Just A Man (Chapter 6)

[Rickyrocks]

Hi

This section is for your questions and thoughts about CHAPTER 6 of the JAM online feature.

Each chapter will be divided into its own chapter so as to make it easier to post & talk about each chapter seperately.

thank You
Rickyrocks

[Tina Hutchence]

Doesn't anyone have anything to say about this chapter? I think it is an interesting one.
T.

[caz]

Hi Tina,

Having read your book, now reading this version of chapter 6, I noticed it mentioned more about Michael's "moodier" side.

I can relate to this, being a creative person, I think we think more, analyse stuff deeper and sometimes we lose ourselves in too much thought. I know I can do this and it really does affect my moods. It can lead to a weird self introspection. The mind of a creative person is often more complex.

I suppose it's almost like "nobody understands me" type of thing.

I am glad Michael had someone as grounded as Jonnie, it's good to have that weight to hold you down but not back. It's great also that she remains a good friend to you and your family. Connections to people can help you through the rougher times.

[Cathy]

I found this chapter very interesting! I loved learning about all the background of things I had read in magazines and MORE in the book. It validated things I've read about Michael's relationships . He had some very good women during that time.

One thing that made me sad was after all the MTV awards , Michael was sad after all the accolades they recieved that night

The other thing that stayed in my mind was his friendship with Chris Bailey, and Chris said the music world is mean. And " Mick" is not mean.

[Trixiiy]

Tina said:

Doesn't anyone have anything to say about this chapter? I think it is an interesting one.
T.

Hi Tina,

I for one plan to read the whole book once again. I would have to say so much about each chapter and I will.

Just a Man is one of the most touching books I ever read! It is unique! I think about you, about Michael and your family when I say this!

Trixiiy

[Tina Hutchence]

Michael was very fortunate to have some loving, caring, women in his life at this time when there was so much exploding on the career horizon.
As for Michael's moods - I too believe that artistic individuals tend to go into those head trips where they think and obsess and basically analyse everything.
Michael felt very responsible for the band's success - there was so much on his shoulders because the press was focused on him, and after all, it was he who was out front at every show and almost every interview.
As I said in the book, I am very grateful to those wonderful, caring women.
T.

[sharon]

Hi everyone,

This chapter was interesting for many different reasons to me. First of all I just want to comment to Tina that I really admire you and think you are a very strong woman. I also think you were/are a very good sister. I say this because I have a hard time myself keeping my mouth shut and just accepting decisions and situations that one of my brothers in particular seem to always get into and I am guilty of judging him (he has a really bad track record). You were always so supportive and nonjudgmental of Michael. You really have made me rethink the kind of sister I want to be. So thank you.

Also, the moodiness is something I live with everyday. Both my husband and myself are extremely moody and we are both creative people. My mother warned me not to marry an artist. She always told me she felt artistic people were very moody.

The one thing I was truely amazed about and am looking forward to reading on about is how weird Paula was. No wonder Geldof was so insane. Not that I am defending him in any way but I don't think it would be easy being married to a woman that put pictures of the man she was obsessed with on her refrigerater. He must have felt like he was constantly being rejected. As for Michael, is he knew she was so insane over him that she showed up at places uninvited and made him think she was crazy what on earth attracted him to her in the end. Was it just her just being persistant?

Sharon

[Tina Hutchence]

Well, you will have to keep reading the book - but essentually she was persistant, and as Bob himself describes her; she was a cameleon - able to change personality to whatever she instinctively knew that a man wanted.

I have worked around actors and I have never witnessed anyone change stories and personalities as fast as Paula. She truly was a borderline personality, dangerous to herself and others.

Tina

[Tina Hutchence]

I meant to add that Michael did find Paula Yates interesting -she was very bright and he liked intelligent women. I just think that he did not physically spend enough time with her to see that she had a very real problem and that many of the things she was telling him, were not true.
In looking at his passports, you can see that he spent very little time in London during the time he was linked to Paula and he rarely travelled with her.
T.

[Aussie]

Tina, do you think if it werent for Tiger being born, Michael would of split with Paula? I mean due to all the bad press and problems that he was having from the attention?

Im not up to this chapter yet though lol im still on chapter 4 at the moment.

Thankyou

Lesley (aussie)

[moon]

This book is heping me see myself in a whole new light. I guess no one wants to believe they are so low they would harm themself. Its great that Michael had such wonderful people around him.

[Aussie]

Im about half way through this chapter now.

Reading this chapter brings back many memories of Inxs growing in popularity and how massive they got in australia. I remember watching that countdown awards show that INXS won all those awards. I think its also the one where the guys closed the show, they were all wearing Akubra hats and long dry as a bone coats (real aussie outback gear). And im sure Jenny Morris was doing backup as well. They did Burn for you, and right at the end all these hats fell from the ceiling. It was brilliant. Im pretty sure i have this on tape somewhere, ill have to go hunting. INXS were the Number ONE band in australia !
I also have a photo of michael and jon accepting an award on that countdown show. Ill scan it and try and get it up somewhere for you to see.

Tina, wrote about jimmy barnes and inxs doing a rocking song, Good times, I love the clip to that, they were having a ball in it! And jimmy was and still is a wild man of rock! ( he's from adelaide too! lol)

Interesting to read about the women in this chapter. I had never heard of Jonnie before, and i didnt know michael had a fling with Virginia Hey either. And how weird is paula with her pursuing of him. AFter reading The Gerry agars book about this period and then what Tina has written. They are just so totally different stories! I tend to believe what tina has wrote though. Paula was totally obsessed with Michael. What a strange person she was.

Also i had a laugh at what michael did with that fan lol The one who was flirting so much , and he grabbed her then dropped her! I would of loved to have seen the look on her face! lol What a classic!

I must say its great that Michele and jonnie have told you about things that happened with michael too, private and not so private. THankyou to both of them for contibuting too.

Aussie xx

[Pam]

Tina,

I have wondered about this since reading JAM the first time, did Jonnie ever mention Michael's attempt to jump off the balconey? Chills went down my spine because I thought it was a cry for help.

I hope this isn't too direct or insensitive as I never want to cause you any pain, just the opposite, I want to be a source of support.

This just has been on my mind for a year now and finally decided to ask.

Hugs,
Pam

[Tina Hutchence]

Forgive me Pam, I just noticed your question. Jonnie did tell me about the incident - only after Michael had died. She is not the kind of person who talks about very personal things and was of course sensitive to Michael's privacy and the press.
T.

[Tina Hutchence]

Hi Lesley - Michael was seeing someone else when he died - that point just did not get press coverage. The press runs with what it is fed or what is generally known or the alternative................whatever will create a winning headline.
T.