With a deep personal connection to INXS and Australia, JD Fortune returns for another run of shows celebrating the iconic band’s catalogue. From growing up with Michael Hutchence’s music to eventually joining INXS and co-writing their highest debuting single, ‘Pretty Vegas’, Fortune’s connection to the band has come full circle. We caught up with JD ahead of the tour to talk about INXS’ enduring legacy, returning to Australia and what fans can expect this time around.
Futuremag: After such a successful tour previously, how do you feel about coming back to Australia?
JD Fortune: Oh, I’m super excited, Brooke. I loved it last year. Everyone was just beautiful. I love Australia. It’s like my second home, so of course I want to come back as soon as I can.
Futuremag: INXS’ music is timeless. Audiences are still connecting with it and it’s reaching new generations. What do you think it is about their music and songwriting that continues to connect with people today?
JD Fortune: That’s a great question, Brooke. For me personally, what attracts me to INXS’ music is that it’s not screaming at you, but it’s still powerful. It’s not in your face, but yet it’s all over you. It gets in you.
It’s not like, “Hey, pay attention, pay attention, pay attention.” It’s more like, “Hey, come over here for a second if you want to see something really cool.” That’s the big draw for me.
I do enjoy heavier music, but it doesn’t hit the same. If I was going for a run or at the gym and needed to get pumped up, I’m not going to listen to ‘Never Tear Us Apart’. ‘Devil Inside’ might come on because it’s a little more thumpy.
But I think that, along with incredible writing from Andrew and Michael and the musicianship from the band, is what makes them so special. They’re all super talented. The brothers are talented, Kirk and Gary are incredibly talented people.
And then there’s the messaging. If you look at some of the lyrics carefully, there are some political things in there, but by and large they didn’t really get political and start waving flags around. When you start doing that, you can negate part of your audience. I think they never did that, so that’s why they have such a universal appeal.
Futuremag: You’ve spoken before about looking up to Michael Hutchence. Did you ever imagine your life would become so closely connected to INXS?
JD Fortune: It’s funny. I had such a connection with that band, as everybody did. When I was younger, it was Michael, Elvis, AC/DC, the Osmonds when I was a kid. I had so many musical influences when I was young.
But when I got into my teens, INXS really stood out. I used to sneak out and go to bush parties where it was just a portable stereo and eight kids thinking you’re cool in the woods. You’re really just eight kids listening to a portable stereo by a fire, but you think you’re cool as shit!
INXS got into my DNA. Then actually becoming the last original writer in the band — they didn’t write with anybody else after me — and co-writing the band’s highest debuting single, ‘Pretty Vegas’, all of that was another honour.
Then to turn around on stage and see literally the guys that were on my wall as a kid… Some of them were 14 to 16 years older than me, so it was like they were my older brothers and my young party-band guys all at the same time.
It was so surreal. It was an honour to look back and see those guys.
I remember going to school on winter mornings and we couldn’t even afford a poster, so I had the 12-inch vinyl opened up with tacks in the wall. I’d walk by and kiss it and put my hand on it.
If you know the album, Michael’s got his hand like that. I’d touch the end of his fingers. And then one day, I’m in the band. Surreal.
Futuremag: And younger you, with those records on your wall, probably never would have guessed you’d eventually be touring a Best of INXS show and co-writing songs with the band.
JD Fortune: Yeah, I still kind of pinch myself. I’m just very grateful and very humbled by the whole thing.
I’m very humbled by Australia. It’s such an amazing country. You have amazing people there and I really feel like it’s my second home.
Futuremag: INXS is reaching new generations of audiences, too. Parents might bring their kids along, or introduce them to the band for the first time. For people discovering the greatness of INXS through this tour, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
JD Fortune: The same energy that I took away from it. Just something that lasts in you and something that really connects with you as a piece of music.
It’s getting harder and harder because there’s so much. Everybody in the world has a home recorder and AI, and it’s so messy right now. How do you even know who to believe? How do you know they’re doing that on their own?
I’m an old-school songwriter, arduously going through stuff. Sometimes you get inspiration, sometimes the muse hits you.
But you can’t fake a live performance. I mean, you can now, and that’s the scary part. People fake live performances all the time. They have Auto-Tune on their voices and all sorts of bells and whistles.
Just give me five guys that know how to play their instruments, and I will give you one hell of a night.
That’s all I need. Just five guys who really know how to play — or girls who really know how to play.
Futuremag: You’ve had such a successful tour previously and you’re bringing it back. What are you going to do differently this time around?
JD Fortune: We’ve added a few more songs. I don’t want to give anything away — it’s going to be a surprise.
We’ve added a couple more shows, and I found the set had a bit last year that was a bit draggy, so I cut out a couple of songs and put in some more appropriately rock-concert songs.
The set is humming right now. It’s great.
Futuremag: I’m excited to see the changes. Lastly, what’s next for you after this tour? If people come out, love the show and want to continue supporting you, how can they get behind you?
JD Fortune: They can buy me a bunch of stuffed koalas when I’m down there because I didn’t get enough last time!
I want to go see one this time around. If any fans coming to the show want to bring a koala, bring a little tiny thing and throw it up on stage. I don’t care. I just think they’re incredible.
I’ve only ever met one once, and I know you probably don’t think it’s a big deal because you’re like, “Mate, they’re all over the place.”
But for us on the other side of the world, it’s such an iconic animal. Everybody when I go to Australia doesn’t say, “Oh, you’re going to the beach?” They say, “Oh, are you gonna see a koala?”
