The Australian rock band INXS was the opening act for Men At Work at their concert at Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on August 29, 1983. Hoffman Estates is a suburb of Chicago about 35 miles northwest of downtown.
Link to Wikipedia page about Poplar Creek Music Theater
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poplar_Creek_Music_Theater
I’m going to share this letter from Jackie, my friend from Chicago who died in September 2023. Jackie was a senior in high school when she wrote this. I was a sophomore in college at the University of Pennsylvania (not Penn State). This concert took place after the concert where I first kissed Kirk Pengilly, but before I went to the studio where INXS recorded Original Sin. I wrote to Jackie about these events, and she wrote back to me.
INXS who’s who
Rick Sales- tour manager for 1983
Gary Grant- co-manager of INXS and MMA
Timmy Farriss- guitarist and the eldest of the Farriss brothers.
Andrew Farriss- keyboards, guitar, main songwriter and the middle Farriss brother.
Jon Farriss- drummer and youngest of the Farriss brothers
Kirk Pengilly- guitarist, saxophone player, and vocalist.
Garry Gary Beers- bassist
Michael Hutchence- lead singer and main lyricist
October 11, 1983
Hi Donna!
Yes, I’m finally writing back! How’ve you been? I’m doing pretty good. It was nice to hear from you. Thanks for your two great letters; I’m sorry it took me this long to answer them, but I’ve been pretty busy.
So, tell me what you have been up to! How’s school? It’s all right here. My classes this semester are: The Family, Cooperative Education, American Government, Composition 12, Senior PE. Marriage and the Family, and German II. I’m also on the work program, so I get out at 1:15 pm every day and then I go to work. I have a new job working at a German bakery. I started about two weeks ago and so far, I like it.
The hours are really flexible, and I don’t work every day. I work two or three days during the week from 2-6, and then on Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays. It’s really not that bad. I just have to be careful so I don’t gain weight while working there! Some of the stuff looks SO yummy. Working at the bakery and school both keep me pretty busy.
Then there’s my German dance group that occupies time on Monday nights for three hours, and we’re going to start performing almost every weekend now, since the Mardi Gras season is starting soon.
When I’m not busy, I’m at home answering mail or bumming around with some friends and talking on the phone. I’m very good at doing that-ask Terri!
Like this paper? Jess sent it to me. I think it’s so cute! Ever since I met Jon [Jon Farriss, drummer for INXS] back in August when INXS was here, I’ve been in love! I mean, I love all the guys, but I couldn’t get over Jon. He’s so nice looking and most importantly, any guy who sits and talks to me for close to an hour is tops on my list! I should tell you about the concert; it seems like it was so long ago!
Well, this is what happened: My mom ended up going with me to the concert, because Heike got in trouble at home, and her dad wouldn’t let her go. I was really ticked off, too, because we had everything planned out.
My mom had to go to work that day, but she left early because she knew I had my heart set on getting out to Poplar Creek early. We left at about 5:15 pm, and it took us about an hour to get out to this place. It was farther than I thought, and it being rush hour didn’t help at all.
A few blocks before Poplar Creek, we were stuck at this red light forever. I look over to my right and see this tour bus turning onto the street I was going down. If it weren’t for the dumb light, I probably would’ve caught up with the bus. I was already doing close to 65 mph, which isn’t too easy in my little Pinto! My mom was all spazzy; she’s like, “I’d laugh if we were chasing Men At Work!” Spare me, please!
When we pulled into the parking lot, we were about two or three cars behind the bus, but we couldn’t tell who was in it. When we pulled in, the first thing the guy said was, “NO CAMERAS”, but I said screw it, and took mine with anyways!
We walked over to this gate where the bus had pulled in, and I talked to some guy. I asked him if he could get in touch with someone backstage to see if Gary Grant was around. He said he couldn’t leave his spot and that I should walk around the corner to the advertising office. They could get in touch with someone backstage. Before I left, I asked the guy, “By the way, whose bus just pulled in?” He goes, “Oh, that was just INXS!” I was dying!
Anyways, I went around to the ad office, and there was this guy sitting in there with a walkie-talkie. He was with Men At Work’s crew. The secretary was on the phone, so I asked him if he could maybe help me out. He connected me with Rick Sales, and then I talked to Rick on the phone. I explained who I was, and I mentioned that I had met Gary Grant in New York City back in June.
Rick told me that Gary was in London, and that I should have the guy who got me in touch with him escort me backstage so I could get my album signed and give the guys flowers. When he told me this, I almost dropped the phone!!!
