Jon Stevens
Encyclopedia
Jon Stevens is a New Zealand
-born singer of Maori descent, now an Australian citizen. Stevens is the brother of New Zealand Idol
judge Frankie Stevens
.
Stevens moved to Australia after success as a pop star in New Zealand in the 1970s (his best-known songs from this era are "Jezebel" and a cover of "Montego Bay
"). He is most recognised for his work as the lead singer of Sydney band Noiseworks
, who had major hits in the 1980s with "Take Me Back" and "Touch". Once Noiseworks
disbanded, Stevens was part of two Australian productions of Jesus Christ Superstar
, playing Judas
on both occasions, to high acclaim.
From 2000–2004, Stevens fronted Australian rock band INXS
after the death of its lead singer Michael Hutchence
. He wrote the official song for the Sydney 2000 Olympics Torch Relay, entitled "Carry the Flame", and although he briefly toured with the band, it wasn't until October 2002 that he was officially installed as their lead singer. The Stevens-fronted INXS did release a song called "I Get Up," but it was not a hit. He quit the band a year later before an album was released.
2004 saw Stevens host the short-lived reality TV show "The Resort". Later that year he released "Ain't No Life For The Faint Hearted", a modern R&B album best known for its cruisy cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire".
In 2005, Stevens released "The Works", recorded as part of the Liberation Blue acoustic series. After a national tour with Ian Moss - "Six Strings & The Works" - he did a smaller acoustic tour, then took a short break before announcing Noiseworks were preparing to tour again in late September 2007.
After two months on the road across Australia, Stevens took a break. In January 2008, Stevens's management confirmed plans for a massive national tour with Ian Moss, Jack Jones & Tania Doko, entitled "Let's Get Together" scheduled to begin in Melbourne in April 2008, following an acoustic tour of regional Victoria with Aussie country singer Adam Brand.
HEALTH SCARE :
Shockingly, a routine check-up on 22 December 2008 saved Stevens' life, when he discovered he had heart disease and was about to die! His heart was only pumping 20% of the blood that was needed to keep him alive, because his arteries were 80 per cent blocked. He was scheduled for emergency surgery and had two stents fitted, saving his life. "I was tired all the time, but I thought it was because I had been working hard - late nights and early rises. I would have been one of those guys who just keeled over and died", he said.
Stevens was soon back on stage performing after undergoing his heart procedure on Christmas Eve, 24 Dec 2008.
In August 2011, Stevens released a new single "Just A Man" to Australian radio. A new solo album on a new record label, Universal Music Australia - called "Changing Times" - was scheduled for release in September 2011.
In November 2011, Universal Music Australia revealed that a new album of soul covers called "Testify!" would be released. The lead single which hit Australian radio in the last week of October 2011 is also called "Testify".
...also featured on the Australian Cast Recording "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1992) AUS#1
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born singer of Maori descent, now an Australian citizen. Stevens is the brother of New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
judge Frankie Stevens
Frankie Stevens
Frankie Stevens is a New Zealand entertainer and singer. He is best known as a judge for all three seasons on the reality series New Zealand Idol.-Early career:...
.
Stevens moved to Australia after success as a pop star in New Zealand in the 1970s (his best-known songs from this era are "Jezebel" and a cover of "Montego Bay
Montego Bay (song)
"Montego Bay" is a song by Bobby Bloom about the city in Jamaica. The song was a Top 10 hit for Bloom in September 1970 on both sides of the Atlantic. It reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart, #5 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles Chart, #7 on the Australian Go-Set Singles Chart and #8 on the US...
"). He is most recognised for his work as the lead singer of Sydney band Noiseworks
Noiseworks
Noiseworks is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1986 with bass guitarist Steve Balbi, guitarist Stuart Fraser, drummer Kevin Nicol, keyboardist Justin Stanley and lead vocalist Jon Stevens...
, who had major hits in the 1980s with "Take Me Back" and "Touch". Once Noiseworks
Noiseworks
Noiseworks is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1986 with bass guitarist Steve Balbi, guitarist Stuart Fraser, drummer Kevin Nicol, keyboardist Justin Stanley and lead vocalist Jon Stevens...
disbanded, Stevens was part of two Australian productions of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, playing Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
on both occasions, to high acclaim.
From 2000–2004, Stevens fronted Australian rock band INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
after the death of its lead singer Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
. He wrote the official song for the Sydney 2000 Olympics Torch Relay, entitled "Carry the Flame", and although he briefly toured with the band, it wasn't until October 2002 that he was officially installed as their lead singer. The Stevens-fronted INXS did release a song called "I Get Up," but it was not a hit. He quit the band a year later before an album was released.
2004 saw Stevens host the short-lived reality TV show "The Resort". Later that year he released "Ain't No Life For The Faint Hearted", a modern R&B album best known for its cruisy cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire".
In 2005, Stevens released "The Works", recorded as part of the Liberation Blue acoustic series. After a national tour with Ian Moss - "Six Strings & The Works" - he did a smaller acoustic tour, then took a short break before announcing Noiseworks were preparing to tour again in late September 2007.
After two months on the road across Australia, Stevens took a break. In January 2008, Stevens's management confirmed plans for a massive national tour with Ian Moss, Jack Jones & Tania Doko, entitled "Let's Get Together" scheduled to begin in Melbourne in April 2008, following an acoustic tour of regional Victoria with Aussie country singer Adam Brand.
HEALTH SCARE :
Shockingly, a routine check-up on 22 December 2008 saved Stevens' life, when he discovered he had heart disease and was about to die! His heart was only pumping 20% of the blood that was needed to keep him alive, because his arteries were 80 per cent blocked. He was scheduled for emergency surgery and had two stents fitted, saving his life. "I was tired all the time, but I thought it was because I had been working hard - late nights and early rises. I would have been one of those guys who just keeled over and died", he said.
Stevens was soon back on stage performing after undergoing his heart procedure on Christmas Eve, 24 Dec 2008.
In August 2011, Stevens released a new single "Just A Man" to Australian radio. A new solo album on a new record label, Universal Music Australia - called "Changing Times" - was scheduled for release in September 2011.
In November 2011, Universal Music Australia revealed that a new album of soul covers called "Testify!" would be released. The lead single which hit Australian radio in the last week of October 2011 is also called "Testify".
Albums
- "Jezebel" (1980) NZ#7
- "Are U Satisfied" (1993) AUS#27
- "Circle" (1995)
- "Ain't No Life For The Faint Hearted" (2004)
- "The Works" (2005)
- "Changing Times" (Sept 2011)
- "Testify!" (Nov. 2011)
...also featured on the Australian Cast Recording "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1992) AUS#1
Singles
- Jezebel (1979) NZ#1
- Montego Bay (1980) NZ#1
- Loving You (Is A Way Of Life) (1980) NZ#28
- Wages Of Love / Don't Let Love Go (duet with Sharon O'Neill) (1980)
- Everything's Alright (with John Farhnam & Kate Ceberano) (1992) AUS#6 - from the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar"
- Superstar (1992) AUS#55 - from the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar"
- Going Down (1993) AUS#39
- When? (1994)
- Last One Standing For You (with The Black Sorrows) (1994) AUS#46
- I Wish It Would Rain Down (1995) NZ#49
- Carry The Flame (2000)
- I Get Up (with INXS) (2003) AUS#72
- Light My Fire (2004)
- Just A Man (Aug/Sept, 2011)
- "Testify" (Oct. 2011)