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Rock Star: INXS was the first season of the reality television show Rock Star where 15 contestants competed to become the lead vocalist for the Australian rock band INXS.

INXS enjoyed great popularity through the 1980s and early 1990s, but in 1997, frontman Michael Hutchence committed suicide. The band attempted to continue with alternate singers, but remained largely dormant until this show.

Show background

Contestants were housed in a Hollywood mansion, and squared off in a singing contest featuring well-known rock songs. Each week, viewers voted for their favorite contestant. The three contestants with the least number of votes performed an INXS song the following night. The members of the band then decided which contestant would be sent home, with lead guitarist Tim Farriss invoking the show's catchphrase "you're just not right for our band, INXS".

The show originally appeared three nights a week on CBS. The format consisted of a half-hour behind-the-scenes episode on Monday, a one-hour performance episode on Tuesday and a half-hour elimination episode on Wednesday. However, on August 3, 2005, CBS announced the behind-the-scenes episode would move to Sunday nights on VH1 effective August 7, 2005 due to low ratings in the United States. As the show continued, the ratings improved. This prompted the expansion of the Wednesday results show to one hour for the duration of its run. The winner, J.D. Fortune, was announced on Tuesday, September 20.

Although not part of the show, second-place contestant Marty Casey and his Chicago-based band The Lovehammers were invited to open for INXS on their 2006 tour.

The show is executive produced by Survivor's Mark Burnett and is hosted by Brooke Burke and former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro.

Controversy

A slight controversy erupted when contestant Ty Taylor was eliminated with 5 contestants to go. Taylor suggested that racial prejudice might have had something to do with why he was in the bottom three several times, despite giving performances with which INXS were very satisfied.

The program also came under criticism from some INXS fans who suggested the program dishonoured the memory of Michael Hutchence and this is not how he would have wanted his replacement to be chosen. Australian radio station Triple J hosts Jay and The Doctor went so far as to describe the show as "Broadband urination on Michael Hutchence's grave" and added sarcastically "We don't mind if you don't" referring to those involved in the show.

Australian rock star Jimmy Barnes, who had worked with INXS in the past, both prior to and after Hutchence's death, was very critical of INXS going the Reality Show route to pick a new lead singer.

The finals

Three contestants reached the finale: Mig Ayesa, Marty Casey, and J.D. Fortune. Fortune was considered by many the underdog of the three as he established a renegade image during the competition. In the finale, Ayesa, Casey, and Fortune each selected a song that was performed previously on the show. Ayesa chose Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Casey chose Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here", and Fortune chose The Rolling Stones's, "You Can't Always Get What You Want". Based on these performances, INXS eliminated Ayesa.

With the competition down to Casey and Fortune, each performed an INXS song with, for the first time on the show, all five members of INXS. Casey performed "Don't Change" and Fortune performed "What You Need". INXS announced Fortune was the winner.

Original songs

During the competition, Casey and Fortune performed two original songs that became fan favorites. Both songs would receive multiple encores during the competition. Casey's original song was called "Trees" and was described by host Dave Navarro as a song that he could imagine being heard on the radio 'today'. In fact, the song received some radioplay as a result of its exposure on the show.

At one point in the Rockstar: INXS competition, the remaining eight contestants were challenged to write lyrics to melody written by Andrew Farriss. They were divided into two teams of four. When Fortune did not see eye to eye with his team (which included Casey), he decided to venture out on his own and write his own lyrics. At first, Fortune's move was considered to have jeopardised his chances of winning the competition (since it was perceived he couldn't work in a team), but it was this move that resulted in his creation of the lyrics of "Pretty Vegas". This song became a favorite of both fans and INXS and played a major role in Fortune winning the competition. It also became the first single from their new album Switch.

Top 15 finalists

The following is a list of songs performed by each finalist during the competition and the number represents the week in which the song was performed. Each week one finalist was asked to perform an encore performance of the song they performed the night before which is noted as an "Encore Performance". The three finalists who had the lowest total votes were also asked to perform another song of the band's choice, this song is noted as a "Bottom 3 Performance". This was the case for every week except for the first one, which had two performance episodes. At the end of the first episode, and everyone performing one song, the band chose one contestant to be eliminated out of the entire group. There was no voting for the bottom three. Also, in later weeks two songs were performed by each of the remaining contestants.

J.D. Fortune is 32 years old and is from Oakville, Ontario (Originally from Salt Springs, Nova Scotia) (Winner, selected to be the lead singer of INXS, 9/20/2005)Formerly lived in his car.

