INXS

Let me shed some light onto the subject of what has happened recently with JD Fortune and INXS.

I was recently approached by Channel 7 Australia to do an interview with what has transpired between JD and INXS. Like most of you, I have heard conflicting reports about what had happened. They sacked him in Hong Kong with a hand shake/ they didn't sack him/ his contract expired/ they were doing another album... All these are things I have heard. What the truth is, I really do not know.

I have not been contacted by any member of INXS, nor have I ever been asked to join the band. The last contact I had with anyone from INXS was well over a year ago. I also have not been in contact with JD. The last time I saw or spoke with him was in mid 2006.

I have not seen the finished edited interview, but what I do know is that I did not trash JD. In fact I defended him many times. I told the interviewer that JD was a highly creative free spirit who always dances to the beat of his own drum. This is what makes JD the special artist that he is, but would make it difficult for him to be told what to do or conform to rules. Reporters and editors can cut things up to make a story. I certainly hope they did not twist my words but I have not seen it. JD is a friend of mine and we shared some very good times together. He always made us laugh. I know JD will always be ok because he is highly intelligent. That also makes him unpredictable and a loose canon. The guys told me how difficult it was to control him and the stories I had heard from people who supported INXS in Australia all pointed to the fact that this union was not a healthy nor productive one. Thus when asked, I told them I was not surprised that this ended. I am sorry it ended and the way it was done is a very unfortunate thing.

I have only heard the rumours and the gossip and am in no way an expert on the events of what transpired between JD and INXS.

When asked about how I felt about him living out of a car, my first response was that of at least he has a car! I actually decided to sell the car I won on RS back to Honda the day before the interview, because having a car in Manhattan is more of a hindrance than a convenience with all the parking regulations and fees. It was a luxury I could no longer afford. I loved that car so much and it was heart-breaking to see it go. But these are hard times now and you do whatever it takes to get by. In the past few years I too have had to do many things to survive, like sell my apartment in Sydney just to pay my bills and have money to live on. The music business is hard, ruthless and unforgiving. We have all felt the highs and lows as struggling artists. JD said he lived in his car before RS and he now says he is back there. I am sure he will be ok. This is only a transitory stage. I have faith in JD that he will be back on his feet and flying high with the release of his new album, and I so wish him the very best of luck with it.

As for taking over as INXS's front man, it is something I never even thought of and find it ridiculous to even discuss. If they wanted me they would have contacted me by now. I do wish them all the best. I have always been an INXS fan, still am and always will be.

The reporter asked me to play an INXS song in my set at the Bushfire Benefit. I actually don't play any INXS songs in my repertoire unless asked. I did so on this occasion and knew for sure they would use it. In no way was that meant to be spiteful or disrespectful or aspirational. I have done my fair share of proving myself to the band. They know where and how to contact me if they need to.

I myself am gearing up to record in Vancouver this month on a project I am very excited about. So I already have my work cut out for me and I need to focus on that.

I do wish JD all the best with his future endeavours. I have faith in him that he will turn all this around in his favour. I also wish INXS all the best and hope they continue to be the boys that made me proud to be Australian.

Always love,
MiG