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"M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by photokitty on 09-23-05 at 02:25 PM
I'm going here because in all the articles surrounding the show, most of the press says Michael "hanged himself" or "took his own life" or "suicide." I sort of winced every time I read that. Only a small number of articles have left it alone by just saying "the death of." It happened in late 1997, so my memory is foggy, but I don't recall reading anything to specifically say that it was definitely suicide.

Perhaps the press just found it easier to say that. Yet, given the press's penchant for things sensational and exploitative, why wouldn't they emphasize the accidental death during auto-eroticism angle? I know it was mentioned, a little. Perhaps editors nationwide said, "No way are you talking about that!" Are we, as a society, so prudish to PREFER that it was a suicide?

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Messages in this discussion
"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by LaLaLisa on 09-23-05 at 02:44 PM
LAST EDITED ON 09-23-05 AT 02:53 PM (EST)

I think there are still a lot of people that don't know what it is.

PSA - If you are reading this and are one of the ones who don't know, auto-erotic aphysixiation is a way to make an orgasm more intense by cutting off your oxygen flow (usually by near strangling yourself) making you lightheaded. The idea is cut off enough air to make you lightheaded, but remain conscious - so you can undo it. If you misjudge, you pass out and then die. I think it's mostly guys that do it while jacking-off (the auto-erotic part) which is what makes it dangerous - no partner to help out if you pass out.

Back to why it is or isn't mentioned: I think back in 1997 it still wasn't talked about - I mean, violence, yes, sex, yes but masturbation? No one ever talks about that. Even though I swear I saw it Oprah in high school. I'd like to think it isn't so much as a conscious decision to call it suicide when they know it wasn't, but technically he did strangle himself and they stop there, don't bother with the full story.

It does do a huge disservice to Michael, though. It was accidental death, not suicide.

More PSA - a good references on the topic: http://www.silentvictims.org/

Started by someone who lost his brother to it. It talks about the embarrassment that families feel and other complicated things. Some people are more embarassed by sex than suicide. So even if MH's family members weren't, there are probably plenty in the press who are.

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by Hoobie on 09-23-05 at 02:57 PM
Great post LaLa.

I know that we all know what happened. But, I can't remember HOW I know. Was it MSN? News? Radio? I do remember sitting in my office transfixed by the news, and wanting to get more. I think I was web-surfing trying to get more info. That's when I found out more about Paula, Bob Geldof, etc.

Maybe it didn't happen with auto-erotic asphyxiation?? Maybe, it's one of those things that someone told someone else, and now everyone knows and considers it the truth without verification?

I imagine that the police officer/ maid/ whomever that found him, found him nude and in position. But really, what does that prove? Wasn't there something about a note too? Eight years is a long time to keep all this straight.

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by Moother on 09-23-05 at 03:11 PM
In a way it really was suicide because doing something that extreme is kind of like playing Russian Roulette. Your taking a chance with your life. Some times you win and sometimes you don't but at his age I would think he knew the chance of death existed and he still made the choice.
"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by LaLaLisa on 09-23-05 at 03:22 PM
Yes, he made the choice to risk, but there is a HUGE difference between RISKING your life and TAKING your life.

Are soldiers suicidal? Firefighters? Yes, there is a HUGE difference between risking your life for an ideal, versus risking it for pleasure or thrill, but who one would argue that soldiers, et. al., are suicidal.


As the brother who runs the website wrote:

"We thought that is was easier to tell people that Bob committed suicide. That was because it was easier for others to understand. Think about it. We soon came to the conclusion that suicide made it easier for others to understand, however, it was not fair to Bob, nor was it fair to our family. He did not wish to die. He loved life and lived it fully. Ultimately, we placed Bob and family in front of other people's "comforts of understanding". The way it should be. Those that wanted to know, close family and select friends, we told them what happened. We tried to explain AeA as best we could. Most often, it was not important if they understood, only that they knew the truth. In the long run, our family decisions were the best."

http://www.silentvictims.org/FAQ's.htm

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by geg6 on 09-23-05 at 03:30 PM
Absolutely right, Lisa.

I scuba dive. It's very risky. Does that make me suicidal? I don't think so. I drive well over the speed limit, sometimes when I've had a beer or two. Does that make me suicidal? I smoke. Does that make me suicidal?

There are those who have sex with strangers without a condom. That doesn't mean they are suicidal.

Taking risks does not equal suicide.


I'm such a slut for the blues.

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by Moother on 09-23-05 at 03:40 PM
I agree but many times when people do risky things we say that's just suicide! That's my point. It's a risk you take.
Soldiers generally go where they are ordered to go and therefore much of the choice is removed from them.
In his case I would imagine it isn't mentioned the sexual aspect because it was a bit embarrassing for the band. Maybe they ALL do/did it but they don't want to talk about it.
I know I wouldn't want to admit I did it, anymore than I would want to admit I was a hooker to send my kids to college. (by the way, I really wasn't)
"regarding post 6"
Posted by Undertow12345 on 09-23-05 at 08:30 PM
Please do not get drunk and drive well over the speed limit.
It puts the lives of other people at risk and you may kill some child while driving drunk well over the speed limit.
Thank You
Signed..someone who lost someone because of driving well over the speed limit with a couple of beers in them.

and now back to casual banter...

