The members of the rock band INXS say their new singer, chosen via nationally televised auditions, just "felt right" for the group.
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The group chose Canadian J.D. Fortune from 15 contestants who took part in "Rock Star: INXS," an "American Idol"-styled show that aired for 10 weeks on CBS. He succeeds Michael Hutchence, who committed suicide in 1997, and Jon Stevens, who was with INXS from 2000-03.
"It was a decision that was tough to make," says Andrew Farriss, INXS' chief songwriter. "For the five original members of the band, it had to feel right to us. Ultimately we decided that J.D. was the guy who most suited INXS. It just felt right. I don't know how to explain it."
INXS is at work on a new album, "Switch," which will be the group's first of new material since 1997. Farriss and Fortune co-wrote the album's first single, "Pretty Vegas," which will be released Oct. 4 via iTunes.
