You would be forgiven for thinking being part of one of the greatest bands of all time would garner a fair bit of attention from the opposite sex. 

But INXS mainstay Kirk Pengilly says it wasn’t always a given, even when wielding a “really sexy instrument” like the saxophone.

Speaking with Sofie Formica, the musician admitted he saw an opportunity when he realised “you can’t have three guitars playing all the time”.

Kirk Pengilly: “I chose the sax because it seemed to be something that fits, well, back then, fit modern music, pop music, rock music more than the trombone did.”

Sofie Formica: “And come on, also because it was a really sexy instrument to play. Rob Lowe had played the saxophone in St Elmo’s Fire and you knew you’d look hot!”

Kirk Pengilly: “Yeah, I was very emotive that I might pick up girls, you know, but it didn’t really work, I’m afraid – we had Michael in the band.”

Press PLAY below to hear Pengilly reflect on 45 years of INXS 

Image: Paul Natkin/Getty Images