Squishy Peanut
Acrobat
Jon Stevens has announced his departure from INXS before they even release their first album together.
Stevens made the surprise announcement on The Today Show this morning when he dropped the news on interviewer Richard Wilkins. Wilkins and Stevens, both former Kiwi 70s pop stars, had known each other for a long time since they came up through the ranks of the New Zealand music industy together.
"We thank Jon for his incredible input in the past three years and for helping us through the difficult transition following Michael's death" INXS said in a statement." We've had some great gigs and great tours and will always value his contribution".
The band cite musical differences as the reason for the split with Jon. "At this point we have different views of our future and have mutually decided it is in our best interests to part ways.We wish Jon every success for the future and know we will remain great friends" they said"
Following the death of Michael Hutchence in 1997, INXS took a number of years to re-emerge and then did it slowly with a guest singer. Over that time, Jimmy Barnes and Terence Trent D'Arby at times both fronted the band for one off occasions but it was former Noiseworks singer Jon Stevens who became the mainstay. In October 2002, he was formerly announced as a permanent member of the band and officially replaced Hutchence.
Since then, INXS have been slow to produce new material and coincidentally are about release 'I Get Up', their first single with Stevens on November 3. The song was recorded specifically for the EA Games Rugby 2004 computer game but will not be included on their upcoming 3 disc CD/DVD package The Years 1979-1997. That package will be in store from October 20.
Stevens is yet to announce his post-INXS plans.
-------------------------------------------
Behind the INXS split
October 15, 2003
INXS left Australia last weekend for a European tour as the fallout from Jon Stevens' premature split with the band continued.
First, it seems INXS had tried twice to record new material with Stevens but "there was no magic", according to an insider who heard the recordings.
Second, INXS band members were disappointed they spent several hours celebrating Stevens' birthday after their Rugby Clubhouse performance last week, and the former frontman said nothing about his plans to go public just hours later.
Third, Stevens didn't thank the band or wish them well in his official press release.
And fourth, the local music industry is still scratching their heads about Stevens' decision to sign former footballer Ben Elias to manage him.
Elias had no problems talking up his prospects of becoming Australia's most successful music manager at the Clubhouse launch last week, despite his lack of experience.
Meanwhile those at Network Seven must still be scratching their heads about how Stevens chose to break the news about his departure.
On Wednesday night he was the star attraction with INXS at Seven's Rugby Clubhouse, where Sunrise co-host David Koch joined them on stage.
The next morning Stevens chose to spill the beans on rival morning show Today telling Nine's Richard "Tricky Ricardo" Wilkins he was leaving.
The Daily Telegraph
------------------------------------------------------
They can't get a female singer!
That just won't work 
Stevens made the surprise announcement on The Today Show this morning when he dropped the news on interviewer Richard Wilkins. Wilkins and Stevens, both former Kiwi 70s pop stars, had known each other for a long time since they came up through the ranks of the New Zealand music industy together.
"We thank Jon for his incredible input in the past three years and for helping us through the difficult transition following Michael's death" INXS said in a statement." We've had some great gigs and great tours and will always value his contribution".
The band cite musical differences as the reason for the split with Jon. "At this point we have different views of our future and have mutually decided it is in our best interests to part ways.We wish Jon every success for the future and know we will remain great friends" they said"
Following the death of Michael Hutchence in 1997, INXS took a number of years to re-emerge and then did it slowly with a guest singer. Over that time, Jimmy Barnes and Terence Trent D'Arby at times both fronted the band for one off occasions but it was former Noiseworks singer Jon Stevens who became the mainstay. In October 2002, he was formerly announced as a permanent member of the band and officially replaced Hutchence.
Since then, INXS have been slow to produce new material and coincidentally are about release 'I Get Up', their first single with Stevens on November 3. The song was recorded specifically for the EA Games Rugby 2004 computer game but will not be included on their upcoming 3 disc CD/DVD package The Years 1979-1997. That package will be in store from October 20.
Stevens is yet to announce his post-INXS plans.
-------------------------------------------
Behind the INXS split
October 15, 2003
INXS left Australia last weekend for a European tour as the fallout from Jon Stevens' premature split with the band continued.
First, it seems INXS had tried twice to record new material with Stevens but "there was no magic", according to an insider who heard the recordings.
Second, INXS band members were disappointed they spent several hours celebrating Stevens' birthday after their Rugby Clubhouse performance last week, and the former frontman said nothing about his plans to go public just hours later.
Third, Stevens didn't thank the band or wish them well in his official press release.
And fourth, the local music industry is still scratching their heads about Stevens' decision to sign former footballer Ben Elias to manage him.
Elias had no problems talking up his prospects of becoming Australia's most successful music manager at the Clubhouse launch last week, despite his lack of experience.
Meanwhile those at Network Seven must still be scratching their heads about how Stevens chose to break the news about his departure.
On Wednesday night he was the star attraction with INXS at Seven's Rugby Clubhouse, where Sunrise co-host David Koch joined them on stage.
The next morning Stevens chose to spill the beans on rival morning show Today telling Nine's Richard "Tricky Ricardo" Wilkins he was leaving.
The Daily Telegraph
------------------------------------------------------
They can't get a female singer!
That just won't work 
