MSN Home |  My MSN |  Hotmail |  Shopping |  Money |  People & Chat Web Search:    
Go to MSN.com
Rock Star:INXS
RECAPS
VIDEO
FASHION
BLOGS + BOARDS
STORE

STAY INFORMED-GET THE LATEST
Marty / Danny Moloshok, Blue Pixel, © MBP 2005

THE ROCKERS
BrandonDanaDaphna
DeannaHeatherJ.D.
JessicaJordisMarty
MiGNealSuzie
TaraTyWil
View Photo Gallery View Photo Gallery
Watch Video Watch Video
WEEK 11
WEEK 10
WEEK 9
WEEK 8
WEEK 7
WEEK 6
WEEK 5
WEEK 4
WEEK 3
WEEK 2
WEEK 1
Reality Show Performance Show Elimination Show

As Dave tells the Rockers, "it's all about chemistry" on this week's reality show -- the chemistry between each of the Rockers and INXS. For the first time, the Rockers each get one-on-one face time with the members of INXS, and we get to go behind the scenes when INXS discuss their impressions of each Rocker.

The mood is low-key at the Mansion after last week's elimination show -- all the Rockers seem to have something different on each of their minds. The big dining room table looks even bigger now, with everyone seated at one end, quietly mulling over recent events. J.D. -- who got the encore and was in the bottom three -- feels pretty good. "INXS saw a lot of me," he says. MiG toasts Jordis, telling the others that this is "the first day of the rest of her career." Suzie reminisces about how Jordis used to tell her not to cry -- a memory that causes her to break out in tears. It's not because Jordis is gone; the reason she's crying, she tells the three guys, is because she's just so honored to be the last female Rocker standing. The Rocker who is most affected by Jordis' departure is Marty, who had forged a close relationship with her. "It's hard to take," he says, "it bums me out."

After dinner, Dave arrives, commenting on how quiet things are, and bringing news of this week's clinic -- each Rocker will have a one-on-one interview with INXS.

J.D. sees this as a chance to show INXS the real J.D. He says "for the first time in my life, I'm going to be totally honest." Suzie just hopes she can relax -- when she gets nervous, she tends to freeze up. But before anyone gets to talk to INXS, there's the matter of J.D.'s reward.

As with all the previous rewards, it's a surprise. J.D. is sitting outside the Mansion, absently strumming his guitar, when a white Honda Ridgeline rolls up the driveway. It's his sister and his mother, and J.D. can't keep from crying. But he's not too overwhelmed to jokingly hit up his mom for $50. J.D.'s the product of a broken home; he was a latchkey kid who had to bring his baby sister to school before he could go to school himself. But he doesn't feel he was deprived. The tenderness and affection he feels for both women is obvious.

But even family must come second to the task at hand as the Rockers get ready for their interviews. What INXS hopes to find out, Kirk says, is the Rockers' motives for being here and how they might fit in the band.

J.D. is first to sit down with INXS. INXS see J.D. as dangerous and edgy, and they want to make sure that when the pressure is on, he won't flip out. The first question Tim asks J.D. is how much of J.D.'s cockiness was real and how much was for show. J.D. explains that early on, he would do anything to call attention to himself, but as the show continued, he only wanted to show INXS how much he wanted to be a part of their band. J.D. also assures the band that he can keep his cool in interviews and would do nothing to embarrass them. When he's asked about his family, J.D. pulls out a picture of himself, at age 5, with his little sister. This move impresses Kirk -- he sees this as proof of how much family means to J.D. and how much he wants to become a part of the INXS family. As J.D. leaves the room, Tim hands him an envelope.

Returning to the other three, J.D. proclaims he has no regrets about his session. He also opens up the envelope from Tim, which contains a letter from the band and the sheet music for the songs INXS want J.D. to perform this week. J.D. will get to sing his original song, "Pretty Vegas," for a third time (he's especially pleased to see the "written by Andrew Farris and J.D. Fortune" credit) and Pink Floyd's top-20 hit, "Money."

MiG is next up on the firing line. Tim says that from the beginning, MiG's seemed like the nicest of the Rockers, but INXS want to know if he can show some edge. Tim asks MiG about his experience beyond playing the lead in "We Will Rock You." MiG reveals that he's had parts in the musicals "Rent," "West Side Story" and "Grease." MiG also tells INXS he's been in quite a few rock bands, including Randy Badass and the Slick Master Five (he was Randy Badass), the Honkies and MiGnition.

Tim's surprised that MiG's theatrical background was so deep and feels "it will take longer to dilute" that influence. MiG makes his final pitch: He's "not selfish," he's "very giving" and he "would be honored to part of your group," leaving Tim with the impression that it might not be in MiG's capacity to be more than the nice guy he is. INXS do give him another chance to show some edge; they ask him to sing The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" in addition to Seal's ballad "Kiss From a Rose."

Marty sees his session not as an interview but as an opportunity to share with INXS what he could do with the band. He sits down and promptly tells the band how he thinks they could retool for the 21st century. He sounds more like a label exec than a Rocker as he tells them that the album is dead and it's a singles market. Andrew sees this as proof of Marty's confidence -- he's gone from a nervous performer to someone who can sound authoritative when giving a superstar platinum-selling band his thoughts. However, this then leads Andrew to wonder to what extent Marty likes to be in control. Marty tries to cushion his answer, telling them that he prefers a patient control and that he understands INXS are a group. He's asked to sing Radiohead's "Creep," one of the songs that made him love music, and then give another run through of his original song, "Trees."

Before going in to talk to INXS, Suzie confesses she's a little nervous: "It feels like I'm going into battle." Her nerves come out when INXS asks her how she would handle the crush of media and fan attention. She starts to answer, but then loses her train of thought and freezes.

After spending time with the Rockers, the five members of INXS discuss what they've learned, and home viewers get a look at the dynamic between them. Kirk comments that they've now had a chance to see the "real" Rockers and they're as different as north, south, east and west. Garry agrees, adding that "Suzie has the best voice, J.D. is the most riveting performer, Marty has come a long way and MiG is a unique presence."

It's a shame MiG hasn't been in the bottom three yet, Garry says; they haven't had a chance to hear him sing an INXS song.

Marty and J.D. would do best in a press conference, Kirk says. They're always ready with an answer. Andrew worries that one is never sure if J.D. is saying what's in his heart or what he thinks someone wants to hear. (Jon wonders out loud if there's a difference.) Kirk says that J.D. has issues, but he works them out creatively, and like Michael Hutchence, he's the product of a broken home.

Jon adds that MiG looks the most like a rock star. In the end, the interview process has opened up more questions than it's answered -- it's made INXS's job harder.

Will the Rockers show INXS something new when they sing the songs the band has chosen? How will the interviews affect the outcome of this week's elimination? To find out, tune in to CBS on Tuesday at 10PM and Wednesday at 9PM (all times ET/PT).

Newsletter Sign-up
Get Rock Star:INXS Updates.
MSN Alerts
Find out as soon as it happens.
MSN Messenger
Check out Rocker pics, videos and bios right from MSN Messenger!
MSN Spaces
Be your own rock star and build your own fan base.
Got to MSN.com