1. American Woman (The Guess Who)
1. California Dreamin' (The Mamas & The Papas)
Encore Performance California Dreamin' (The Mamas & The Papas)
2. Hand in My Pocket (Alanis Morissette)
3. We Are the Champions (Queen)
4. The Letter (Joe Cocker)
5. Crazy (Seal)
6. As Tears Go By (The Rolling Stones)
7. Cold as Ice (Foreigner)
8. Suspicious Minds (Elvis Presley)
Bottom 3 Performance This Time (INXS)
9. Come As You Are (Nirvana)
9. Pretty Vegas (J.D. Fortune)
Encore Performance Pretty Vegas (J.D. Fortune)
Bottom 3 Performance Mystify (INXS)
10. Money (Pink Floyd)
10. Pretty Vegas (J.D. Fortune)
Bottom 3 Performance By My Side (INXS)
11. You Can't Always Get What You Want (The Rolling Stones)
11. What You Need (INXS)
11. Easy Easy (INXS)

Marty Casey is 32 years old and is from Chicago, Illinois (Eliminated last, 9/20/2005)Worked as a realtor.

1. You Really Got Me (The Kinks)
1. Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand)
2. What I Like About You (New Romantics)
3. Lithium (Nirvana)
Encore Performance Lithium (Nirvana)
4. With Arms Wide Open (Creed)
5. Mr. Brightside (The Killers)
6. Hit Me Baby One More Time (Britney Spears)
7. I Alone (Live)
Bottom 3 Performance Don't Change (INXS)
8. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
Encore Performance Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
9. Everlong (Foo Fighters)
9. Trees (Marty Casey)
Encore Performance Trees (Marty Casey)
10. Creep (Radiohead)
10. Trees (Marty Casey)
11. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
11. Don't Change (INXS)

Mig Ayesa is 35 years old and is from London, England (Originally born in the Philippines, and raised in Sydney, Australia) (Eliminated thirteenth, 9/20/2005)Best known for his role as Galileo Figaro in the Musical "We Will Rock You; a Tribute to the Music of Queen"

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
1. All of the Day and All of the Night (The Kinks)
2. Walk This Way (Aerosmith)
3. Lola (The Kinks)
4. We Will Rock You (Queen)
5. All Right Now (Free)
6. Baby, I Love Your Way (Peter Frampton)
7. Do or Die (Mig Ayesa)
8. Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney)
9. Hard to Handle (The Black Crowes)
9. Home in Me (Mig Ayesa)
10. Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones)
11. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)

Suzie McNeil is 29 years old and is from Toronto, Ontario (Originally from Mississauga, Ontario) (Eliminated twelfth, 9/14/2005)

1. Remedy (The Black Crowes)
1. Call Me (Blondie)
Bottom 3 Performance Never Tear Us Apart (INXS)
2. Roxanne (The Police)
3. Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
4. Get Back (The Beatles)
5. Losing My Religion (R.E.M.)
Bottom 3 Performance Bitter Tears (INXS)
6. Bring it on Home (Sam Cooke)
Bottom 3 Performance By My Side (INXS)
7. Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones)
Encore Performance Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones)
8. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
Encore Performance Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
9. I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt)
9. So Life (Suzie McNeil)
Bottom 3 Performance Never Tear Us Apart (INXS)
10. What's Up (4 Non Blondes)
10. Interstate Love Song (Stone Temple Pilots)
Bottom 3 Performance What You Need (INXS)

Jordis Unga is 23 years old and is from St. Paul, Minnesota (Eliminated eleventh, 9/7/2005)The show's youngest contestant.

1. Baba O'Riley (The Who)
1. Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana)
2. The Reason (Hoobastank)
3. Gimme Some Love (Spencer Davis Group)
4. The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)
Encore Performance The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)
5. Layla (Eric Clapton)
6. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)
7. Dream On (Aerosmith)
8. Imagine (John Lennon)
Bottom 3 Performance Listen Like Thieves (INXS)
9. We Are the Champions (Queen)
9. Try Not (Jordis Unga)
Bottom 3 Performance Need You Tonight (INXS)

Ty Taylor is 36 years old and is from Las Vegas, Nevada (Originally from Montclair, New Jersey) (Eliminated tenth, 8/31/2005)

1. Cult of Personality (Living Colour)
1. Heartbreaker (Pat Benatar)
2. Somebody Told Me (The Killers)
3. Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.)
4. Everlong (Foo Fighters)
Bottom 3 Performance Kick (INXS)
5. No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley)
Encore Performance No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley)
6. Maggie May (Rod Stewart)
7. Proud Mary (Tina Turner)
Bottom 3 Performance What You Need (INXS)
8. You Can't Always Get What You Want (The Rolling Stones)
Bottom 3 Performance The One Thing (INXS)

Deanna Johnston is 36 years old and is from Reseda, California (Originally from Kingston, Ontario) (Eliminated ninth, 8/24/2005)The show's oldest contestant.

