Last week, Rock Star: INXS winner J.D. Fortune was bumming out about being fired from the Australian pop band in the middle of an airport, saying that he was dealing with the aftermath of the breakup by living out of his car and attempting to manage a raging coke problem. But news of Fortune’s firing was apparently news to the band—who were, in fact, thinking of bringing Fortune back for their next post-Michael Hutchence project, according to INXS’ self-proclaimed creative director. Oh, how ironic that guy’s last name is now!

“What annoys me the most after viewing Fortune’s interview is the bloody slant he makes toward the founding band members,” Murphy added.

“These guys are the nicest people on this planet, they are not the people he portrays.”

Fortune was the latest singer to join INXS, filling the enormous void left by the death of Michael Hutchence in a Sydney hotel in 1997.

Murphy said the other band members – Andrew Farris, Jon Farris, Tim Farris, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers – had made it known to him that they had not ruled out seeing a return by Fortune.

“The band have always stated to me that Fortune’s services could potentially be contracted again when INXS next tour.

“In fact he was next on my list to call regarding a very big recording project I am putting together for INXS at present.

“I guess I have no reason to call him now.”

Clearly Murphy is above the whole “late-night prank call” thing—a stunning sign of maturity from someone in the music business,

INXS: “We Did Not Dump Fortune” [Daily Telegraph]