So, this Men At Work crew guy took me through this door; I didn’t even need a ticket to get in! And I’m sure Terri told you I paid $23.50 for one ticket in the 26th row! [The equivalent of $75 in 2025] At that point, I didn’t care how much it had cost me because I knew I was going to get backstage and meet INXS, and that’s all that mattered!
Actually, the best thing was that since I got in through the press gate, nobody checked my bag for a camera! This guy took me backstage, where I met Rick. Rick told me that he was really busy and asked me to wait a few minutes until he could get to me. So, I stood by this office while looking down this long corridor for about fifteen minutes.
At about seven o’clock, I see Kirk coming down the hall! He stopped to talk to me and asked if I had seen Rick. I said I was waiting for him, and it turned out that Kirk was looking for him, too. I gave Kirk a carnation and he signed my album. He was so friendly, and I couldn’t get over it!
Only a couple of minutes later, Timmy comes walking down the hall and stops, so all three of us were talking! Timmy was extremely friendly, too. I gave him a flower, and he signed my album and a photo. I couldn’t handle this! By the way, I was by myself; my mom had taken her ticket and gone to her seat.
So, we’re standing there talking for a while, when Timmy goes, “Why are you standing here by yourself? Why don’t you come back with me and meet the rest of the guys?” I told him I had to wait for Rick, and he told me to go with him. Fine!
Tim took me to this room where they have all the food and stuff. I walk in and Jon and Michael are standing there talking. I looked at Jon and almost passed out; I could not get my eyes off him!!! I gave them each a flower. Jon put it in his hair and Michael put it in his vest. Cute!
They both signed my album, and Jon wrote, “Thanx for the flour”, and tells me he spelled it wrong on purpose! Duh! Michael wrote, “Lotza Lurve”! He also bit my album cover, so now I have nice teeth marks on it! Thanks very much! I’m gonna stop my story there until tomorrow…it’s getting very late and I have to get up early! I’ll write more during my free time at school!
October 12, 1983 10:20 am
Hi again! I’m in school now. I have free time until 11 am, so I thought I’d continue on this. I’m sitting in the cafeteria and it’s freezing in here. it’s such a drabby day-cold and rainy. Some idiot is opening the windows. This guy is crazy! I’m going to go up to my locker soon so I can get my lunch.
Anyways, let me continue on my INXS adventure. Where was I? Okay…after talking to Michael and Jon, I just stood around for a bit. I had yet to see Andrew or Garry.
Then Michael comes up to me and asks if I was going to join the band after the show and I’m like DUH!!! I told him that I didn’t have a pass and he goes, “Well, we’ll take care of that. C’mon darling, let’s go find Rick and get you a pass!” I could’ve screamed.
So, we went into their dressing room and Michael told Rick to get me a pass. He did and then I left to go to my seat. It was about 7:30 pm. When I got to my seat, my mom was sitting there smiling at me! I was all shook up, and when I started explaining what had happened, I started to cry! My mom’s like, “Calm down!”, and she’s laughing!
So, INXS came on stage and were on for 45 minutes. I took a look at my backstage pass, and it said, “Men At Work…US Cargo Tour 1983…CREW.” I figured if it said CREW, I could probably go down closer to take pictures and that’s what I did! I sat in the fifth row for the entire show! They were great, and all of the guys looked fantastic!
After the show, I went to my original seat and planned some things out with my mom. She said she’d stay in her seat for the Men At Work concert, and when they’re finished, I’d come back for her.
So, at about 9:15 pm, I went backstage and Men At Work went on at about 9:30 pm. Rick saw me and told me that I could knock on the door and go in the dressing room. So, I knocked on the door, and Tim opened up. Michael’s like, “Hey Jackie! How’d you like the show?”
So, I talked to him a bit, and then I went over to finally meet Garry. He was so sweet! We talked a bit and looked at some pictures that Terri and Jess had sent. I also met Andrew, and it was so embarrassing. I didn’t recognize him because of the moustache, so he came up to me and introduced himself! I felt so dumb!
Jon was sitting on a chair, and he was looking like he was gonna fall asleep! I went over by him, and we started talking. Garry throws a pillow at me and tells me to sit down on the floor. I did, and then Jon sat on the floor, too.
We talked for close to an hour about everything! Jon was making fun of the way I talk; he goes, “You sound like you’re from New Joysey or Bahston!” Shut up, Jon! Then he was making fun of certain words I said, like “love” and “pants”! Duh! He was making strange drum noises and beating on my hands.
He gave me a beer and offered me a cigarette-I just took the beer (I had two while talking to him.) I gave him a card and it said, “You’re welcome for the flour!” And he tells me to stop picking on him! After all this time, Jon said he was tired and excused himself to go lie down. I’m thinking, “Take me with you!!” He gave me a kiss and said good-bye, and I’m in heaven!
