“Sometimes we’re just Being Human, but we’re always Human Beings.” - JD Fortune.

Fortune was born Jason Dean Bennison, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on September 1, 1973. He was raised in Nova Scotia, and moved back to Toronto in 1989. The product of a split home (Dad’s name: Bennison; mom’s name: Fortune. Still with me? Good. Let’s go.) JD and his sister, Sarah-Jane, grew up listening to their grandfather sing; and JD himself started performing at a very young age. He made his first demo at age fourteen and would later drop out of high school after he was offered a job on a television show.

So, where did his passion and love of music come from? Here’s a hint:

"The first song I learned how to play on guitar was Devil Inside," says JD. That would seem to be a prophetic song choice – both in terms of who sings it (INXS) and what it’s about (tackling one’s inner demons).

Some years later, Fortune went to the house of producer Justin Gray (who has since written for Joss Stone) and sang for the guy. That led to a management deal with Venus (Beau Randall and Zack Werner, the same team which later took on Stone). Fortune, who then went by the name of Jason Dean, did come close to landing a recording contract, but it fell through. He next briefly fronted a rock act called Juice, which had a deal with BMG Music Publishing Canada.

But just when things were heading upwards, they somehow managed to slide back down again. He went from potential record deals and contracts to taking on Elvis impersonation gigs to pay the rent. An acquaintance who worked with him in those days is quoted as saying that JD “didn't like playing Elvis, but always gave a 120 % to the show, and always got the crowd going.”

“It ain’t pretty when the pretty leaves you with no place to go.” Pretty Vegas, lyrics by JD Fortune.

Despite giving 120%, JD still ended up spending a period of time living in his car, under a bridge, with his dog Presley. The Hows and Whys are a little unclear. But here’s what JD has to say about it:

“When I was younger my life was an ironic one man show. I was lost but could always find a way to convince people (especially those I loved) that I was happy. I always seemed to fall into ‘the wrong crowd.’

I turned to drugs and had a romance with the self medication of my pain. Temporarily it seemed like the answer. I felt I could control my life by numbing it. Eventually the lows really out-weighed the highs. This lead me down a fast road of doubt and depression. I was ready to cling to anything or anyone.” - Blog entry, July 21, 2005

But JD seems to be one who makes opportunities out of even the most dire of circumstances. After parking his car-turned-home under a bridge, he proceeded to write what he says was his best material to that date.

When the chance to audition for Rockstar: INXS came along, Fortune saw this as an opportunity to rise from the ashes yet again. With a new focus and a new moniker, “JD Fortune” (the name Jason Fortune was already being used by another performer in the U.S.), JD threw his hat in the ring. He hoped, however, that his past insecurities would not be his downfall.

“Sometime in my past I have let my insecurities get the better of me. The end result - not good. People have lost respect for me over things that I thought were beyond my control.” - Blog entry, August 20, 2005

The chance to audition for the lead singer of INXS -- a band that was such an integral part of his musical upbringing -- seemed like fate. Before the opportunity even arose, he admits to having had a dream that he auditioned to be the new lead singer of INXS. Did he succeed, in that dream? Don’t know, but the reality of the audition was a bit of a nightmare. As JD describes it:

“I waited in line with all the other hopefuls and once I finally got inside….terrible! The accompanist started playing one song and I was singing another and when I corrected him to play the song I was singing. So I assumed he would start playing the song that I was…not singing…and we ended up switching again... I stopped right away and said to the producer who was looking after the auditions, ‘Have you ever had a really bad nightmare that you just could not wake up from?’ A few people laughed and someone said ‘thank-you’ and I walked off the stage.”

But the nightmare ended moments later in the parking lot.

“With my hand on the car door to leave…the same producer had come out with a contract and said, ‘Tomorrow you are singing for the band’. I thought he was kidding me. I was literally freaking out (…) So I went back with the intentions that I didn’t really care what was going to happen, because I was going to be singing in front of INXS (long time favourite band!) and that was going to be cool. (…) All I asked of myself is to give the best audition I could ever have and went out on stage. Once I was singing, they kept asking me to sing more and more and more, to top it all off I broke three mike stands and a camera. But, to put the icing on the cake, I walked out and Kirk Pengilly was strumming “Never Tear Us Apart” and we did the full version of that.“ - Sugarcaine Entertainment interview.

If the journey had ended there, Fortune might have considered a life long dream -- to jam with INXS -- fulfilled. But the train kept on going, and JD was still on it. What did it mean to him? Enough to reopen some old fears and insecurities:

Imagine having nothing and then you're given the opportunity to perform your dreams out in front of the world. I only hope that my love of dreaming doesn’t reflect badly on my reality of living. – Blog entry August 17, 2005

And indeed he made a few missteps along the way. Treating Rockstar: INXS as more of an intense competition than his fellow contestants, JD rubbed many of them the wrong way. Several controversial comments, as well as his decision to break away from his group during a songwriting exercise were some of the bolder moves made by Fortune.

“I didn’t know this was gonna be a Kumbaya love fest.” - JD Fortune.

As the weeks of competition went on, however, JD seemed to learn from his mistakes, and grow from the experience. He tried to right himself with his fellow Rockers, while still remaining focused on the prize.

“This past summer I have learned to respect everyone who comes into my life! Ii have learned that your true friends are the ones that accept you because of your faults. I also believe that you should strive to gain the things that no one can ever take from you. Honesty, dignity, kindness, integrity, to name a few. “ - Blog entry, September 17, 2005

Three days after this entry, JD Fortune’s crazy dream – to front his all time favorite rock band – became a reality. Before a worldwide audience of 30 million people, he was chosen by INXS (Tim Farriss, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Garry Gary Beers, and Kirk Pengilly) – to be their new lead singer. JD dropped to his knees and wept, and the world got to see what it’s like for someone to hope for something, work hard for it…and get it, in spades.

“If anyone calls you a dreamer remind them that the building they work in came from a dreamer, the car they’re driving came from a dreamer. The computer they love, the cell phone they use, movies and music they escape in – all came from dreamers. “ – Blog entry, September 20, 2005.

But before this bio turns into a Kumbaya love fest (Book of JD – Chapter 9), we’ll end it here. Fortune, however, would like to remind his friends (as he calls his fans) that his journey is just beginning. INXS are working round the clock to complete their new album, "Switch," in time for a scheduled November 29 release. And what’s that we hear on the radio? Why, it’s Pretty Vegas, INXS’ first single co-written by their new lead singer, JD Fortune. Nice. Sometimes it is pretty after the show.

-- Bio by JunkyardMessiah and LAXguy for ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM

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