, all with a distinctive sound. Obviously Jon is just amazing." Jon, Gary and Andrew played on Clapton's highly regarded The Great Escape and marked the start of Jon branching out on solo work within the band. 'You Never Used To Cry' was the first of a string of compositions by Jon to be used as b-sides to INXS's singles. Others include 'I'm Over You,' 'Everybody Wants U Tonight' and 'Deepest Red' each developing in sophistication as Jon grew as a musician. His co-writing of hot INXS album tracks such as 'Old World New World' (Shabooh Shoobah), 'Red Red Sun' (Listen Like Thieves) 'Faith In Each Other' (X) and 'Back On Line' (Welcome To Wherever You Are) have also yielded hits with 'Disappear' in 1990 (X), and 'The Gift' in 1993 (Full Moon Dirty Hearts).

Outside productions for Jon began in 1985 with a single for Kam Sha ('Work Until You Drop!') and in 1987, an album for Richard Clapton (Glory Road). Further guest appearances on Jimmy Barnes' Freight Train Heart ('Seven Days') and Sharon O'Neill's Danced In The Fire ('Physical Favors') also kept him busy between INXS commitments. In 1990, Jon participated in Absent Friends' Here's Looking Up Your Address and Wendy Matthews' award winning 1992 album Lily and it's 1997 follow-up Ghosts. 1995 brought a unique production job for Jon in the form of Chinese singer Ai Jing, and her album Once Upon A Time On Yanfen Street. In 1998, Jon re-teamed with old friend Jimmy Barnes to co-produce and play on Barnes' stunning Love & Fear album.

More recently Jon has drummed to a billion-strong TV audience for Japanese band Love Psychedelica at the World Peace Awards and filled in for Toto’s legendary Simon Phillips for 3 shows learning Toto’s set in just 24 hours. The year ahead holds many new things for INXS and Jon is an important part of the changes to come.

Jon: “We have very high expectations for ourselves and take what we do very seriously. INXS is a most beautiful gift, and I thank all our fans for supporting us for all these years.”

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