INXS in reality TV show
June 13, 2004
INXS will find a new lead singer by appearing in a United States reality-TV series, Rock Star, to be produced by the man behind blockbusters Survivor and The Apprentice.
Band members Garry Beers, Kirk Pengilly, and brothers Jon, Tim and Andrew Farriss signed a deal late last week with reality-television icon Mark Burnett's company, MBP.
The program will be broadcast in 2005.
Burnett said yesterday there had been "a bidding frenzy" between major US networks NBC, CBS and ABC.
Rock Star will follow INXS's journey as they audition singers to replace lead vocalist Michael Hutchence, who died in late 1997.
"After Michael died, we wanted to search the world for a new singer, but didn't know how we could effectively do that," Tim Farriss said.
"By having Mark and everyone at MBP embrace the concept, we've now found a fantastic way to make that happen."
INXS songwriter Andrew Farris said: "Times have changed and television is now a valued medium to reach people all over the world.
"Mark's record speaks for itself - he is an amazing producer and we are confident that together we are going to create something very different and very special."
For Rock Star, INXS will audition singers on five continents. The band members will work with hopefuls on new material.
"All ages are welcome," an INXS spokesperson said.
The winner of Rock Star will record an album and tour the globe with INXS.
INXS hatched the idea behind Rock Star themselves and pitched it to Burnett earlier this year.
"I am a long-time fan of INXS and feel very fortunate that they approached us with this idea and have entrusted us with their future," he said.
"There's room on TV for more than one great music-based show, and I feel that rock music has been totally left out of that mix.
"Rock Star is the perfect aspirational show."
INXS are expected to relocate to the United States later this year.
Since Hutchence's death, the band have performed with various artists, including US soul singer Terence Trent D'Arby and ex-Noiseworks vocalist Jon Stevens.
The Sunday Telegraph