Jonathan James Farriss, born on August 10, 1961, in Perth, Western Australia, is an acclaimed Australian musician best known as the drummer and founding member of the iconic rock band INXS.
As the youngest of the Farriss brothers who propelled the group to global stardom, Jon has carved out a multifaceted career spanning drumming, songwriting, production, and acting.
His distinctive, groove-heavy style helped define INXS’s funky, danceable sound that captivated audiences worldwide during the 1980s and 1990s.
Beyond the band, Farriss has pursued solo ventures, including his project JAC MUSIC, and maintains an active presence on social media where he shares insights into his musical explorations.
Siblings
Jon’s older brothers, Tim and Andrew Farriss, shared his passion for music and became integral to the formation of INXS, with Tim serving as lead guitarist and Andrew as the primary keyboardist and songwriter.
The trio’s close-knit bond surfaced early as they collaborated in school bands and eventually co-founded what began as The Farriss Brothers in 1977.
Jon’s younger sister, Alison, completed the sibling quartet and provided steady support during the brothers’ rise to fame.
This family dynamic fueled INXS’s early creativity and cemented a lasting legacy of brotherhood in rock music.
Career
Jon’s professional journey began in childhood when, at just 10 years old, he joined his brothers’ early band efforts in Sydney, laying the groundwork for INXS.
By 1977, the group, initially called The Farriss Brothers, had taken shape with Jon on drums, Tim on guitar, Andrew on keyboards, Michael Hutchence on vocals, Kirk Pengilly on saxophone and guitar, and Garry Gary Beers on bass.
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Renamed INXS in 1979, the band entered the global stage with their debut album in 1980.
The mid-1980s brought their major breakthrough with The Swing and standout tracks like Original Sin, showcasing Jon’s innovative drumming and his early experiments with electronic sequencing.
His creative reach extended beyond percussion as he co-wrote Disappear from the 1990 album X and The Gift from the 1993 album Full Moon, Dirty Hearts, along with several experimental B-sides.
Following INXS’s peak era and the tragic loss of Michael Hutchence in 1997, Jon continued shaping music, producing albums like Richard Clapton’s 1986 Glory Road, where he co-wrote three songs.
He also reunited with his bandmates in the 2000s for select performances, including the Rock Star: INXS series in 2005, before diving deeper into solo and production work.
In recent years, he has focused on JAC MUSIC, releasing the single We Are Awakening and taking on notable appearances such as performing with Ringo Starr in 2013.
Accolades
In 2008, Jon was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Awards Hall of Fame alongside Tim and Andrew as The Farriss Brothers.
INXS earned multiple ARIA Music Awards and won a Grammy in 1988 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for Need You Tonight.
The band also secured several MTV Video Music Awards, with Jon’s drumming central to defining tracks such as Never Tear Us Apart, which topped the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs in 2025.
He has been praised by major industry figures; Nile Rodgers credited Jon’s live performance as the spark behind their collaboration on The Swing, while Ringo Starr publicly acknowledged him as one of the greatest drummers.
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