INXS enjoyed great popularity through the 1980s and early 1990s, but after frontman Michael Hutchence died in 1997, the band attempted to continue with alternate singers, but remained largely dormant until this show.

Following the series, on November 29, 2005, the band released the studio album Switch with Fortune on lead vocals.

Runner-up Marty Casey and his Chicago-based band Lovehammers were invited to open for INXS on their 2006 tour.

Directed by Michael A. Simon, the show was executive produced by Survivor's Mark Burnett and hosted by Brooke Burke and Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro.

Other executive producers were David Goffin (American Idol, On the Lot, Eco-Challenge, Combat Missions), Lisa Hennessy (Eco-Challenge) and INXS managers David Edwards and Michael Murchison, with Conrad Riggs as co-executive producer.

Five musicians (Paul Mirkovich, Jim McGorman, Nate Morton, Sasha Krivstov, and Rafael Moreira) made up the house band that backed the 15 contestants during the show.

At one point in the competition, the remaining eight contestants were divided into two teams of four and challenged to write lyrics to a melody written by Andrew Farriss.

Initially considered to have jeopardized his chances of winning the competition (since it was perceived he couldn't work in a team), Fortune's move resulted in his creation of the lyrics of "Pretty Vegas", which became a favorite of INXS, played a major role in his ultimate victory, and became the first single from their new album Switch.

After everyone performed one non-INXS song in the first and last episodes, the band chose one contestant to be eliminated out of the entire group.

The list of the contestants' performances is: A DVD titled Rock Star: INXS The DVD was released on November 29, 2005, containing selected performances by the final six contestants (J. D. Fortune, Marty Casey, Mig Ayesa, Suzie McNeil, Jordis Unga, and Ty Taylor) as well as the post-finale mini-concert by INXS & J. D., short behind-the-scenes footage, and extras including the contestants' casting interviews and a photo slideshow: The DVD when RIAA Certified Gold in 2005.

[3] The single "Pretty Vegas" received gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 26, 2006.

However, in March 2006, it was announced that the new season would focus on finding a lead singer for a new group entitled Supernova, featuring Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, and former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke.