JD Fortune, front-man for INXS, says he hopes the memory of original singer Michael Hutchence lives forever. Yet he's proud the reconstituted band has proved the critics wrong. (Sun Media file)

CALGARY - INXS singer JD Fortune hopes Michael Hutchence's memory lives forever.

Despite constantly being compared to the late Australian superstar, the band's current frontman says he's thrilled a movie about Hutchence is in the works.

"I would love to play a porter in the hotel or like a chauffeur in one of the scenes -- I think that would be really cool. And if there was any sound track stuff, I hope they might think of me for that," says Fortune, adding the biopic, said to be in development with Morgan Freeman's production firm Revelations Entertainment, may finally put an end to speculation Hutchence took his own life in 1997.

"The man was a beautiful, beautiful person. I mean, this guy was really, really loved and I totally believe what happened to him was unfortunate, but I don't think it was on purpose. I think it was an accident."

While the public's curiosity about Hutchence will probably never end, Fortune says it doesn't have to overshadow today's INXS.

The band's 2005 CD Switch, which was recorded after Fortune won his spot in the band on the reality TV show Rock Star: INXS, generated three hits, Pretty Vegas, Afterglow and Devil's Party, and was followed by a mostly sold-out world tour. There are now plans to start recording a new CD, tentatively titled INXS Unlimited, in 2008.

"We have proved all the critics wrong. We have won more and more fans and our audiences keeps getting more and more intense," says the Nova Scotia-raised 33-year-old.

"People are coming out to our shows now because they know the new music and they know they are going to have a good time."

Tonight, INXS performs at Stampede Roundup 2007 at Fort Calgary with openers Collective Soul and a "surprise guest." Fortune says he has never looked more forward to a gig in his entire life.

"We were just in Eastern Europe like Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, ... just every possible city and there you have to worry about your safety and about terrorists. We were going down streets where there were armed guards and stuff -- that was not cool.

"When I got back to Canada a couple of hours ago, I literally almost French kissed a customs' agent dude. I'm like, 'I love you man.' "

Fortune says he is in the process of purchasing a home in Orono, Ont., population 1,800, and plans to finish work on his solo project, Death of a Motivational Speaker.

The concept album, which follows a man on his journey to hell, will be released late this year.

"I have written enough (bad) songs in my life, like hundreds of them, to know when I've written good ones and this is good stuff," he says, adding no matter how well received the CD is, he's not leaving INXS.

"The band wants to take a good seven, eight months off because we have been on the road for about 21 months.

"They are so supportive of this and even if I only end up touring Canada on it, I'll be a happy man."