Auralize this...

"Pretty Vegas" is the first single for this...

By now you know that J.D. Fortune was chosen as the new lead singer of INXS and that the song he wrote in the "Rock Star: INXS" clinic, "Pretty Vegas" is the first single off the new INXS album.

On Friday, following their taping of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, the band convened to discuss video treatments, so we can look forward to that sooner than later.

If you live in Los Angeles, you may have already heard the song in high rotation on 95.5 KLOS.  Call your local rock radio station and request it today!

"Pretty Vegas"
Written by J.D. Fortune and INXS
Performed by INXS

Fallin’ asleep at the wheel again baby
You’re driftin’ over the line, line yeah
You’re hands are tied, but you’re losin’ grip quickly
Fix me, could you read the sign

Thumbin’ your way to Vegas, dirty
Dreamin’ of the other side
Save your tears and laughter because
It doesn’t matter what you find

It ain’t pretty
After the show
It ain’t pretty when the pretty leaves you
With no place to go

If you think you want it
Here’s the place to get it
It ain’t pretty

When, everything that you do is wrong and
You feel like you can barely survive, yeah
When those around you are crumblin’ downwards
Buried in the sunset of life

Thumbin’ your way to Vegas, dirty
Screaming like youe back from hell
Save your dreams and occupations
Doesn’t matter what you sell

It ain’t pretty
After the show
It ain’t pretty when the pretty leaves you
With no place to go

So, if you think you want it
Here’s the place to get it
It ain’t pretty,yeah, yeah
It ain’t pretty

Thumbin’ your way to Vegas, dirty
Dreamin’ like you’re out of control
Save your tears and laughter
Because this is the ride
This is the show

It ain’t pretty
After the show
It ain’t pretty when the pretty leaves you
With no place to go

If you think you want it
Just come in and get it

It ain’t pretty

Downloads:
Pretty Vegas video
Pretty Vegas audio

The new INXS will appear on this...

On Friday, Sept. 23, INXS will appear on Ellen and The Late Show with Craig Ferguson with their new lead singer, J.D. Fortune.

Check your local listings.

A tale of two Pauls rocking this...

As I mentioned, another Rock Star Mansion party was planned while I was away on my cruise. Indeed I was obliged to attend and my first day back to the office after a weeklong vacation was spent wading through 500 emails while nursing a Belvedere Rock Startini hangover after half a night's sleep.  I so thought my rock star days were over...

I finally got to meet "Rock Star: INXS" House Band Leader Paul Mirkovich, which I've intended to do for quite some time.

Andrew Farriss of INXS, the tallglassofmilk and "Rock Star: INXS" Music Director Paul Mirkovich at the Rock Star Mansion party September 11, 2005

I've been a fan of Paul's since the release of After The Rain in 1990.  If you happen to be familiar with the interlude on the Nelson album, you probably understand how it started.  I dare say that was my favorite album that year and I took much ribbing for being a devoted fan of the twins' band.  Despite their talent, they were far too pretty to be taken seriously as musicians and I frequently turned to keyboard player Paul's classically trained background as a musical defense for my passion.

I was a tad apprehensive in my introduction, not knowing how the Emmy Award-nominated musician would receive my expression of love and affection for Nelson.  I certainly wasn't expecting to be enthusiastically embraced and flashed all smile.  Paul was most appreciative of the recognition and said that despite having played with countless professional musicians and composers (Cher, Janet Jackson, Whitesnake, Peter Gabriel, Shawn Colvin and more), that Nelson is the most talented band he was ever part of.  I was thrilled to hear this... and will continue to be an unapologetic fan. Unfortunately, he said, the success went to the twins' heads and ultimately lead to the band's demise.

I got a little inside info on the rockers, the songs and what's been going on behind the scenes from Paul and the rockers themselves, but will save that for a later post, probably after next week's finale.

There were other Pauls in the house and I also spent some time chatting with KCBS Anchor Paul Magers. 

KCBS Anchor Paul Magers and the tallglassofmilk at the Rock Star Mansion party September 11, 2005

His daughter's friends were visting from Minnesota and are big MiG fans.  They had previously seen him in Queen's theatre hit "We Will Rock You" and were very excited their friend's dad was able to secure tix to Sunday's taping and invitations to the mansion. They didn't get to stay as late as me, but by all accounts it was a great time.

+   +   +

Did you watch tonight's last performance episode?  Marty told me that couldn't believe the audience knew the words to "Trees."  As he and Dave Navarro started the acoustic performance, they conferred briefly and determined neither could hear themselves in the monitors due to the crowd drowning them out.

The audience also knew the words to J.D.'s original "Pretty Vegas," which, if you ask me, is INXS's single.  But what do I know...?  Only that Paul Mirkovich is the most wanted keyboard player in Hollywood.

For a real review of tonight's episode, go see Joe.

Rockin' Citywalk with this...

Is it any wonder I'm still single?  I'm blowing off a date with "Geoff with a 'G'"  tonight for this...

On Friday, Aug. 26, Universal CityWalk will host the final six contestants from "Rock Star:  INXS" as they perform a series of INXS hits -- including "What You Need," "Don't Change" and Need You Tonight" -- in a free outdoor concert series.   The performances will follow a set from the ultimate 80's cover band, The Spazmatics, hosted by Star 98.7 radio personality Richard Blade.

Remaining six:

J.D. Fortune - Oakville, Ontario (Canada)
MiG Ayesa - London, England (Originally from Australia )
Marty Casey - Chicago, IL
Jordis Unga - St. Paul, MN
Ty Taylor - Santa Monica, CA
Suzie McNeil - Toronto, Ontario

Showtimes:

8:00 - 8:45 PM - The Spazmatics concert performance
9:15 - 10: 00 PM - "Rock Star: INXS" performances

So... you can see why the rock stars take precedent.  They're not all gonna be around much longer, plus, this will be our first opportunity to hear Jordis and MiG perform INXS songs since they have yet to be in the bottom three. 

I can only hope the after concert events will be as fabulous as last week's and that Geoff will accept my raincheck.

Throwing back the Belvedere with this...

Another great Rock Star taping on Sunday (tune in tonight!), and the after party at the mansion capped off the birthday weekend nicely.  If you've been following my Rock Star obsession, you already know that I named J.D. as the best fit for INXS a few weeks ago.  If you haven't heard why, you can at least see why I think this...

The tallglassofmilk and Rock Star: INXS contestant J.D. Fortune at the Rock Star mansion - Aug. 21, 2005

The rock stars and Dave Navarro gave us an acoustic jam which included Jordis singing "The Man Who Sold The World" and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," but the highlight for me was J.D. taking on my favorite INXS song, "Mystify."  Even still, the biggest hit of the night was the Belvedere Rock Startini.