Indonesian rock star goes to Holywood
In a venture that will likely make his fellow rockers green with envy, vocalist of local band Gigi, Armand Maulana, is expected to go to Holywood next July to star in a new reality show.
Armand was nominated by the Jakarta-based television station O Channel to take part in Rock Star, an unscripted reality show that focuses on the search by the internationally renowned band INXS for a new vocalist.
O Channel is the local franchisee of the talent show and plans to broadcast the program early in July.
Managing director of O Channel Meutia Kasim said that Armand was selected to join the contest on the basis of his vocal resemblance to Michael Hutchence, INXS' now-deceased frontman.
"Arman's vocal character is very much like that of Michael Hutchence. He has also had years of experience in fronting one of the country's most successful rock bands, so I found it reasonable to pick Arman to compete with the other contestants," Meutia told the press during the soft launching of the new TV channel.
Commenting on his participation in the new reality show, Arman said that it was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he would not waste.
"Through this show I will be able to have a very rewarding experience that will be very useful both for myself and my band, Gigi. I will get a chance to jam with INXS themselves and share their experiences, meet recording industry executives and their A&R people. Whether I will win the contest or not is secondary," Arman said.
Arman's departure for Holywood, however, has put the future of Gigi into doubt.
His fellow band members are reportedly angry about Arman's decision to abandon the band in favor of the reality show. Even before Arman's decision to participate in the contest, the band was on the verge of breaking up with guitarist Dewa Bujana apparently bent on pursuing a solo career.
"The situation in the band has improved after I briefed them with about the benefit that the band would get if I participated in the contest," he said.
Rock Star is a new reality show from CBS and is produced by Mark Burnett, the brain behind Survivor.
The show will combine the world of rock music with relationship-style unscripted drama, performance competition and a weekly contestant elimination, which will be determined by a combination of viewer participation, judges and INXS band members.
Among those who will be sitting on the judges bench is the vocalist of Irish rock band U2, Bono Vox. The show will be hosted by Dave Navarro, the lead guitarist for alt-rock band Jane's Addiction.
The last singer standing will become the lead singer for INXS and will embark on a worldwide concert tour with the band and be part of the group's new album.
Casting for the new series will be a multi-continent search with auditions being planned in cities throughout the U.S., and in Canada, Sydney, London and Tokyo.
INXS launched the search after the death of Hutchence in 1997. The thirty-seven-year old frontman was found dead in his hotel room after apparently committing suicide. -- M. Taufiqurrahman