In light of this week’s news of JD Fortune and his inauspicious exit from INXS i thought it might be timely to revisit some photos i took of the band in happier times.
These are photos i took for Drum Media in April 2006, two different shots ended up on the cover of Drum in Sydney and Inpress in Melbourne.
It was a pretty amazing assignment for me to get at the time. I’d hardly had any photos published before, had very little experience using off camera lighting and was nervous as all hell shooting a legendary band like INXS.
It turns out i got the gig based on a recommendation by someone in Melbourne who read my blog and though i’d be up for the task. Thanks Jez!
Anyway, as i really didn’t know what i was doing i enlisted Cybele to help and borrowed a couple of studio lights. The shoot was held at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney at 10am.
Before arriving, Cybele and i stopped by a local bottle shop to pick up some champagne to use as a prop. I thought it’d be nice to inject some life and party vibes into the shot by having JD burst open the champagne. I was also a little nervous about the idea since i heard that some members of the band were alcoholic and teetotal now.
After arriving we found a colourful backdrop and set up two lights with reflector heads pointed to the ceiling to bounce the light off the roof. That was the one lighting setup i understood from bouncing light around with my flash while doing party photography.
I was using my Canon Rebel XT (350D) and hired a Canon 16-35mm f2.8 lens.
The band arrived and after brief introductions we were snapping away. I was very thankful for JD Fortune’s expressive personality as he really played up for the camera, pulling all sorts of poses and really embracing the champagne idea.
Just as i’d hoped, he popped open the bottle and sprayed it all over me with glee, dousing the ceiling with champagne in the process. Following that he swigged from the bottle and spat it everywhere. Classic rock’n’roll shenanigans.
I was at the hotel the other week, some 3 years later, and had a pang of pride and nostalgia seeing that the champagne stains are still visible on the ceiling.
Now three years down the track i’m shooting pictures full time and have numerous magazine covers under my belt, JD Fortune has kicked his cocaine habit and is living out of his pick up truck, and INXS are prodding the desecrated corpse of INXS considering whether to bring it back to life.
For the aspiring photographers out there i hope this is a lesson that you never know when a dream assignment will pop up out of the blue. If it does, just say yes, even if it scares the hell out of you. But don’t be too proud to ask for help.
It could be the shoot that changes everything.
Great post – thanks for sharing. I’d have been too timid to stick around when the champagne started splattering the carpet
One band member was so out of control that his comrades wanted to check him into rehab.
Enjoyed reading this and seeing more of the pictures from that day. I read your original blog after the shoot and waited (im)patiently for the photos to be published. I was lucky enough to be in Sydney when the Drum Media came out. Picked up a half dozen copies to take back to America with me.
I remember being at the shoot and seeing Fortune slip a hotel staff member a couple $100 bills for cleaning up his mess – made me like the guy a lot. In fact, the whole band were amazingly professional. But best of all – it was the first time I saw two of Australia’s finest photography talents in action.
aw mastie!
that was the beginning of my venture into the world of music photography, thanks to you and the beautiful Sarah Norris 🙂
XC
nice story to hear Daniel.. I love all those fake cocktails!
I love these, I loved them at the time and I still love them now. You did an absolutely amazing job. I wish there is still hope for these guys. They were fantastic together and really put on a hell of a show. JD was the perfect frontman for them.
I can see why you are doing so will with your photography Daniel…Geez I love these photos…so colourful and different, JD is a pretty good subject though I must say. My cousin got her gig as an AFL team photographer the exact same way as you did….took the opportunity one day, and her career in photography has taken off
dan, watching your ‘arc’ has been amazing and inspiring.
kudos, dude.
I found your site after a friend of mine told me that JD Fortune had been kicked out of INXS, and I did a google search to find out more information. Great photos, and thanks for posting. I also looked at the gallery of your other photos–concerts, parties, vacations, etc.
Hiii There world!!INXS always had been one of my fabourites bands!! I like the music and lyrics of many of their songs also the Charisma of Michael Hunth was too much to refill,specially to soon after his departure!! I think it was too soon really for JD Fort to come in!! That was one of the most stupid mistake!!Still now days Michael is very fresh in everybody mind to other singer to follow in success!!Sorry mates!!Inxs equals Hunth is very much the case for me and other people I know! Maybe in 2 years will be better,only if…….
Great photos – but in response to Angel (above), if you’re such a huge fan of the original INXS, why do you have the name of their original lead singer wrong? It’s Michael Hutchence, not Michael Hunth. Also, your issue of replacing Michael is a bit late; JD Fortune was picked as their lead singer in 2005 and toured with them for nearly two years. Did you actually see him in concert? I did – six times. Sure, he’s not Michael – but who is? JD was a really good front man in his own right. He’s also a great songwriter and is working on his solo album. Listen for yourself before judging him without knowing his talent http://www.jdfortune448.com
I THINK JD WAS A HANDSOME AND A GREAT SINGER FOR THE BAND,,AND I LIKED HIM ALOT BETTER SINGING THE OLD SONGS THAN THE LATE SINGER MICHAEL. THE LATE SINGER HAD DRUG PROBLEMS AND LOOK HOW LONG HE WAS ON THEM, LOOKS LIKE TO ME THEY WOULD GIVE JD ANOTHER CHANCE OR HELP HIM OUT. THEY PROBALY SHOULD THROW THE TOWEL IN AND RETIRE AND JD YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE, AND A GREAT CD, I WILL BUY IT MYSELF.TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND KICK THE DRUGS, THEY WILL DESTROY YOU,I’VE LOST MY BABY BROTHER TO ALCHOL AND MY BABY SISTER DUE TO PILLS, SO I KNOW..DEBBIE