Former Homeless Musician to Sing for INXS

[DrivMCr8zy]

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/special2/...21125509990023
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the show reaches a second season, what band should be the subject?
The Doors
Stone Temple Pilots
Van Halen
Other / Post

Just in case your not with AOL is a copy paste
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Updated: 01:06 PM EDT
Former Homeless Musician to Sing for INXS

By Barry A. Jeckell, Reuters

CBS
Singer J.D. Fortune won 'Rock Star: INXS' partially on the strength of an original song he wrote for the show, 'Pretty Vegas.'

NEW YORK (Sept. 21) - After a 13-week public audition, a former homeless musician has been named the new frontman of Australian rock group INXS, filling the shoes of late singer Michael Hutchence.

J.D. Fortune was selected by the band from a field of 15 that had been whittled to three for Tuesday night's finale of the ratings-challenged reality show CBS' "Rock Star: INXS."

"J.D. has a slightly dangerous edge and will bring a sense of spontaneity to our live show," INXS guitarist Tim Farriss said in a statement released Wednesday. "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."

The single "Pretty Vegas," recorded before the final show's taping, was released to U.S. radio outlets Wednesday via the band's new label, Sony BMG's Epic Records. It will be sold exclusively through Apple's iTunes music store for two weeks beginning Oct. 4.

The band plans to hit the studio immediately with producer Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams) to record "Switch." Its first new studio album since 1997's "Elegantly Wasted" (Mercury), will be released Nov. 29. Ahead of a world tour that opens in January, the band will appear Friday on CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and on Oct. 17 will perform at Los Angeles' new Virgin Megastore (Hollywood and Highland).

It was Fortune's performance last night of INXS' 1986 hit "What You Need" that convinced band members to choose him over Marty Casey, who performed the group's 1983 breakthrough single "Don't Change" during the second performance stage of the show. Third finalist MiG Ayesa was eliminated after a first round of performances with the show's house band.

"It's an understatement to say that this is a dream come true," said Fortune. "Growing up, INXS albums like 'Shabooh Shoobah,' 'Listen Like Thieves' and 'Kick' were a huge musical influence on me. I'd listen to their songs and wonder what it would be like to be in this band. That they've chosen me to be their new lead singer is just mind-blowing."

Hutchence died by his own hand in a Sydney hotel room in November 1997. The surviving members -- Farriss brothers Tim, Andrew (keyboards/guitar) and Jon (drums), Kirk Pengilly (guitar/saxophone) and Garry Gary Beers (bass) -- hatched the global search for a new vocalist with television producer Mark Burnett ("Survivor"). The reality show also featured substantial input from guitarist Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction) and was hosted by Brooke Burke.


09/21/05 12:52 ET