Post by lesley on Feb 11, 2006 18:24:53 GMT -5
MiG gave an interview recently. He saw the Gibson Theater show in L.A. and talks about reuniting with Marty & JD. Says some really lovely things about Marty & Lh about halfway down.
Only in Hollywood : MiG moves to LA for good
First posted 11:58pm (Mla time) Feb 11, 2006
By Ruben V. Nepales
Inquirer
Life after 'Rockstar'
Our Friday column on JD and his new life with the Aussie band INXS prompted us to seek MiG Ayesa and ask him for an update on his own life after "Rockstar: INXS."
"I have just moved to LA from London, and I am busy with getting my life in order once again," came MiG's quick reply via e-mail. "We [moved] from Sydney to London [only] three and a half years ago, and to... move again to yet another country has been arduous, to say the least. However, this time the move has been with much more purpose. My wife, my dog and I have moved to LA with the [prospect] of a recording deal with Universal Records, a car from Honda and a ready-made support group of friends and fans."
MiG, whose full name is Miguel Alfonso Ramon Legarda Ayesa, has quickly been won over by one thing about LA: "The weather is a lot more forgiving than the English winter!" We sensed his excitement when he wrote, "I am currently in pre-production for my debut album and that will be my focus. I hope to have it completed by May 2006."
By coincidence, MiG (from the MiG Jet Fighter, which he used to dream of flying) arrived in LA when JD and his Aussie bandmates were in town. "I saw INXS perform at the Gibson Amphitheatre here the night after we arrived," he told us. His verdict? "I was very impressed. JD sounded great despite the fact he was having voice problems due to an infection. It was fairly early in the tour, so I'm sure he is learning with every concert. I am confident that his performance will improve as the tour progresses."
He continued, "Even though I thought to myself what a great gig it must be to sing with INXS, I really didn't envy JD's job. Because despite all our pleas that nobody should be compared to Michael Hutchence, I could not help but do the [comparing] myself. It was great to hear the old INXS hits, but I couldn't help wishing for new takes on the songs. It would have been refreshing to hear maybe an acoustic version of a track, or a rocked-out version of another. They are re-inventing themselves, so they should re-invent their music."
The Pinoy-Aussie rocker shared details of the backstage reunion of sorts: "I did go backstage after the show when Kirk (Pengilly of INXS) called for us to join them, and it was great to see them all again. I think the best thing about winning the competition would have been to hang out with all of them. I really like the guys in the band and I miss their energy. I don't know if it was the 'Aussieness,' but it did feel warmly familiar."
The former star of London's musical about the Queen, "We Will Rock You," had more to say about JD: "It was good to see JD again. We left ('Rockstar') having become quite close and it was nice to re-connect. He is not the type to stay in touch, but when we saw each other again, it was like seeing a long lost friend. I am very happy for his success, and he seemed to be very happy with his new beautiful girlfriend, (model/actress) Estella Warren."
Of Marty Casey, who was at the Gibson Amphitheatre, too, since his band Lovehammers open the INXS concerts, MiG said, "I saw Marty before the gig, and that was another great reunion. I thought he and the Lovehammers were spectacular. I will put my bet on them as the next act to really blow up here in the US, if not the world rock arena. Marty is so enigmatic and sounded and looked awesome. He's the ultimate rock star!"
When we asked about the highlights of his two visits to the Philippines after his impressive showing in "Rockstar," MiG answered exuberantly: "They were incredible trips. It was so different to go back to the Philippines and find that everyone knew my name. I really felt a connection to the country this time, because I felt I was welcomed back like a long lost son. I think the highlights for me would have to be three things. First, the Advertising Congress in Cebu. It was the first time I felt the pride of the Filipino in what I had achieved. Second, the MTV Music Summit-80,000 people!!! Hello Wembley!!! And third, seeing all my relatives again and to share this amazing experience with them."
In response to my request for other memorable anecdotes about his stay in the Philippines, the former Londoner volunteered, "I think one of the funniest things I remember from my trips was when I went into a store and a shopkeeper said, 'MiG!!! You are from "Rockstar: INXS!!!" So... who's winning?' I didn't have the heart to tell him the competition had been over for three months."
According to MiG, his return to Australia was just as memorable: "I did return to Sydney for a huge concert for Foxtel. 'Rockstar' was shown on cable on Foxtel and it was the highest-rating show that Foxtel had ever aired. I was the headline act for their 10th Anniversary celebration. To be on the same lineup as some of my heroes like Jon Stevens (ex-INXS frontman), Christine Anu, Guy Sebastian, Taxiride, Human Nature, and even David Hasselhoff (!) was pretty awesome. It was so nice to be welcomed back to Australia and be so well-received. They really rolled out the red carpet for me."
This musician who played Ritchie Valens in a hit Aussie production of "The Buddy Holly Story" also went back to his high school as a star: "I was inducted to my high school Hall of Fame at St. Patrick's College, Strathfield."
"It was so nice to spend some quality time with my parents as well," volunteered the 36-year-old singer-composer. "I miss them way too much. I was reminded of how incredibly beautiful Sydney is, after going on a cruise on the harbor with one of my best friends. Sydney is definitely a place to retire and bring up kids. Something to work toward... a dream home on the northern beaches of Sydney with lots of little MiGlets running about!"
MiG, his wife Simone de la Rue and their dog are moving into their new LA digs next week.
