Remember INXS? Well they’re back in a big way. The Australian rock band started out in 1977, making it big internationally throughout the 80s and 90s, producing several hits and capturing a wide audience with the charisma of lead singer Michael Hutchence.
Hutchence died in 1997, leaving the other five members with not only a personal loss, but a musical one. Eventually the five returned to carry on INXS, and over the past few years they have toured with a number of different vocalists. To this point, none have panned out, and the band has yet to make a noticeable impact. Until now.
Survivor creator Mark Burnett has produced another reality show, similar to American Idol, but seemingly with more reality. Fifteen young, up-and-coming rockers perform each week trying to woo the crowd, the home audience, and INXS. Each week, one contestant is eliminated. The rocker who outlasts becomes the new lead singer of INXS, performing on their next studio album and worldwide tour, at the very least.
As always, Burnett has added some twists. After the TV audience votes for their favourites, the three rockers with the least votes are announced the next day. Instead of revealing the contestant with the least amount of votes, all three get a chance to prove their worth to the band by singing an INXS song. The band then makes the decision on whom to eliminate, not the audience.
It remains to be seen if the process will actually work for both the band and the fans. Some contestants perform their regular songs poorly, consistently end up in the bottom three, but perform the INXS songs well. Other contestants perform very well, but who knows if they would be a right fit for INXS?
The ratings for Rock Star have been a disaster, even for a summer debut. Perhaps the general public has forgotten or feels apathetic towards the aging band. The first few shows could be another reason- some of the performances were absolutely not right for any group. But as the show goes into its sixth week, what remains is a fascinating collage of characters, each of whom is inhibiting musical growth.
Among the favourites to win are Jordis, who performed a stunning rendition of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” in week four, Marty, a ghastly figure who’s maturity impresses the band, and Mig, the hometown Australian who looks the part. Some others are riskier, but intriguing nonetheless. Ty, heavily influenced in musical theatre, is the only African-American and needs a haircut. Brandon looks Country, sounds Country, and even has “Calhoon” as his last name. This is what makes the show worth watching: Can you picture any of these contestants as the lead singer of INXS?
Two additional factors make Rock Star interesting to watch. One is the amount of women on the show. Traditionally, males are associated with the rock star title, but INXS has given 8 of the 15 positions to females. Another aspect is J.D. from Canada.
J.D. is certainly a favourite to win. Almost all of his performances have been awe-inspiring. He is a die-hard INXS fan. But he is also accompanied by controversy. After receiving positive feedback from INXS in week two, J.D. answered, “While they’re learning INXS songs, I know them because I love them.” His antics among the contestants have caused disharmony and alienated him from the rest of the pack. He appears not to be stable. But J.D. might be what INXS needs to get back on the map.
Regardless of who wins, it appears as though Rock Star: INXS is a sign of the times. Now, we not only demand to enjoy music, purchase it, download it on MP3, or use software to create our own song out of a hit single- we demand to become the rock star and make the process into a game-show lasting three months.