In a case of an artist getting back to their roots, Australian rockers INXS have kicked singer J.D. Fortune out of the band - leaving him broke and homeless.
The Canadian artist, real name Jason Dean Bennison, was chosen as the replacement for late rocker Michael Hutchence after winning a reality TV search in 2005. However, after completing a world tour with the New Sensation hit-makers, 35-year-old Fortune claims he was simply abandoned - and is now living in his car.
He tells Canada's Entertainment Tonight, "I was in an airport (in) Hong Kong and literally got a handshake. They said, 'Thank you very much.' I found myself really alone because I had traveled with these guys for 23 months. I don't know where I am going from sofa to sofa, from night to night. I am trying to get through my life."
However, Fortune admits he was probably responsible for his own firing - because he developed a serious cocaine addiction while with the band. He has been clean for two years, but he acknowledges his drug habit is likely to have contributed to INXS' decision to ditch him.
He adds, "It got as bad as it needed to be for me to numb out the fact that I knew this was going to come to a screeching halt."
Fortune was was living in his car, under a bridge when he applied for and was offered a job on CBS's TV show, Rock Star: INXS.
1 comment:
Any news on where JD is now. I met him right before Rockstar INXS aired. I was so happy for him when he won. What a sad ending for him. He carries his talent with him though- singing and songwriting, so I hope we hear from him again.
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