"RE: regarding post 6"
Posted by dragonflies on 09-26-05 at 10:10 AM
Thanks undertow. YOu beat me to it.

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by photokitty on 09-23-05 at 10:54 PM

>It does do a huge disservice
>to Michael, though. It
>was accidental death, not suicide.


Yeah, that's my point.
There is a distinction, ie, the will to die.
I never believed it was suicide, but I couldn't remember if there was any fact connected to my belief.

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by LaLaLisa on 09-23-05 at 03:11 PM
More info:

"Although an inquest ruled Hutchence had committed suicide, friends say he died accidentally in an act of autoerotic asphyxiation."
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/09/1055010927488.html

Since it was officially ruled a suicide, that must be why they report it that way. Easier.

A site that says it has the coroner's report transcript:
http://www.thei.aust.com/music98/hutchcor.html

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by photokitty on 09-23-05 at 10:41 PM
Thanks LaLa, that's what I wanted to know.
"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by CattyChat on 09-23-05 at 04:09 PM
All very good articles posted on this thread. I also cannot rememeber the particulars of how I heard of the accidental nature of the death due to auto-eroticism back then. I was very naive & sheltered back then & knew nothing about various fetishes people have and I was shocked & grossed out at that time.

After living the last 8 years in the big city & meeting people of all walks of life & different lifestyles, my eyes are opened to many different things people are into & preferences they may have. The biggest thing I have learned is not to judge people on what they do.

It is sad how hard it must be for families to deal with the aftermath of something like this, but I would think stating it was an "accidental hanging" is much better than suicide. Actually, usually when I hear anything about Michael Hutchence's death it is stated as accidental.

Just like any other young person whose life is cut short by an accident, suicide, murder or illness, it is just a sad shame. May Michael rest in peace.


"Michael's life"
Posted by LaLaLisa on 09-23-05 at 04:19 PM
"Just like any other young person whose life is cut short by an accident, suicide, murder or illness, it is just a sad shame. May Michael rest in peace."

Amen. If nothing else, I'm so glad this topic was started because in searching for details/facts about his death, I read so much more about his life, his craft, his writing. I have a whole new appreciation for him.

"I disagree"
Posted by trigirl on 09-24-05 at 08:39 AM
I remember following this tragedy. I was stunned. I remember seeing images of Paula in her wedding dress, dyed black at the funeral.

I disagree that it was a case of auto-erotocism gone bad. Paula started that because she could not deal with the fact that it was a simple stupid act and that she had been a factor in his downward spiral.

"RE: M.H.: Suicide Or Accident?"
Posted by Goober on 09-26-05 at 12:54 PM
LAST EDITED ON 09-26-05 AT 02:07 PM (EST)

That question will always remain over the circumstances surrounding MH's death. His rockstar career had pretty much flatlined at the time, and any mention about him in the Murdoch press was inevitably linked to Paula and Bob. While Paula had her share of male admirers in her heyday (she reportedly snubbed even Bono), it says alot about a supposed Lothario's state of mind if he went on from dating the likes of Kylie Minogue and Helena Christensen to eventually settling for Yates, a sparky, bottle blonde tv host with a troubled past. To recklessly seduce a middle-aged albeit riotous mother of 3 and in the process almost have your lights punched out by her very tall husband can only be the desperate actions of a depressed man.
If she made him laugh, she also cost him somewhat, even by rockstar standards, because the unending custody battles over Paula's kids certainly sent her ex to the cleaners. Last overheard in a heated spat with Geldof over the children, MH was certainly troubled at the time whatever his motivations might have been behind his act of asphixiation.

"Bono's comment"
Posted by Loree on 10-22-05 at 02:20 PM
http://contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mn...gic%20hutchence

Rocker BONO still regrets not supporting troubled INXS star MICHAEL HUTCHENCE in his final days - because he thinks he might have been able to save the Australian icon.

The U2 star was close friends with Hutchence, but fears he let his pal down because he didn't act on his wife ALI HEWSON's concerns that Hutchence was on the edge.

He reveals, "I felt I had let Michael down because I was lost in my own busy-ness and hadn't called as much as I would have liked.

"In fact, Ali had spent some time with him and she'd said he looked a bit shaky to her.

"I just wished I'd been around a bit more. He would confide in me and I in him. We were really good friends."


21/10/2005 02:59


Also U2 has been performing the song "Stuck in the Moment" which is about Michael. At a recent concert before he sang the song Bono made a comment about RockStar:INXS. Bono said he didn't know what he personally thought about INXS doing the show to find a new lead singer. Then he kind of laughed and said he wondered what Michael would think about it. Then Bono said that Michael probably would have been okay with it and liked the idea.