(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — With the premiere of INXS' CBS reality series "Rock Star: INXS," on July
11, which follows the Australian band on its search to
find a new lead singer, INXS has inked a worldwide recording contract with Epic
Records/SonyBMG. The band will release its new album in late 2005.
The band's debut album for the label will feature the winner of the "Rock Star: INXS"
competition. Executive-produced by Mark Burnett
(Survivor, The Apprentice), the show spans 22
cities and six continents in its search for singers. Following the week of
premiere, "Rock Star: INXS" will be seen regularly on Mondays (9:30-10:00 PM
ET/PT), Tuesdays (10:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) and Wednesdays (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on
the CBS.
"We're very happy to be joining the Epic family and
can't wait to get back into the studio to record again," INXS' Andrew Farriss said. "It's been too long! Everyone in the band is truly looking forward to the months ahead and this great
new chapter in our career."
For the following 13 weeks INXS band members Andrew, Tim and Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers will assess a group of 15 candidates in everything from songwriting
to live performance. The winner will record an album with the band — their
first since the death of frontman Michael Hutchence in November 1997 — and
embark on a worldwide arena tour covering more than 100 cities.
Veteran A&R man John Kalodner (Aerosmith, Jimmy Page) will serve as A&R
consultant on the band's album. — Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
