Christopher Zinn in Sydney
While Australia mourned the death of rocker Michael Hutchence at a funeral described as akin to a state event, police retracted their statement that it was a “straight case” of suicide in the light of the Sydney coroner’s report.
Hutchence was found naked, hanging by a belt from a door’s self-closing device, in Sydney’s plush Ritz-Carlton hotel, two weeks ago. Prescription pills including the anti-depressant Prozac were found in the room.
Coroner Derrick Hand confirmed that asphyxiation was the cause of Hutchence’s death, but said further investigations would be needed to determine whether he had killed himself or died accidentally.
The funeral ceremony last Thursday functioned as a public memorial service to a man whose death shocked fans around the world.
Thousands of people gathered outside St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney and saw Hutchence’s fiance Paula Yates, the remaining members of his band, INXS, and show-business figures including Kylie Minogue, Diana Ross and Nick Cave, join the congregation. Most wore black, but several people opted for colourful attire, among them Hutchence’s brother Rhett, who sported a brightly striped suit.
The dean of Sydney, the Very Reverend Boak Jobbins, overturned plans to make the service an invitation-only ceremony and allowed television cameras to broadcast it live. He alluded to the still unresolved issue of whether Hutchence took his own life.
“Someone who was your rock is no more, and in that there is pain and hurt and loss, and the pain and the loss and the hurt are made worse by the suggestion that this was a death of despair,”he said.
Yates, in a low-cut black silk dress, sat in the front row with her and Hutchence’s 16-month-old daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.
Among the floral tributes delivered to the cathedral was a white wreath from U2 singer Bono in the shape of a claddagh, the Irish symbol of love, friendship and loyalty.
The first eulogy was by Richard Wilkins, a music journalist, who said Hutchence had been a “star in every sense of the word. He loved life and we loved his life. We admired his talent, we respected his dignity and we envied his cool. Michael lived life to the max. For the fans it was never about headlines, it was only ever about music and we loved his music. We loved his lyrics, his melodies -we even loved those guitar solos.”
The second eulogy was by Rhett Hutchence. The service passed almost without incident except when a man, shouting “He’s dead, he’s dead” tried to jump from an upper balcony of the cathedral. The man was restrained by security staff and removed by police.
The funeral ended with the singer’s coffin, covered with purple irises and a single tiger lily, being carried out of the cathedral by the remaining members of INXS and Rhett Hutchence. The band’s song Never Tear Us Apart was played.
Afterwards Yates, close family and members of INXS attended a private cremation ceremony.
The family has retained the services of super-publicist Harry M Miller to deal with the media on their behalf.