New frontman for INXS
Did you catch INXS in Clapham Common a few months ago? What were your thoughts on JD Fortune as their frontman? We thought he did alright. Following in the shadow of Michael Hutchence was never going to be an easy task but he had the moves, charisma and voice.
Seems the original members of INXS don’t agree, they’ll be unveiling a new frontman in December. Playing in Fremantle, hometown of founding members Andrew and Jon Farris, the new singer is being thrown in the deep end when they perform as part of the World Sailing Championships, pardon the pun.
This is the goliath of sailing, bigger than the Olympics and will see INXS and Grinspoon playing to thousands of fans and we guess sailors as part of the festivities.
Just who is this new frontman? No-one really knows and it’s been kept a secret until then. Previously Jon Stevens and Jimmy Barnes have stepped in to provide vocal support so it could a famous Aussie singer hitting the stage. Hopefully they’ll be able to hang around a bit longer than poor JD, this is the second time he’s been fired from the band! The first time was in 2009 in a Hong Kong airport. Hopefully he’ll make a go of a solo career, but we doubt it.
Show me the money
Being a musician must be great. You get to stay up late, cruise the country and you only need to shower once every few days. What a life. Not to mention the money floating around. Accounting firm Ernst and Young just released a report on the live music industry in Australia; it’s worth a tidy $1.2 billion a year.
No wonder they all get limo’s to their shows! Then again let’s break it down. After venues, promoters and other employees get their piece of the pie the report calculated a professional musician in Australia is earning a grand total average of $12,000 a year.
The report has laid bare the life of your average musician is no golden age and many are well below the poverty line when it comes to making a living solely out of music. The report has gained support from several music bodies and high profile musicians who are calling on the state government to provide better funding and support for live music. After all, the money being spent and jobs created benefits the economy so why not help out the people who make it happen?
Spare a thought for hard working entertainers next time you complain about ticket prices to gigs because in reality they are not the ones making the money and a shift in equality needs to be addressed. And maybe take them a sandwich, because they’re probably hungry.
So you think you can direct?
Film clips are a cool factor of being in a band. You might not have world success or heaps of money but in our books anyone with a cool film clip has it made. Think of your favourite one, then think ‘what would I have done if I was directing it? Would I have done better?’ Course you can, we believe in you.
The website genero.tv is giving you this opportunity. Around since 2009 it teams bands and filmmakers together. Bands offer a prize as well as the chance to have your work as their official film clip. It’s starting to take off with Australian bands Eskimo Joe, The Middle East and The Panics all using the site for the latest music offerings.
The Panic’s winner for their song ‘Endless Road’ was Achyutanand Dwivedi an Indian filmmaker who shot an amazing clip about a cyclist tackling India’s massive motorways.
Check it out, get inspired and get filming.