1. Piece of My Heart (Janis Joplin)
1. Should I Stay Or Should I Go (The Clash)
2. The One I Love (R.E.M.)
3. Give a Little Bit (Supertramp)
4. I'm the Only One (Melissa Etheridge)
5. Long Train Running (Doobie Brothers)
6. I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Rait)
Bottom 3 Performance Never Tear Us Apart (INXS)
7. My Truth (Deanna Johnston)
Bottom 3 Performance Elegantly Wasted (INXS)

Jessica Robinson is 26 years old and is from Chicago, Illinois (Eliminated eighth, 8/17/2005)

1. Celebrity Skin (Hole)
1. I Want You To Want Me (Cheap Trick)
2. Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix)
Bottom 3 Performance Don't Change (INXS)
3. Because the Night (Patti Smith)
Bottom 3 Performance Elegantly Wasted (INXS)
4. Blister in the Sun (Violent Femmes)
5. Come As You Are (Nirvana)
Bottom 3 Performance Disappear (INXS)
6. Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)
Bottom 3 Performance Mystify (INXS)

Brandon Calhoon is 32 years old and is from Beaverton, Michigan (Eliminated seventh, 8/10/2005)

1. Rock and Roll All Nite (KISS)
1. Hard To Handle (The Black Crowes)
2. Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
3. Tempted (Squeeze)
4. If You Could Only See (Tonic)
Bottom 3 Performance Devil Inside (INXS)
5. It's All Over Now (The Rolling Stones)
Bottom 3 Performance Don't Lose Your Head (INXS)

Tara Slone is 31 years old and is from Toronto, Ontario (Originally born in Montreal, Quebec and raised in Nova Scotia) (Eliminated sixth, 8/3/2005)

1. Middle of the Road (The Pretenders)
1. Take It Easy (The Eagles)
Bottom 3 Performance New Sensation (*)
2. Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
Bottom 3 Performance Mystify (INXS)
3. Suffragette City (David Bowie)
4. Message in a Bottle (The Police)
Bottom 3 Performance Beautiful Girl (INXS)

Heather Luttrell is 28 years old and is from Atlanta, Georgia (Eliminated fifth, with Daphna Dove, 7/27/2005)

1. Burning Down the House (Talking Heads)
1. Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane)
2. It's Only Rock & Roll (The Rolling Stones)
3. It If Makes You Happy (Sheryl Crow)
Bottom 3 Performance By My Side (INXS)

Daphna Dove is 30 years old and is from Los Angeles, California (Originally born in Germany, and raised in New York City, New York) (Eliminated fourth, with Heather Luttrell, 7/27/2005)

1. One Way Or Another (Blondie)
1. People Are Strange (The Doors)
2. I Hate Myself for Loving You (Joan Jett)
3. Rock the Casbah (The Clash)
Bottom 3 Performance What You Need (INXS)

Neal Carlson is 30 years old and is from Queens, New York (Eliminated third, 7/20/2005)

1. Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones)
1. Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
2. Summer of 69 (Bryan Adams)
Bottom 3 Performance Suicide Blonde (INXS)

Wil Seabrook is 29 years old and is from Pasadena, California (Originally from Morganton, North Carolina) (Eliminated second, 7/13/2005)

1. Heroes (David Bowie)
1. Right Here Right Now (Jesus Jones)
Bottom 3 Performance Need You Tonight (INXS)

Dana Robbins is 31 years old and is from Studio City, California (Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada) (Eliminated first)

1. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)

Elimination chart

Week: 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Place Contestant Result
1 J.D. Fortune Btm 3 Encore Btm 3 Both Btm 3 WIN
2 Marty Casey Encore Btm 3 Encore Encore Encore 2nd
3 Mig Ayesa Encore Btm 3 Elim
4 Suzie McNeill Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 3 Encore Encore Btm 3 Elim
5 Jordis Unga Encore Btm 3 Elim
6 Ty Taylor Btm 3 Encore Btm 3 Elim
7 Deanna Johnston Btm 3 Elim
8 Jessica Robinson Btm 3 Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim
9 Brandon Calhoun Btm 3 Elim
10 Tara Sloane Btm 3 Btm 3 Elim
11 Heather Lutrell Elim
11 Daphna Dove Elim
13 Neal Carlson Elim
14 Will Seabrook Elim
15 Dana Robbins Elim

A Night At The Mayan Theatre

The show spawned a soundtrack entitled A Night At The Mayan Theatre, containing the performance from each contestant from the premiere episode, as well as two bonus tracks of Jordis Unga performing "The Man Who Sold The World" and Mig Ayesa performing "Baby, I Love Your Way".

The list of the contestants' performances is:

Further seasons

By the end of the competition, CBS was encouraging musicians to submit audition tapes for consideration in a second Rock Star competition. Speculation on which band would be at the center of the competition varied. Van Halen and Alice in Chains were reportedly considered, but both denied the rumours. However, in March, 2006, it was announced that the new season would focus on finding a lead singer for a new group entitled Supernova, featuring Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, and former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke. The second season of Rock Star premiered on July 5, 2006 on CBS in the United States. The next season of Rock Star is expected in the summer of 2006 on Global in Canada as well as the U.K. which will have a one week delay. Once again, it was hosted by Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke.*

External links

American television series | Reality television series in the United States | 2000s TV shows in the United States | CBS network shows

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Rock Star: INXS".

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