“Bitter Tears” was a single from INXS’s seventh studio album X. The title represented the 10 years since their 1980 debut album. The Australian band became international rock stars with the release of their 1987 album Kick. They had achieved their only number-one single, “Need You Tonight” and three more Top Ten singles in the United States. The work for X did not happen immediately because the band members took a break and worked on side projects in 1989. Frontman Michael Hutchence told a radio interviewer they had to follow up on the success of Kick or “they would disappear.” All six group members wrote ” Bitter Tears, ” released as the fourth single in the UK to coincide with their headlining show at Wembley Stadium in July 1991. The song about a failed relationship did not have the commercial fanfare of “Suicide Blonde” and “Disappear” which was also on X, but the fans did not care as the band was still in its prime. X was not as big as Kick but it was certified Gold two months after its release. In 2002, a remastered version of X was released with five bonus tracks. INXS announced they would stop touring in 2012 after working with Jon Stevens, J.D. Fortune, and Ciaran Gribbin as replacements for Hutchence who died in 1997. In January 2024, the band announced their partnership with jeweler Michael Hill for a limited edition collection of recycled silver pieces including guitar pick pendants, rings, dog tags, and bangles.
