J.D. Fortune Update

[Stiletto]

For those interested........

J.D. Fortune leads veteran rockers INXS through Canadian shows
23/10/2006 8:40:00 PM

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TORONTO (CP) - INXS front man J.D. Fortune has been through a lot since he won the job on "Rock Star" last year.


CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI

Lead singer for INXS, J.D. Fortune performs during an INXS concert, May 5, 2006 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP/Stephen Chernin)
The band split with its U.S. label, and Fortune says the fear of losing it all struck him part way through his first world tour. The lanky singer was back in his hometown of Westville, N.S., on Monday to reconnect with family and friends, but admitted he's come back to Canada a different man.
"It changes you so much," Fortune says by phone of the band's whirlwind tour that's already taken him through Australia, New Zealand, India and the United Kingdom.

"I still have the same values and all that but I've seen so much. ... What keeps you focused is just fans and your family. I know where I come from and more importantly, I know where I'm going and I can't get there if I let it all fall apart around me."

Maintaining a sense of humility has been key to keeping it together, says Fortune, the photogenic performer who won the right to lead the Australian band in the reality TV show "Rock Star."

After winning over the band members - brothers Jon, Andrew and Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers - Fortune says the battle to win fans was nerve-racking.

During its heyday in the late '80s INXS was synonymous with its charismatic front man, Michael Hutchence, who died by suicide in 1997. Many fans expressed anger when the band announced it would turn to a television reality show to replace him.

Hutchence's legacy followed the band wherever they went.

"We spent the first six months trying to prove to everybody that we were a band," Fortune recalls of those early performances.

"Funnily enough, it was all the markets that we were afraid of, being kind of aggressive towards us, that actually just opened up their arms and said, 'Come on in' - that being Australia and the U.K."

Perhaps the toughest challenge came from a run-in with Hutchence's brother, Rhett, who reportedly showed up at a show in Australia wearing a T-shirt that read: "That's not my brother."

"That was just sort of a weird time for everybody," says Fortune, noting he's now on good terms with Rhett.

"The band hadn't seen him in 10 years and it was just a weird thing for everybody, but you know what, he's a perfect gentleman and I would have a beer with him any day."

"You could spend your whole life just sort of spinning wheels round and round and you're not going to get anywhere, so we just sort of buried a non-existent hatchet to begin with," he said.

Hurdles continued earlier this year when the band's label Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony BMG, dropped the veteran rockers after releasing their first album with Fortune, "Switch," last year.

Fortune describes the parting as a two-way split but refused to elaborate on what led to the falling out.

"We wanted to have us heard more by the people that were sort of ultimately responsible for making decisions," he says.

"We wanted more face time with them and we weren't getting it so we just decided, 'Hey, do what you need to do.' "

Fortune says he takes nothing for granted, noting a brush with ill health had brought to the fore how quickly success can evaporate.

He says he fell ill with bronchial pneumonia in the U.S. Midwest last year, but due to a misdiagnosis he pushed through three shows with a 102 temperature.

"It was pretty full on," he says. "I kinda saw my whole career just falling apart in front of me and I was kinda like, 'Oh no. Please don't let this happen.' "

Luckily, it took him just four days to recover, and Fortune says he's grateful for all he's won.

"You work hard to work hard. If you start taking it for granted it just disappears like you wouldn't believe."

INXS plays a handful of Canadian dates beginning with a two-night stint Nov. 9 in St John's, Nfld.

The show, featuring a mix of old and new hits, later moves to the Ontario communities of Sudbury (Nov. 12), Hamilton (Nov. 13) and Oshawa (Nov. 14) before heading to the United States.

[Kyle E]

Thanks for posting.

[dawn]

I didn't know where to post this - but thought here would be ok. I've just heard for the first time on the Radio Pretty Vegas.

Wish it had been a Marty song I heard first on UK radio.

[khiarhu]

Thanks for posting this, it's good to know!

