Guitar

DOB: 16 August 1957

Biography

Supplying funky chops and fiery shards of guitar snarl is only one part of the job Tim Farriss does with INXS. Perhaps the proudest member of the band – with all of its accomplishments and unwavering perseverance – he has much to beam about. As integral as he is to the band, Tim is also its biggest fan, thoroughly enjoying everything the band does – recording, touring and all the in between activities with an infectious glee. A guitarist of considerable skill – and a man with wit and wisdom to match – Tim is the heart of INXS in many ways…

“I really hate it that I’m the responsible guy. I’d rather the guy that nobody can get out of bed!”
Tim Farriss

Born 16 August 1957, in Perth, Australia, Tim is the oldest of the three Farriss brothers (also younger sister Allison). Music was always a big part of Tim’s life, learning guitar at an early age and sticking with it. Attending Forest High School in Frenchs Forest, Tim fortuitously met Kirk Pengilly and soon put together a band with him called Guiness. After a time, Tim and Kirk combined with Andrew, Michael, Garry and Jon to form The Farriss Brothers. The band changed it’s name to INXS in 1979, and it was Tim initially who was managing the band, getting the gigs and handing out the money with Kirk. He is looked upon by his band members as a father figure and along with Kirk and Michael handled most of the publicity assignments up through 1997. Tim always has a funny story to tell, like the time as a teenager at home he crashed (was pushed?) into the refrigerator door leaving a rather large dent, thus creating his distinctive chipped front tooth.

An avid sportsman with a long history of involvement in ‘tag and release’ fishing (Tim once made a documentary called Fish In Space about his high seas exploits), golf and cricket (currently president of the Manly team), Tim is very busy away from INXS. Fishing also caused Tim to miss the recording of their 1987 smash hit ‘Good Times’ with Jimmy Barnes. Various charities get bits of Tim’s time and attention, as does the occasional guitar workshop. Far away, a working farm in lush Kangaroo Valley with family strikes a balance from the madness of city demands.

“Initially it was only Tim who believed we could go somewhere. He was always the car salesman, the one pushing us, getting us gigs and talking about us. We all just sat back and thought how good it was that we were living in a house together, playing gigs and getting free beer.” Garry Beers

Within the band, Tim exudes a kinetic energy that so important to everything INXS. Songs like ‘Don’t Change’, ‘What You Need’ and ‘Devil Inside’ all bear the unmistakable mark of Tim Farriss – especially in the live setting. Although Tim is not the main songwriter for INXS, he has contributed some amazing single b-side compositions over the years such as ‘Phantim Of The Opera’, ‘I’m Coming (Home)’ and ’11th Revolution’, which have delighted fans with their powerful playfulness.

Outside INXS, Tim appeared in Troy Davies’ 1988 Ecco Homo video for ‘Motorcycle Baby’, in 1990, Tim co-produced (with Kirk Pengilly) Crash Politics’ Kiss My Mind album, then in 1993, produced a track for the Reckless Kelly soundtrack album (which also included INXS’s cover of ‘Born To Be Wild’), Mental As Anything’s ‘Ride’. Further ’90s solo work consists of an special 97-track “musician’s samples” CD from 1996 called Deep Inside Tim Farriss. With titles like ‘Golf Golf Golf’, ‘Forest White Slide’ and ‘Slow Beef’ and boasting a hot title track demo (featuring one “Jazzy Jonny J” aka Jon Farriss), you know this is true “Timmy” territory. Also in 1996, a private production one-track CD for Atlantis Relocations called ‘Party (Xmas)’ was made as a unique audio invitation to a company holiday gathering. In 1998, a CD-ROM three-track single for the Australian NBL called ‘Nothin’ Better’ was offered to fans at games and related tie-ins. Other production chores by Tim in his Montana Studio facility were done for Fibro Lounge, Centerpunch, Juggernaut ‘Million Miles From Home’ in 1999, a Shakaya remix and a Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park fire disaster charity CD single in 2000 entitled ‘A Message To You (A Song For Fallen Friends)’.

“Taking it as far as it can go has always been what INXS is about – and I love that!” Tim Farriss

A true rock and roll trooper by any standards – with superlative records, hit singles and ceaseless tours with INXS for nearly 30 years, Tim Farriss has done it all, but keeps looking to the future. Tim and his wife Buffy, (together since high school) have two boys, Jake and James.

Songwriting Credits

On A Bus
Doctor
Just Keep Walking
Learn To Smile
Jumping
In Vain
Roller Skating
Body Language
Newsreel Babies
Wishy Washy
Big Go Go
Fair Weather Ahead
Barbarian
What Would You Do
Spy Of Love
Don’t Change
Melting In The Sun
The Swing
Love Is (What I Say)
Three Sisters
Simple Simon
We Are The Vegetables
I’m So Crazy (Par-T-One Vs Inxs – Radio Edit)
Like It Or Not
The Unloved One
Just An A
Equipment List

Guitars:
- Fender Telecastor
- G&L Telecastor
- G&L Custom, Bigsby Tremelo
- Tokai Custom, Floyd Rose System
- Tokai Telecastor
- Kramer Custom, Floyd Rose System

Amplifiers:
- 2 x Marshall JCM 800

Cabinets:
- 2 x Marshall 1960A 4 x 12

Wireless:
- Shure ULXP4 Guitar Wireless System

Effects:
Rack:
- Marshall JMP 1 Preamp
- Dunlop DCR1SR WAH Controller
- TC Electronics G-Major Effect Unit
- BBE Sonic Maximiser
Pedal Board:
- Line 6 DL4 Delay
- BBE Boost Grande
- Dunlop Tremelo
- Ibanez TS-9
- Dunlop WAH Remote

Switching:
- Digital Music Corp GCX Loop Switcher
- Whirlwind Selector Switch (rack mount)

Strings:
- Ernie Ball, 10 to 46

Endorser’s:
- Ernie Ball
- In Tune Guitar Picks
- G&L Guitars