Never Tear Us Apart began its life as a bluesy demo by INXS’s keyboardist and songwriter Andrew Farris. Frontman Michael Hutchence gave it lyrics, producer Chris Thomas gave it synthesisers, and the public gave it a place on every Australian Music best-of list. 

And the covers come from far and wide: you’ll hear English, American, Welsh, French and Lanarkshire accents amongst the covers. 

Andy’s guests are ABC Classic’s Alice Keath, and Double J’s Al Newstead. 

Every great song gets covered. Sometimes beautifully, sometimes badly, and sometimes by people who clearly should have known better.

Cover Story, returning for its third series, hunts down the best, the worst, and the downright strange versions of classic songs, and asks the question: why does this version give us goosebumps while that one makes our skin crawl?

Never Tear Us Apart

Words by Michael Hutchence, music by Andrew FarrisFirst performed by INXSOn the album Kick, 1987

Versions heard in the show:

• Joe Cocker - Respect Yourself (2002)
• Tom Jones feat. Natalie Imbruglia - Reload (1999)
• The National - Songs for Australia (2020)
• The Ten Tenors - Wish You Were Here (2017)
• Courtney Barnett - Rehearsal Room Recording (2018)
• The Twilight Sad - single (2011)
• Paloma Faith - John Lewis Ad (2012)
• INXS with Ben Harper and Mylene Farmer - Original Sin (2010)

Next time on Cover Story: The Beatles’ Can’t Buy Me Love.

Technical production by Tegan Nicholls

The show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.