For 13 weeks, INXS have been conducting a huge televised audition to find a brand new singer.

Wave after wave of mediocre singers belted out all sorts of pretend rock nonsense on TV show Rock Star: INXS, and they were slowly whittled down to an eventual winner. And that winner is… a former Elvis impersonator who used to live in his car.

Ever since their singer Michael Hutchence died in a hotel room with a belt around
his neck in 1997, INXS (CDs) have been at a bit of a loss for things to do.
They were always rubbish, but Hutchence was at least vaguely charismatic. Without him, they were just a mediocre pub band.

INXS tried to struggle
on with new singers, like ego-on-a-stick Terence Trent D’Arby and Australian Jon
Stevens, but it never worked out for them.

That’s why the band started up Rock Star: INXS, a televised audition
to find a permanent replacement for Hutchence. And to boost their own
waning profile, obviously. According to reports, choosing a winner from
the final three contestants was a hard task. Maybe because they all
have such rubbish descriptions.

There was MiG Ayesa, the understudy of the Freddie Mercury character
in We Will Rock You; Marty Casey, who is in a band called Lovehammers;
and J.D. Fortune, an Elvis impersonator who used to live in his car.

But J.D. proved to be the best, to much acclaim from the band. INXS guitarist Tim Farriss said in a statement:

"J.D. has a slightly dangerous edge and will bring a sense of
spontaneity to our live show. In addition, he has both the star
quality we were looking for and is an inspired lyricist. I think he’ll
grow with us on all levels."

So
now J.D. and INXS will lay low for a while, getting to know each
other’s quirks and foibles, and organically trying to become the best
band they can be before they release any material. Yeah, right -
instead they’ll punt out any old shit as quickly as they can
before everyone forgets about them again.

Read more:

Former homeless musician to sing for INXS – MSNBC

[story by Stuart Heritage]