Rock Star bets in CD

Rockstar: INXS took reality TV on a new level when it went in search of a new vocalist for INXS, the Australian rock band from the ‘80s. Ably hosted by TV personality Brooke Burke and rock guitarist Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, the show went off in search of a replacement for the charismatic Michael Hitchence whom INXS lost to suicide in 1997. The competition was won by Canadian J.D. Fortune who will do the lead vocals in an upcoming INXS album and then join the group in its next world tour.

I do not know how Fortune will fare in his new role although with INXS he will be working with certainly some very talented rock musicians. Maybe he will do as well as Hutchence. No matter what happens though, what Rockstar: INXS accomplished was to introduce to us 14 other great rockers who can sing, write and arrange their won materials are who are now faced with a very promising future as, what else but rock stars. And that includes eight girls who can rock as hard, or at times even harder then the boys.

One of these was the Philippine-born Mig Ayesa, who now divides his time between Australia, where he grew up from age two onwards and England where he now works as an actor and singer. He took a break from playing Galileo in the Queen musical We Will Rock You in London to join Rockstar: INXS. Mig did very well in the contest and was one of the last three finalists. As a result of his excellent showing though, he is now working on his first solo album for Universal Records in the US and getting ready for his world tour.

Now that will take at least a year to put together. So in the meantime local fans of Mig might want to check out the album Rock Star: A Night at the Mayan Theater. This CD is a compilation of the stellar performances of all of the 15 finalists in the Rockstar:INXS search. That means great songs, superb arrangements and amazing singers. Come to think of it, this compilation plays like a collection of some of the best rock songs ever written. Mig gets to do two cuts, Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and Peter Frampton’s Baby I Love Your Way.

The other songs included are You Really Got Me by Marty Casey; One Way or Another by Daphna Dove; Cult of Personality by Ty Taylor; Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Dana Robbins; Brown Sugar by Neal Carlson; Middle of the Road by Tara Sloane; Rock and Roll All Night by Brandon Calhoun; Celebrity Skin by Jessica Robinson; Heroes by Wil Seabrook; Burning Down the House by Heather Luttrell; American Woman by J.D. Fortune; Piece of My Heart by Deanna Johnston; Remedy by Suzie McNeil and then there is Jordis Unga, who like Mig also gets to do two cuts, Baba O’Reily and The Man Who Sold the World.

Incidentally, Mig, whose previous homecomings to the Philippines were strictly private events, has also become the hot local/foreign celebrity of the moment. A few weeks ago, he opened the Philippine Advertising Congress in Cebu City with no less than Lea Salonga, who I must say is looking extra-beautiful these days. Come Thursday, December 1, Mig will be the top attraction at the MTV Staying Alive Music Summit for HIV/AIDS 2005. The country’s biggest concert for a cause will be held at the Fort Open Field, at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila.

Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day and the concert aims to send out key messages and create a greater awareness about the virus and the disease through music. In fact, concert goers are encouraged to come early to be able to visit the booths around the grounds to learn more about HIV/AIDS and to join some pre-show activities with special prizes in store.

The concert officially starts at 7 p.m. Aside from Mig, others set to perform are Bamboo, Barbie Almalbis, Christian Bautista, Cueshé, Giniling Festival, Greyhoundz, Hale, Imago, Itchyworms, Kitchie Nadal, Kamikazee, Kjwan, Mojofly, Moonstar 88, M.Y.M.P., Paramita, Parokya ni Edgar, Pupil, Radioactive Sago Project, Rivermaya, Sugarfree, Sarah Geronimo, Sandwich, Session Road, Stonefree, UpDharma Down, Urbandub, Viva Hot Babes, Yasmien Kurdi and 6Cyclemind.