[dawn]

Found out this weekend that INXS are doing another tour in the UK around June time, hopefully I'll be able to make this one. Think it would be interesting, now JD has been part of the band for a year to see what has been done.

Could be interesting, obviously wish it was the LH's that were visiting old Blighty, but will cope with INXS for now.

[greeneyes]

Worlds collide...

This news is a month or two old but I just discovered it today.

Taken from Paul Miles Chronological Crue:
INXS singer JD Fortune says he has auditioned for the role of Nikki Sixx in The Dirt movie, "I'm up for a role of a heroin addict, which could be interesting for me considering I don't really party anymore. A needle has never touched my arms I'm glad to say, so it will be acting. It's just like anything. You've auditioned and then you put it out of your mind. If you get it, you get it and if not, whatever. I didn't want to be one of those typical, 'Oh, I think I can act, so let's try that.' It's not that at all. I just happen to really believe in the story."


I'm excited about a movie about Motley Crue... but JD as Nikki Sixx? Hmmmm... interesting.

[dawn]

Initial thoughts - oh dear. Not sure about JD at all.

[Mad For Martay]

Ohhhhh Nooooooo!!!!!
JD cant be Nikki Sixx.....thats just wrong I love Nikki
please dont let that happen....I couldnt even watch it if Jd was playing Nikki...its just not right

[raeski]

Amen to that!! The basement has spoken!!

[Cheza]

I agree! J.D. can't be Nikki!!!! I wonder if Hammerdude has heard this intel...

[guitargirl]

Yeah, im also a Fan of JD so i think he can do it !

[BBE]

"A needle has never touched my arms"--J.D.

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! ;D Then how did those tattoos get there?

[mahtymania]

Good one Nancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chanvre]

bbe said:

"A needle has never touched my arms"--J.D.

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! ;D Then how did those tattoos get there?

;D

[dawn]

bbe said:

"A needle has never touched my arms"--J.D.

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! ;D Then how did those tattoos get there?

I'm glad someone else said that, because that's what I thought. ;D

[dawn]

Went to see INXS last night - figured this was the best place to post this - if not Mods please put in the right place!

I was pleasantly surprised - it was a good show! The only show I'd seen JD do was at the end of the RS:INXS DVD and thought "oh no". There was a really good atmosphere & whilst I'll never rave about JD I thought he did a good job - apart from removing his top - have to say that wasn't pretty! But he put it back on so all was ok in the end.

Still wish it was LH I could of seen - they ended the set with Don't Change - which was met by a huge cry of nooooooooooo from me, that will always be Martys song!

[HY]

I know what you mean, Dawn. Don't Change will always be Marty's anthem to me from Rockstar: INXS. He was determined to remain true to himself throughout the show!

[cfbj01]

Thanks for the review Dawn. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Although JD was never my favourite on Rockstar I do like the CD they put out with him as the singer. He sings a beautiful song on it with Suzie McNeil called God's Top Ten.

[feather]

dawn said:

Went to see INXS last night - figured this was the best place to post this - if not Mods please put in the right place!

I was pleasantly surprised - it was a good show! The only show I'd seen JD do was at the end of the RS:INXS DVD and thought "oh no". There was a really good atmosphere & whilst I'll never rave about JD I thought he did a good job - apart from removing his top - have to say that wasn't pretty! But he put it back on so all was ok in the end.

Still wish it was LH I could of seen - they ended the set with Don't Change - which was met by a huge cry of nooooooooooo from me, that will always be Martys song!

Dawn, you went to see INXS!! - lucky girl
I thought J. D. was pretty good on RS. I wonder does he have a hairy chest or more like Mig's? For Mig info. check recent post at RS/INXS/SUPERNOVA (on the .org) it's a video Mig did and he is topless!! But maybe you don't like brunettes?! I just llooooooovvvvveeeeee Mig esp. on "Baby I Love Your Way"

[catfan96]

That's cool Dawn! I saw them last year and thought they put on a pretty good show. Im with everyone else! Dont Change is Marty's song!