It’s not every day you get to sit down with a guy who stepped into one of the biggest rock bands on the planet and completely owned it. JD Fortune is gearing up to head back down under this October for his highly anticipated “Plays the Best of INXS” Australian Tour, and we had the absolute pleasure of hosting him on Jaimunji | Metal on Tap to talk all about it.
Despite an early morning wake-up call and a hilarious story involving a beard trimmer set a little too low, JD was in top form. We bonded over the impending doom of trans-Pacific jet lag, but the real meat of the conversation was looking back at his whirlwind journey with INXS.
One of the wildest moments of the interview was JD recalling his first rehearsal with the band. “I opened up the doors of the studio and that sound hit me… they were halfway through Suicide Blonde,” JD remembers. He jumped on the mic, they ran through the entire set exactly once, looked at each other, and said, “See you in three days for our first show.” They went on to play 11 shows across the country off the back of that single run-through.
When it comes to his upcoming solo tour, JD is pulling no punches. He’s promising a massive 20-to-21-song setlist stacked entirely with the hits that defined an era. For him, the music of INXS has an undeniable timelessness that brings people together.
“I get to time travel,” he told us. “I get to be a kid again, and playing… that’s really a blessing.”
We also got into the nitty-gritty of modern concert culture. JD shared his thoughts on the sea of cell phones that often greet artists today, issuing a gentle (but firm) reminder that the best way to experience a rock show is to actually be present for it. Take a few photos, but don’t forget to put the screen down and sweat it out with the rest of the crowd.
JD Fortune’s Australian tour kicks off October 1st. Make sure you secure your tickets and prepare for an incredible night of timeless rock.
Watch the full interview below to hear more from JD!
JD Fortune – Plays The Best of INXS October 2026 Australian Tour Dates:
- 1st Oct – Queanbeyan (The B)
- 2nd Oct – Thirroul (Anita’s Theatre)
- 3rd Oct – Marrickville (Factory Theatre)
- 7th Oct – Newcastle (Nex Newcastle)
- 9th Oct – Tweed Heads (Twin Towns)
- 10th Oct – Brisbane (The Triffid)
- 16th Oct – Doncaster (Shoppingtown Hotel)
- 17th Oct – Melbourne (Max Watts)
- 20th Oct – Adelaide (The Gov)
- 23rd Oct – Perth (Astor Theatre)
