I love INXS too - or at least did when Hutchence was alive. And I hope this isn't really true.
First, AB has a lot of classic U2 sounds, as well as "new" U2 sounds, but nothing remotely close to that of INXS or other bands. Admittedly, AB contains more "pop" like songs, which INXS did brilliantly. But even though I'm a fan, INXS's lyrics were always a bit, uh, simple and repetitive (e.g., "What You Need", "New Sensation", "Devil Inside"). Bono's lyrics always are more intriguing, with many meanings.
Should INXS be accused of copying U2 because after JT became big, with Bono having long hair, suddenly INXS is big with Hutchence having long hair? As for leather pants, Elvis? Mick Jagger? That's how silly this becomes. INXS are hardly the first pop-rock group, just as U2 are hardly the first band to combine themes of politics and religion with pop and rock.
So if anyone in INXS really has issues with AB, they are about 20 years too late to complain. Songs like "Until the End...", "Love Is Blindness", "Acrobat", "One", "Zoo Station", "The Fly", and "Who's Gonna Ride..." are NOT INXS songs. The only songs even remotely close to INXS's style are "Even Better..." and "Mysterious Ways", and I'd argue the latter - with it's strong religious themes - may fall out as well.
Now, if one wants to accuse U2 of copying some of Bowie's ideas for the ZOO TV tour, then I think even U2 would agree that they were heavily inspired by him. But what they did for that tour sets them apart.
And really, that's what's key. INXS and U2 are not the first bands to have those types of sounds and themes in their music. But they both created something new - just as R.E.M. did (and if anything, I'd say R.E.M. and U2 were closer in sound and style in the early 90's than INXS and U2). All three bands flourished in the late 80's and early 90's. U2 was able to move on more because their sound kept evolving. INXS was stagnant (even I stopped buying their music - sorry to say) and R.E.M. lost a step after Berry left. When Hutchence died, I felt that was the end of INXS - and I still feel this way (despite some attempts at a revival).
Aga