During this time, the other guys were running in and out. I think Kirk was watching the Men At Work concert most of the time. Michael was trying to be Joe Photographer! Then he tells me this story about seeing Prince in concert, and he (Prince) had this plastic dick that he flashed out of his pants to the audience! I’m like, “I hope you don’t try any of his ideas, Michael!” and he just smiles at me! That boy is sick.
Then he’s talking about drugs and asking this guy Colin (sound mixer) about the “PMP”. I had no idea what he was talking about, but now I realize that it means Peruvian Marching Powder, since reading your letter! Well, Colin said he didn’t have any, so Michael goes, “I’m in fucking America and I can’t even overdose!” I must’ve gotten some look on my face, because he goes, “Just joking, darling!” and he winks at me! Right, Michael!
Then he was writing this letter to the guys in Men At Work, and starts it out, “Dear Men At Leisure”, and Rick’s going, “No, put Ladies of Leisure”! It was so funny! Then Michael was having problems remembering how to spell leisure, so he’s like, “Jackie, come over here and help me write this…okay, I before E except after C. So, it’s L-I-E-S-U-R-E.” I said that was wrong because the rule didn’t apply to leisure and told him it was L-E-I-S-U-R-E! Everybody was picking on him, so he goes, “Well, my fucking English teacher taught me wrong!” Just the way he said it was funny.
I talked to Andrew and Garry some more, and I left when Men At Work finished up at 11:30. I said bye and got kisses from Michael, Andrew, and Garry. I couldn’t find Timmy or Kirk, so I didn’t get to say goodbye to them.
I went to get my mom and I was all hyper again! I was like a zombie going home. We didn’t get home until 1:30 am and I had to be up by six! I almost didn’t make it!
It was a very exciting night and I’m glad I met the guys. I still can’t get over how nice they all were to me. I am in love with Jon! Any guy that spends time talking to me when he’s tired is special!!! Especially “Jump-Him” Jon!!
End of that-I hope you’re not bored! This letter is pretty long!
So, do you still miss Kirk? I can’t blame you-he is SO nice. I miss all the guys but especially Jon! Did Kirk send you a postcard from London?
Anything exciting going on in your life? What school do you go to again-is it Penn State? Could you do me a favor? I’d really like a hooded sweatshirt from your school. Could you get me one? Let me know how much it costs and I’ll tell you what size. Thanks, Donna.
My Homecoming is this weekend. I’m going to the dance with my boyfriend Dennis. We’ve been seeing each other for about a month now. He’s got light brown hair and pretty blue eyes; he’s 5’6″ and 140 lbs… He’s no Jon Farriss, but he’s a cutie and I like him a lot! I’ll have to send a photo of us from Homecoming.
Nothing has been happening with the Sting. I imagine that indoor training will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The last time I saw Victor was Aug. 28. That’s the day I took Brian Quinn and Greg Son to Arnie’s It’s already October 12 (Rudy Glenn’s birthday-let’s party, fer sure) and I’m holding out quite well without Vic the bee keeper. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to hold out until the first game on Nov. 11th!
Well, Donna, I’m gonna end this here. Take care of yourself and don’t study too hard. I hope I hear from you again REAL soon!! Love, Jackie
Link to 1983 roster of the Chicago Sting soccer team. https://www.sportsarchive.net/teams/chicago-sting/1983
The last part of Jackie’s letter was about professional men’s soccer. The Chicago Sting was her local team. Victor and Rudy Glenn were both on that team. I don’t know who Greg Son is, but I assume he was also associated with the San Diego Sockers team because he was with Brian Quinn. Brian Quinn is still a part of professional soccer. He was a player back in 1983.
I will be writing about soccer in a future post because before I met this band from Australia, I met a bunch of professional soccer players from all over the world and saw the way some of them behaved.
Before she died, Jackie had wanted to digitize her INXS photos. I wanted to help preserve that bit of INXS history, so I tried to make it easier for her. She needed some way to do it, so I ordered a printer/scanner/copier from Amazon and had it sent to her house. Jackie had some medical problems and couldn’t work. I think her problems kept her from doing a lot of things. The photos were in her basement along with someone else’s stuff. It took her a very long time to locate the photo albums in the basement. That was as far as she had gotten when she died. Those photos are likely gone forever now. I sent a letter to her address about them but never got a response.
Here is a video that shows INXS on tour in 1983 to give an idea of what Jon Farriss and Michael Hutchence were like.