INXS: Access All Areas

We're Listen Like Fans podcast is back with Season 2, whoohoooo....

And in this week's episode, we're delighted to have on the Listen Like Fans podcast the extremely versatile and talented 'MiG' Ayesa - or to give him his full name, Miguel Alfonso Ramon Legarda Ayesa. As many INXS fans will remember, MiG was a contestant on RockStar INXS. Mig was one of the final three contestants and became a frontrunner with versions of "Live and Let Die" and "Baby, I Love Your Way". 

MiG joins Bee from a cruise ship in a wide-ranging career interview to discuss all things performing on TV, studio and stage - including singing in multiple languages such as Japanese! In the twenty years since RockStar INXS ended, Mig has enjoyed a successful music career, releasing solo albums, working in theatre and appearing in television and film. 

On the podcast today, MiG talks about his break into theatre in London's West End and meeting the surviving members of rock band Queen for his lead stint in We Will Rock You. All this would change, however, when Mig decided to try his luck auditioning for a new reality TV programme... Auditioning at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London to the INXS classic 'I Send a Message', a certain Mr Pengilly would be in the audience watching. This led to a second audition and then making the final 50 cut to perform in Los Angeles. 

MiG recounts the laborious process of filming for each round of the RockStar INXS audition and eventually making it into the last 15. During his time with RockStar INXS, 'Baby, I Love Your Way', the Peter Frampton classic, became one of the standout performances of the entire series. MiG takes us behind the scenes and explains how the songs were chosen and how he came up with the arrangement to make the song his own. 

In something of a fortuitous twist of fate, this would lead to Peter Frampton playing acoustic guitar on MiG's debut album. Talking about his debut solo album, MiG gives the inside on how Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee was responsible for MiG's debut album being shelved by the record label for two years! 

Finally, MiG talks reuniting with the original RockStar INXS house band and many of the contestants for the upcoming anniversary shows at the Avalon in Hollywood. With more than 25 years in the industry, MiG has had a varied and interesting career, and the signs are that there are plenty more twists and turns to come. We hope you enjoy listening to the very entertaining MiG and feel inspired to check out his back catalogue. Links below. 

 Until next time, keep listening like fans!

Bee!

 

If you're a patron of Listen Like Fans, you can watch this interview here: 

https://www.patreon.com/posts/early-access-mig-158129922?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

https://rockstarreunionlive.com/

https://open.spotify.com/album/0wzSGWKgpVelYpjPI5XTVQ?si=uHXWtXXfToGoKIsF6G6aow

INXS Access All Areas presents: Listen Like Fans

Hosts: Bee & Dr Jim

There are some nights you don’t just remember… You feel them all over again.

That’s exactly what happened when Dr Jim and I sat down to relive the APRA Awards. What started as a conversation quickly turned into something much deeper—full of emotion, reflection, and those moments that catch in your throat.

Watching the band, hearing the speeches, feeling that connection to INXS… it all came rushing back. The pride, the love, the bittersweet ache—it’s all there in this episode.

This isn’t just a recap. It’s two fans taking you right back into the room with us… sharing what we saw, what we felt, and why it meant so much.

Honestly… bring the tissues for this one ❤️

.... This special episode will be available to watch for free, for our members on Patreon, for a short time. It will then only be available for those who support the Listen Like fans podcast- thanks, guys, you know who you are, and you're The Best!

Love Bee.

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To support this podcast to bring you more INXS stories, become a paying member 

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To watch the whole show

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Please sign the Induct INXS into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 

https://www.change.org/p/induct-inxs-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-2027-inxs-50th-year-join-the-inxs-army

I'm Just a Man Foundation 

ijam.org.au

For those of you who’ve been with us since the early days on Podbean, this one’s for you.

We’re dropping our latest episode from Bee's New Podcast Listen Like Fans right here—because now and then, it’s good to come back to where it all began. But this isn’t just a throwback… It’s a doorway.

We think you’re going to like where this is heading… 😉

Do you remember the moment Tim revealed:
“J.D., you are right for our band, INXS… you are the rock star!”?

On this week’s episode of Listen Like Fans, Bee is thrilled to welcome David Goffin, co-creator and executive producer of RockStar INXS.

A long-time INXS fan, David takes us right back to the very beginning — including the phone call from legendary producer Mark Burnett about creating a music show “bigger than American Idol.” That idea would become RockStar INXS.