Link: news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.php?index=2&story_id=65846&col=134
Only in Hollywood : MiG moves to LA for good
First posted 11:58pm (Mla time) Feb 11, 2006
By Ruben V. Nepales
Inquirer
Life after 'Rockstar'
Our Friday column on JD and his new life with the Aussie band INXS prompted us to seek MiG Ayesa and ask him for an update on his own life after "Rockstar: INXS."
"I have just moved to LA from London, and I am busy with getting my life in order once again," came MiG's quick reply via e-mail. "We [moved] from Sydney to London [only] three and a half years ago, and to... move again to yet another country has been arduous, to say the least. However, this time the move has been with much more purpose. My wife, my dog and I have moved to LA with the [prospect] of a recording deal with Universal Records, a car from Honda and a ready-made support group of friends and fans."
MiG, whose full name is Miguel Alfonso Ramon Legarda Ayesa, has quickly been won over by one thing about LA: "The weather is a lot more forgiving than the English winter!" We sensed his excitement when he wrote, "I am currently in pre-production for my debut album and that will be my focus. I hope to have it completed by May 2006."
By coincidence, MiG (from the MiG Jet Fighter, which he used to dream of flying) arrived in LA when JD and his Aussie bandmates were in town. "I saw INXS perform at the Gibson Amphitheatre here the night after we arrived," he told us. His verdict? "I was very impressed. JD sounded great despite the fact he was having voice problems due to an infection. It was fairly early in the tour, so I'm sure he is learning with every concert. I am confident that his performance will improve as the tour progresses."
He continued, "Even though I thought to myself what a great gig it must be to sing with INXS, I really didn't envy JD's job. Because despite all our pleas that nobody should be compared to Michael Hutchence, I could not help but do the [comparing] myself. It was great to hear the old INXS hits, but I couldn't help wishing for new takes on the songs. It would have been refreshing to hear maybe an acoustic version of a track, or a rocked-out version of another. They are re-inventing themselves, so they should re-invent their music."
The Pinoy-Aussie rocker shared details of the backstage reunion of sorts: "I did go backstage after the show when Kirk (Pengilly of INXS) called for us to join them, and it was great to see them all again. I think the best thing about winning the competition would have been to hang out with all of them. I really like the guys in the band and I miss their energy. I don't know if it was the 'Aussieness,' but it did feel warmly familiar."
The former star of London's musical about the Queen, "We Will Rock You," had more to say about JD: "It was good to see JD again. We left ('Rockstar') having become quite close and it was nice to re-connect. He is not the type to stay in touch, but when we saw each other again, it was like seeing a long lost friend. I am very happy for his success, and he seemed to be very happy with his new beautiful girlfriend, (model/actress) Estella Warren."
Of Marty Casey, who was at the Gibson Amphitheatre, too, since his band Lovehammers open the INXS concerts, MiG said, "I saw Marty before the gig, and that was another great reunion. I thought he and the Lovehammers were spectacular. I will put my bet on them as the next act to really blow up here in the US, if not the world rock arena. Marty is so enigmatic and sounded and looked awesome. He's the ultimate rock star!"
When we asked about the highlights of his two visits to the Philippines after his impressive showing in "Rockstar," MiG answered exuberantly: "They were incredible trips. It was so different to go back to the Philippines and find that everyone knew my name. I really felt a connection to the country this time, because I felt I was welcomed back like a long lost son. I think the highlights for me would have to be three things. First, the Advertising Congress in Cebu. It was the first time I felt the pride of the Filipino in what I had achieved. Second, the MTV Music Summit-80,000 people!!! Hello Wembley!!! And third, seeing all my relatives again and to share this amazing experience with them."
In response to my request for other memorable anecdotes about his stay in the Philippines, the former Londoner volunteered, "I think one of the funniest things I remember from my trips was when I went into a store and a shopkeeper said, 'MiG!!! You are from "Rockstar: INXS!!!" So... who's winning?' I didn't have the heart to tell him the competition had been over for three months."
According to MiG, his return to Australia was just as memorable: "I did return to Sydney for a huge concert for Foxtel. 'Rockstar' was shown on cable on Foxtel and it was the highest-rating show that Foxtel had ever aired. I was the headline act for their 10th Anniversary celebration. To be on the same lineup as some of my heroes like Jon Stevens (ex-INXS frontman), Christine Anu, Guy Sebastian, Taxiride, Human Nature, and even David Hasselhoff (!) was pretty awesome. It was so nice to be welcomed back to Australia and be so well-received. They really rolled out the red carpet for me."
This musician who played Ritchie Valens in a hit Aussie production of "The Buddy Holly Story" also went back to his high school as a star: "I was inducted to my high school Hall of Fame at St. Patrick's College, Strathfield."
"It was so nice to spend some quality time with my parents as well," volunteered the 36-year-old singer-composer. "I miss them way too much. I was reminded of how incredibly beautiful Sydney is, after going on a cruise on the harbor with one of my best friends. Sydney is definitely a place to retire and bring up kids. Something to work toward... a dream home on the northern beaches of Sydney with lots of little MiGlets running about!"
MiG, his wife Simone de la Rue and their dog are moving into their new LA digs next week.
Link: news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.php?index=2&story_id=65846&col=134
Good to hear that he and Simmy are doing good^^