INXS Shares the Love With Rockstar Runner-up On Tour

Marty Casey, 32, didn’t win the televised competition/reality show to become INXS’s next lead singer, he came in second. But in this case there is no shame and a fair amount of gain in grabbing the silver.

While Rock Star: INXS winner, Canadian J.D. Fortune, also 32, will be fronting the veteran Australian rock unit — which has sold over 30 millions records in a 25-year career but has struggled without a permanent lead singer since Michael Hutchence took his own life in 1997 — on their forthcoming “Switched On” tour, Marty Casey and his band the Lovehammers will be opening act.

Being the opening act is really the best possible scenario for me,” Casey says. “I’ve been with my band for 15 years and now I get the best of both worlds.” Or at least second best.

The singer describes his band’s performances as a “high energy, fast-paced, big-time rock and roll show. I want to get out there and get people excited,” he says. “We have to work 15 times harder to get to the level that INXS bring on every night.” Casey’s song “Trees” is the #1 download on MSN this week.

For INXS, the visibility of Rock Star has also meant sales. Recently, The Best of INXS (Atlantic) reached #1 on Billboard’s catalogue chart, and INXS’ new single “Pretty Vegas,” (Epic Records) hit #4 with over 20,000 downloads via iTunes (see video here).

The tour begins on January 18, 2006 in Vancouver and will extend to more than 20 U.S. cities and two stops in Canada. INXS is Andrew Farriss (keyboards/guitar), Tim Farriss (guitar), Jon Farriss (drums), Kirk Pengilly (guitar/saxophone), Garry Beers (bass) and new lead singer, J.D. Fortune.

INXS “SWITCHED ON” TOUR ITINERARY 2006

Jan 18 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.ca

Jan 19 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Jan 20-21 Lincoln City, OR Chinook Winds Casino on sale 10/15 via
TicketWest.com

Jan 23 Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre on sale 10/16 via
Ticketmaster.com

Jan 25 Pala, CA Pala Events Center on sale 10/13 via
Ticketmaster.com

Jan 26 Highland, CA San Manuel Casino on sale via 800.359.2464
x2832

Jan 27 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre on sale 10/16 via
Ticketmaster.com

Jan 28 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Jan 30 Denver, CO Convention Center on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 1 St. Charles, MO Family Arena on sale 10/15 via Metrotix.com

Feb 2 Kansas City, MO Midland Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 3 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 4 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 7 Toronto, ON Massey Hall on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.ca

Feb 8 Detroit, MI Masonic Temple Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 10 Boston, MA Wang Center on sale 10/15 via Telecharge.com

Feb 11 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 12 New York, NY Avery Fisher Hall on sale 10/15 via
Lincolncenter.org

Feb 15 Reading, PA Sovereign PAC on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 16 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun on sale via Ticketmaster.com

Feb 17 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

Feb 18 Washington, DC Warner Theatre on sale 10/15 via
Ticketmaster.com

See Pam Avoldeo’s insightful analysis of the INXS classic “Beautiful Girl” here.