Legendary Australian musician Ollie Olsen dies aged 66 following long health battle

Ian 'Ollie' Olsen, the legendary Australian multi-instrumentalist, composer and sound designer who was once the bandmate of INXS' Michael Hutchence, has died. He was 66.

It was the Melbourne-born performer's family who had the job nobody wants to ever be forced to do, announcing Olsen's death to his social media followers in an emotional statement this week.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Ollie Olsen," his family wrote on Instagram on Wednesday, revealing his death came after a long health battle.

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"Ollie fought long and hard like the Viking he was against Multiple System Atrophy since 2019 when he first began to have symptoms," Olsen's family's statement, shared with a series of photos from his childhood, early career, and just prior to his death, continued.

"He passed peacefully in his sleep this morning under the care of The Royal Melbourne Hospital with his wife Jayne at his side.

"We ask for privacy during this difficult time. Thank you for your support over the years, if you wish to help Jayne with funeral costs, you may do so via Ollie's last fundraiser via Support Act ❤️."

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Olsen's death came just one week after it was announced he would be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame next week, in recognition of his contribution to the arts industry over five decades.

"Music Victoria has been overwhelmed with calls for his induction dating back many years," Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel said when Olsen's induction date – October 24 – was announced.

"He is a true artist and visionary in every sense of the word, consistently forging his own path, delivering groundbreaking sounds with each new decade, influencing generations of musicians, and we're proud to celebrate his enduring legacy."

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Olsen rose to notoriety after working on the musical score of the 1986 film Dogs in Space alongside Hutchence, with the duo going on to form the electronic and rock band Max Q.

Hutchence and Olsen released their first – and only – self-titled album in 1989, which was well-received by critics for its experimental sound.

"I miss Michael every day, the time I spent with him was amazing," Olsen said after Hutchence's 1997 death. "We both spoke about making new music together just before he passed away. He was a very soulful person with a great deal of passion and humour."

It wasn't just Max Q that Olsen was known for, with the musician performing in several other Australian bands over his career, including Whirlywind.

Olsen then moved towards sound design, dedicating more time to being a film and television composer, with his work on Head On – starring Alex Dimitriades – being nominated for Best Original Music Score at the 1998 Australian Film Institute Awards.

In recent years, Olsen's health saw him need full-time hospital care.

He is survived by his wife, Jayne.

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