INXS
In 2006 rock band INXS made an unexpected announcement, to seek a new lead singer via a TV talent contest to be shown around the world. We have witnessed many a star rise to fame through the reality TV phenomenon that has taken the music industry by the balls and by surprise, but to essentially replace the late Michael Hutchence with an artist that could potentially be the lad bleeping your groceries through a checkout counter was taking the concept to a new level. Fortunately they didn't go for the guy at the supermarket but for Jason Dean Bennison also known as JD Fortune, the winner of Rockstar : INXS.
The ex-army, bronzed 32 year old Canadian was raised just outside Nova Scotia having worked as an Elvis impersonator, a far cry from the drug-taking, tousle-haired rebel who stole Bob Geldof's wife and turned Kylie into a sex kitten. No one can deny they are some scary, shiny, snakeskin boots to fill but if the idea was to fill them with success, then mission: accomplished.
Rockstar was a huge ratings success for the networks and a final attempt by the band to reignite their career after Hutchence's death in 1997. Thousands of people auditioned from Australia, Europe and North America and were watched by millions around the world. This in turn created a fresh fan-base for the group and landed them a credible lead singer, with presence and talent enjoyed by fans old and new on their sell-out world tour.
Here in Malaysia the Stadium Negara, KL, (which exudes as much atmosphere as a bus depot on a Sunday evening) played host to a performance that more than made up for the bleak surroundings. They performed many old favourites such as `Need you tonight' satisfying the long serving fans from yesteryear plus a number of tracks from the new album 'Switch' including their decent debut single 'Pretty Vegas'.
Like all reality TV offspring sustaining their popularity will prove to be the real challenge. We've all witnessed many bands have their careers launched or indeed reignited by reality TV, but most fade away into the dreary realm of 'reality has-beens' where Clay Aiken (American Idol 2003) sings a sorry tune whilst the `America's next top model' winners drown their sorrows realising they've endured months of stress only to further feed Tara Bank's ego and popularity. It would be a real shame if this is where INXS are bound, although I suspect this wont be the case due to the mutually beneficial union that unites JD with the group. Like a well thought through business deal, JD needs the fame and recognition of the band to properly launch himself to international stardom and INXS needed the publicity of the show and the youthful good looks of JD to attract a new, younger audience and inevitably shift some albums in the process!
Like a pre-arranged wedding the 'old school' band and JD Fortune have been thrown together with financial gains for all involved; the record company, management, TV networks and of course the band members themselves but again like any artificial union it is time that will tell as to whether they can sustain their newfound success and affection for each other.
With a 32 year old at the head of a band with some members old enough to be his uncle you cant help but feel slight discomfort, especially with the knowledge of how advantageous this alliance has been for all involved, rather like watching a 50 year old rich Westerner breaking bread with a 20 year old Thai boy, one can't help but contemplate `will this ever, really work out', but having met the band personally it would seem longevity is on the horizon. All have bonded tremendously well and attention is now very much on creating top music and pleasing their millions of fans.
At a press event before the concert in KL, JD Fortune was asked what he thought of music reality TV to which he replied 'It's here to stay' and with strong album sales and tickets for their tour in London selling out so fast new dates were quickly announced it would seem so are INXS.
