Hutchence (centre) was often the centre of media attention

The 1990 fax, sent by the INXS frontman from Australia, said "good morning" and was signed with kisses and a heart.

The sale of annotated lyrics, sketches and T-shirts by Rhett Hutchence has been criticised by their mother, Patricia Glassop.

She has reportedly disowned him over the sale of the items on eBay.

Michael Hutchence was found hanged in a Sydney hotel room in November 1997.

Rhett Hutchence, who wrote a book about the early days of INXS, said on one eBay listing that he felt "weird" wearing the band's merchandise, adding: "They have to earn their keep somehow, as the have been in storage, like everything else, for the past 10 - 20 years."

He also implied there was more intimate material in his collection, saying in his description of the fax: "I have a similar, yet raunchier fax that I will keep".

Just over 50 items, ranging from trousers to a bank deposit cheque, have gone for sums as high as Aus$1,000 (�402).