Im signing up as soon as auditions are announced. http://www.inxs.com/news/index.php?id=272 http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/15/music.inxs.reut/index.html Rock Star' looking for someone to fill Hutchence's shoes Tuesday, June 15, 2004 Posted: 9:23 AM EDT (1323 GMT) INXS' album "Kick" was one of the biggest records of the '80s. NEW YORK (Billboard) -- Australian rock band INXS, which lost its singer, Michael Hutchence, to suicide in 1997, will be at the center of a new reality show called "Rock Star." The latest show from Mark Burnett, the creator of such reality hits as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice," will see a new lead singer chosen for the veteran combo. "I am a long-time fan of INXS and feel very fortunate that INXS approached us with this idea and have entrusted us with their future," Burnett said in a statement posted Monday on the band's official Web site (http://inxs.com/). "I feel there's room on TV for more than one great music-based show, and I feel that rock music has been totally left out of that mix." Since Hutchence's death, surviving band members Andrew Farriss, Tim Farriss, Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers have occasionally performed with fellow Australian Jon Stevens on vocals. That lineup played during the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney and toured North America in 2002 with Simple Minds. "After Michael died, we wanted to search the world for a new singer but didn't know how we could effectively do that," Tim Farriss said. "By having Mark and everyone at MBP (Mark Burnett Prods.) embrace the concept, we've now found a fantastic way to make that happen." "Rock Star" auditions will be held on five continents. The winner and INXS will record a studio album, the band's first since 1997's "Elegantly Wasted" (Mercury), and then head out on a world tour. Unlike other music reality shows such as "American Idol" and "Nashville Star," the viewing audience will not be the sole arbiter of the show's outcome. Band members will also assess contestants in tandem with leading entertainment industry specialists.
My moderately low opinion of INXS has just been flushed down the toilet into the sewer that holds all crappy bands.
Id agree that the show is obviously very gimmicky and won't do much for their image. But Id think it make for an interesting series. ..............as long as it doesn't end up on Fox or NBC.
I agree. Why dont they just come out and say "We were not that great to begin with buy these days we are a bunch of has beens. So we decided to end it all by becoming a complete embarrasment." I never really thought much of INXS.....but there is something this news makes me cringe.
What does it matter where it ends up? Doesn't Burnett and his production company do everything? The networks just air it.
I am sure the networks are allowed some type of creative control and can tweak the show as they see fit. Regardless, I made that remark more in jest than I did with a straight face. People will still watch this show IMO and it should be relatively popular.
They should pick that girl that won WB Superstar last night. What an amazing pair....of vocal chords.
I wonder if they are gonna try to find somebody who sounds like Hutchence or go in a new direction. I liked INXS, but with Hutchence gone, they should have retired.
BTW, they should come up with a different name than "Rock Star". Too reminiscent of that god awful movie with the same title that Mark Wahlberg was in.
i agree RMTex furthermore how bad would you feel if you are Terrence Trent Darby or Jon Stevens... who both failed as the substitute frontmen for INXS
Maybe I've lost my mind, and am confusing her with someone else, but I believe she died of a drug overdose not too long ago.
You're right; she OD'ed a few years ago. The kids (four little girls with strange names) are all with Bob Geldof, including Michael Hutchence's daughter. (well, she had no parents left ) A sad situation anyway - especially for the kids - but I can't believe the new low the band has sunk to. Somehow it just seems disrespectful to Hutchence to do that.
