Angela Harlem said:
No, STING. You're incorrect. Sorry mate. Very wrong. It was a disaster. Nothing brilliant about it. Music created under such pretence does not last. It shoots to stardom and then dies a horrificly spectacular death. I'm rather sure the Spice Girls sold out venues the size of Wembley back in the day. You live in some world where sales and charts are all that matters. So you'd be the kind who thinks that The Spice Girls, all teen chart music, Britney?, who else is there...I cant even think, all these throwaway pop artists are brilliant. You'd have to, to keep this line of thinking legit - because they sell really well too. When in actuality, it means fuck all in terms of quality. And mate, you're living in some parallel universe if you think the spotlight shining on INXS now is any reflection of some past fame. They've never been known like this.
INXS and U2 are rock bands and signed to major record lables. Selling tickets and albums has been a major goal of both bands since they were in their teens. They attempt to create the best music they can, while at the same time presenting it to as large an audiance as possible.
I've never once stated that sales equals music brilliance. But selling albums and tickets is an important goal for both bands and given the position that INXS were in, their decision to do this has worked out brilliantly in terms of the business side of things. The fact is, the INXS catalog has sold well because of the exposure from the show and the band has soldout all or almost all of its shows in some big places.
All 5 of the origional members of INXS are experienced professionals in terms of being musicians and understanding the music business. They know more about Michael Hutchence, INXS and what is important and right for them, than any of us do. All 5 of them agreed to do this and are going to do the tour with JD. If after all of this they feel JD is not working for the band, they can search for a new lead singer.
You can debate the quality of the music made, forever. Thats subjective and many people will never agree when it comes to that. Just look at the debates in this forum or in other forums that trash POP and praise ATYCLB or the other way around etc.
But the results of the show in terms of INXS sales are facts. The show has had a very positive impact and introduced the band to people who never knew who INXS was. This is a positive thing for the band. They took a risk in continuing as INXS and some people were going to trash them no matter who or how they picked the next singer.