10 June 2002
Being deaf for a day is ok when it is the result of standing right in front of the speakers at the INXS concert the night before. I was literally only a couple of metres away from the stage and I swear Jon Stevens (lead singer) looked directly at me a few times and grinned, (just at me mind, no-one else). I felt about 16 years old again and totally starstruck! Of course it may have also had something to do with the television crew filming right beside me…
Jon and the band were fantastic. If you get the opportunity to see INXS live, GO. About halfway through the gig (? must study up on my band lingo) they played a tribute to Michael Hutchence, which was very moving and very tastefully done. When I first walked into the hall I thought Michael himself was back from the afterlife. Kind of hard I should imagine jumping into someone's shoes that was so well known and maintaining your individuality but also the original flavour of the band. It was uncanny how similar the body language, look & stage presence appeared initially then all that melted away and Jon emerged as distinctly his own personality. Go you kiwi boy, you!
Officially from Wellington, New Zealand (did I mention I was born in Wellington?) Jon was the lead vocalist for Noiseworks. (Noiseworks hit the Australian music scene in late 1986 with the hit song 'No Lies'... although an 'overnight success' the band had been around for about 5 years prior to that).
I don't know where Jon would say he's from now. Bit like Russell Crowe in that he's been in Australia for some time now, so influenced by both kiwis and ozzies...a kozzie? Always a bone of contention between our countries. 'He's ours you know', national pride at stake and all that! (Always after talented individuals become well known. Have you noticed that?). Maybe the term Kozzie needs to be invented for those kiwis who are born and raised in New Zealand but really 'make it' in the international scene from opportunities in Australia.
We were there by special invite by the TV crew doing a story on them so could go to the after party anyway but it was still kind of cool to be invited along by 'someone with the band'. How cheesy is that? I felt like such a groupie. I could have been on the set for Almost Famous. Had to laugh. If you are ever overseas and want to hook up with other New Zealanders or Australians then find out if INXS are in town. I figured all of LA's Australasian population was in this one hall to see INXS.
Along with a few hundred
other kiwis and ozzies (lucky for that special invite huh?) we toddled
off to the W hotel where the band were staying. The W hotel is based only
in LA and New York (to my knowledge) and it certainly screams out you
have made it to the inner sanctum if you happen to be staying there, it
is seriously cool. (as no-one asks for my autograph yet except for when
I am paying bills or on the odd occasion when I play Sybil Fawlty…but
then they want Sybil's autograph not mine, I don't yet qualify to stay
there).
I have no idea what the W stands for (I even looked it up in the local
Telephone Book but it is just listed as W), perhaps the first initial
of the owner? Or maybe it stands for Wealthy owner. For $9 (US)
a drink plus tip I figured that's what the W stood for.
I got to meet Jon
and didn't fall to pieces. In fact he looked so different to me from up
on stage I had to nudge someone to ask if that was him.
He came up to me, well actually that's not quite true, he recognised the
film crew who were filming him, said 'Gidday mate', shook my hand, we
exchanged a few niceties and that was it. Genuinely nice kozzi guy. I'm
absolutely certain if they had been in town the next day I could have
met up with him for coffee (schedule willing). From my experience so far,
New Zealander's go out of their way to be friendly to fellow kiwis overseas.
Off to pick up my headshots and meet Andrew Adamson (one kiwi who I did get to meet for coffee).
(Sorry everyone but
no cameras were allowed anywhere near the band…and my camera isn't
exactly pocket size so I couldn't sneak it in…)
(You can also read about what I am up to on www.nzoom.co.nz under entertainment - rant.)
Regards,
romiley
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