Fall of a 'Rock Star': JD Fortune clings to fame
Twitter
Last week, Rock Star: INXS winner JD Fortune told Entertainment Tonight Canada that the band fired him in a Hong Kong airport after a 23-month tour and that he hasn't spoken to any of the members in over a year. Having sunk all his money into the yet-to-be-released solo album The Death of a Motivational Speaker, the former Elvis impersonator is now broke and living out of his truck.
Fortune's claims that he was unceremoniously dumped after he wrote the hit song "Pretty Vegas" and worked on their album Switch came as a surprise to the band.
"Not only are we shocked by the claims, even the place the supposed incident was to have taken place is a mystery," INXS says in an issued statement.
In 2005, INXS used the CBS reality show to replace their lead singer, Michael Hutchence, who died from hanging in a hotel room in 1997. Fortune admits to living the rock star lifestyle while on tour with the band, including using cocaine.
Regardless of what happened between Fortune and the band, his recent remarks to the media definitely won't get him back in their good graces.
"The band have always stated to me that Fortune's services could potentially be contracted again when INXS next tour," Chris Murphy, INXS' creative director, tells the CBC.
"In fact, he was next on my list to call regarding a very big recording project I am putting together for INXS at present. I have no reason to call him now."
Check out JD Fortune's Entertainment Tonight interview below:
Post a comment
- Most Liked
- Most Commented
If he wasn't released then why the statement "that Fortune's services could potentially be contracted again." If he was still considered a member of the band then that wouldn't be a question, would it?
Looks like INXS is spinning so furiously they might get dizzy.
He should use this as motivation
to pen another song:
"Ugly Hong Kong"
CONTRACTS have a beginning and an end. The RockStar prize was a CONTRACT. When your time is up, it's up. He was only a member of the band for the CONTRACTED time, not "unceremoniously dumped." In his coke haze, maybe he should have read his CONTRACT more carefully. Now he doesn't have to bother...who wants to CONTRACT a diva?
Get it? The prize membership didn't mean for life.
I'm surprised the contract covered 23 months. That's a long tour and kind of screams out than an extension must have occurred.
You would think they'd have a clear understanding when they parted - "we're not planning to work or tour for a while (see previous history), but will/won't give you a call if/when we become interested again. And we liked/hated working with you. Good luck."
I liked Switch. I think someone else may be doing some spinning now.
SHAME ON THE INXS GROWN-UPS. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WENT SEARCHING AND CHOSE JD. LAST TIME I SAW THEM I WAS FRONT AND CENTER, JD WAS HIGHER THAN A KITE. I BLAME THE BIG BOYS FOR LETTING IT HAPPEN, GUESS THEY DIDN'T LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES. THEY SHOULD HAVE PROTECTED AND HELPED THEIR FRONT MAN. W/O JD THEIR JUST A BUNCH OF MUSICIANS.
That is almost funny shame on the inxs grown-ups. Are you saying that a 35 year old is not a grown up? Every band has more than one member and sometimes 1, 2 or all of the members are into alcohol or drugs. It's not what should happen but it does happen. In this case j.d. is not a young little boy he is 35 years old and been around so he claims. What he does with his money most likely was his decision to do it not the bands. Maybe his mother should have gone on tour with them and babysat him.
I saw JD and INXS on their tour. They were great together. That said, if I had an employee who had a cocaine problem and wouldn't get clean, I would certainly fire him.
The contract supposedly ended when the tour ended. He was probably high when they told him that the tour was over and thanks for his services. He probably should have gotten off his pedestal and contacted the band after he got clean and discussed things before he went blabbing to the press about what his drugged up version of events were. I am a great fan of the band. I watched the entire series and honestly thought JD was the best choice. I saw them in concert and thought he did a great job. Musicians over history and had disagreements and broke up and then reunited. If INXS were to continue they may try to get Jon Stevens again or maybe JD will humbly apologize for his actions instead of trying to get pity to promote his solo album.
He really isn't all that good anyway. Singers are a dime a dozen.
I meet him about a year ago and he was a mess. I dont blame INSX for doing what they did. Instead of playing the vic maybe he should step up and show the world what talent he really holds. We have all fallen and we all found ways to get up.