Solid news for INXS fans: frontman J.D. Fortune is back in the fold.
The QMI Agency reports the Canadian singer is back fronting INXS on the road, despite claiming in 2009 that the band had fired him -- a event he now calls a misunderstanding.
"There was a lot of confusion at the time," says the 37-year-old, who replaced deceased singer Michael Hutchence after winning the Rock Star reality TV show in 2005. "We had just got off tour and we took a break. And in that break, things got misconstrued. We were not able to communicate with each other -- we live 12,000 kilometres apart."
Fortune, who was living in his car before signing up for Rock Star, ended up broke and homeless again. But last year, he and the band met and ironed out the situation. They performed together at the Vancouver Olympics, then in Australia, and have begun working on new material.
"We got together after the show in Melbourne and just started jamming," said Fortune. "And all the sparks went off -- it was like fireworks and bells and whistles. We all went, 'Awesome. Let's keep doing this.' The possibilities are endless. It's really exciting. I'm just honoured to be fronting the band again."
Along with INXS, Fortune says he has been writing tunes with Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith, and one of his songs has been picked up by producer Jerry Bruckheimer for a movie.
INXS' new album, “Original Sin,” is available now via Amazon.
Two years in the making, “Original Sin” teams INXS with musicians from around the globe, from superstars like Ben Harper, Train's Pat Monahan, Rob Thomas, and Nikka Costa to up-and-comer DJ Yaleidys of Cuba, to reinterpret and revitalize their own classics for a whole new generation.
An eclectic mix of music including Thomas and Yaleidys' sultry take on "Original Sin" and trip-hop superstar Tricky's electrifying version of "Mediate" to Pat Monahans' emotional "Beautiful Girl" and French pop artist Loane's take on "Mystify" with John Mayer & Kirk Pengilly on guitar, INXS boldly embrace their past and future on one album.
INXS – Suicide Blonde / New Sensation / Kick
AFL Grandfinal – Melbourne, AU – September 25, 2010
