Rock Star: INXS

I was very reluctant to watch this show. It seemed to much like "American Idol", with bad singing, and nasty judges. This show is totally different; the contestants have actual talent, and the judges make critical (but not overly ego destroying) comments that help the performers improve their singing.

Each week, a singer chooses a song and then performs in front of a live audience. Once the show is over, the public can vote via text messaging, or Internet voting. Polls are open for four hours, and then next day the bottom three need to perform an INXS song. INXS then decides which of the performers does not suit the band. That person then gets to say goodbye to their fellow contestants, INXS, and Dave Navarro.

There is absolutely no petty bickering, and if there are arguments, they're resolved with maturity. Even though this is a contest, each performer cares and helps each other - this is what makes Rockstar: INXS different.

As has been well documented by previous posters, the real stars of Rockstar: INXS - and, indeed it's sequel, Rockstar: Supernova - are Paul Mirkovich, Rafael Moreira, Jim McGorman, Nate Morton and Sasha Krivtsov. Don't know who they are? They are the awesome, tight, rockin' House Band whose music savvy and talent made this show something more than a sad American Idol clone.

Remember the "strings" night? That was musical precision and perfection if ever I've seen it. Suzie McNeil's epic rendition of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody', Ty Taylor's memorable cover of the Stones' 'You Can't Always Get...', JD Fortune singing "Suspicious Minds". The common denominator here is the awesome House Band.

As good as INXS were in their prime, they are sadly a shadow of their former selves, though JD's live performance has somewhat breathed new life into their music, this show is all about the HB.

Memo to producers: Season Three (if we're blessed enough to have it happen) should be Rockstar: House Band. Get those boys a good lead singer and they are going places.

This show wasn't as big a success as they would have liked, but an average of 5-7 million viewers watched each show several times a week to see who the great 80s band INXS would choose.

Great talent here. In fact, the runner up is now the opening act on tour with the band.

As a big INXS fan, I liked the show alright. Guest host, Dave Navarro was brilliant, Brooke Burke looked great, and most importantly, I was VERY pleased with who they chose to win.

This DVD is a must for INXS fans, old and new, as well as any American Idol fans.

I can't wait to see the Rock Star follow-up show. I'm hoping for Nirvana, Queen, or Van Halen.

12-20-2005.

Walt D in LV.

As hard as it is for me to believe, with all of the awful reality shows out there over the past few years, this one has to take over the top spot for worst one yet. I am still wondering if this was actually just a spoof done by the SCTV gang. If Andy Kaufmann were still alive I'd be sure he was behind this. Can a rock band stoop any lower than has INXS to do such a shameful thing as this? The premise is simple and moronic. Audition a bunch of karaoke rejects to become the new lead singer of INXS, to take the place of Michael Hutchence (who committed suicide in 1997). Eight years and no hits later, the band commit the ultimate act of patheticness by subjecting themselves to auditioning a bunch of talentless wannabes to be the new lead singer of a band that is 20 years past its prime. So they trot all of these awful singers (I thought American Idol had its share of doozies) who do atrocious renditions of just about every classic (and predictable) rock song imaginable. And then they cut to the INXS band members who are seriously discussing the merits of each of these candidates. You could see better (and more original) rock performers at just about any night club in any city in the world.

It has all the usual uncreative elements of every other reality show. Lame reality participants, lame interviews, lame host/emcee, lame "judging" of performances, and the lame booting of one participant at the end of each show. Can these shows get any more predictable? It's clearly a publicity stunt on the part of the band; a last gasp of hope at rekindling their lost stardom before they are finally buried into oblivion. Michael Hutchence, if he had any shred of dignity when alive, has to be rolling over in his grave. Not that INXS were ever a great band, but I had no idea they were this pathetic. If INXS are at all representative of what rock and roll has become, this show would be the final proof that rock and roll is once and for all, dead.

I have been a longtime fan of INXS and was quite excited to learn of this show months ago. While no one can ever really replace Michael in the hearts of the fans, I am thrilled that people who do not know too much of the band are getting to see and hear what they are all about. I agree with the other person who commented that maybe this reality show just isn't mean enough. That is a credit to INXS themselves. Not all rock stars are arrogant and filled with rage. They want to find a singer and make some music. Nothing wrong with that. Past their prime? I think not. I am certain that they are not expecting to outsell the current crop of bands who are popular today and sell out stadiums all over the world. Again, it's about making music. I hope that more people will tune in and check out the performances, because there is some talent being shown. I can't wait to find out who is going to make it until the end!