Go behind the scenes as David shares his vision for building a truly global show. From pitching record labels to secure an incredible soundtrack — including artists who had never allowed their music on TV like The Rolling Stones and Nirvana — to crafting something that felt bigger than anything audiences had seen before.

Hear how the worldwide search unfolded, with auditions across 17 cities — from London to Sydney to Toronto — and tens of millions of dollars spent in the quest to find the next frontman for INXS.

David also reflects on working with the band — humble, modest, and initially reluctant judges — alongside host Brooke Burke, who brought balance and control to the stage, and Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction, who added undeniable rock credibility.

Step inside the iconic Paramour Mansion in Los Angeles, where the show came to life — from its gothic atmosphere to the transformation of stables into rehearsal spaces and living quarters for production.

Discover the intensity of the casting process, as the final 50 contestants performed in front of the band and management — each member selecting their favourites before narrowing it down to the final 15.

And of course… There are some unforgettable stories along the way — including J.D. and Marty sneaking out of the mansion for a night at a bar, and one very unexpected (and naked!) guitar moment involving a cake…

We’re so excited to have David on Listen Like Fans to share his incredible insights and memories of this lightning-in-a-bottle moment — when everything came together to create the perfect show at exactly the right time.

So come and relive all the moments that led to that unforgettable line…
“J.D., you are the rock star.”

 

Rockstar Reunion tickets: Grab your seats! This is going to be epic!
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rockstarreunionconcert/2038099

https://rockstarreunionlive.com/.  

Want to listen to more episodes from Listen Like Fans? Then here your link 

https://www.patreon.com/ListenlikeFans_fortheloveofINXSBackstageLegends?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

After 20 years of being eligible for the World Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, INXS finally, on February 25th, 2026, have been formally nominated for inclusion, leading to an outpouring of global joy and pride amongst music fans and critics.

Andrew Farriss exclusively shared with Billboard how proud he, his bandmates and the late Michael Hutchence would have been to be recognised amongst their peers. "To matter musically" was more important than fads, trends and commercial success, and this nomination is an important validation of this notion.

INXS were one of ten new nominees out of a field of 17 artists recognised, and were understandably faced stiff opposition from fellow nominees such as Joy Division/New Order, Billy Idol and Phil Collins insofar as the Hall’s recognition of artists that peaked in the 80’s. In April 2026, the final induction list shall be announced, but you can have a voice and influence this outcome by voting via the Rock Hall’s fan voting portal

https://vote.rockhall.com/

So do yourself a favour, share the link with everybody you do and don’t know and in the words of Michael Hutchence’ lyric to Kick: “Cmon, Cmon, Cmon, Cmon” and ensure justice is done in April whereby the band INXS are rightly ordained into the Rock Hall of Fame along with their many influences The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Roxy Music etc… and we can all congregate in Cleveland and celebrate this iconic and wonderful recognition

Love and peace 

Haydn & Bee

https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/

Australia Day Weekend 2026 saw the coming together of many INXS fans and patrons of this show for a special commemoration of what would have been Michael Hutchence’s 66th birthday.

It was a fantastic bus trip commencing from the iconic Northern Beaches in Sydney.  Attendees were greeted with a video acknowledgment from the sax god Kirk Pengilly and recent podcast guest Gary Grant (Former Tour Manager).

We proceeded to famous INXS landmarks such as Clontarf Beach (the "Stay Young" video landmark), a Brookvale Industrial building where they rehearsed and gigged in 1979 and the Intercontinental Hotel where we lost Michael.

Later that night, it went straight to the Dee Why RSL for the fantastic Don’t Change The Ultimate INXS Tribute Show gig, in front of over 650+ passionate, proud and energetic fans to witness 30 blistering tracks, including one Midnight Oil song paying tribute to the recent passing of drummer Rob Hirst.

With the DC Boys paying homage to the 40th anniversary of Listen Like Thieves, the band proceeded to play the entire album plus 19 other songs from Underneath the Colours through to the X album. Big shoutout to all those who contributed and won their respective raffle prizes, and to all those who contributed to a great weekend and Bee’s tireless efforts.

Finally, with a chunky news section catching up on fascinating INXS updates, it’s also an opportunity to share some major changes to our podcast.  You’ll need to stay tuned until the “final wrap” to find out.

Love and peace

https://www.inxsaccessallareas.com/

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