Reality TV musician comes to town

Musician Marty Casey may have come up with a new slogan for Queenstown: "The focal point for insanity".

It's high praise coming from the man who starred on New Zealand television screens in 2005 during the American reality music show Rockstar INXS, where INXS band members hunted for a new lead singer.

Brought to New Zealand by Making It Happen Promotions and Grow Your Business, Casey's solo acoustic tour of the country will include a song-writing workshop at the National CanTeen Camp, being held in Taranaki from January 19 to 24.

Despite his busy schedule, Casey managed a fleeting visit to Queenstown, packing in more adrenalin-inducing activities in less than 48 hours than many do in a year.

"When we arrived Heliworks had a helicopter ready for us, already spinning, ready to go.

"We got in the helicopter and in five minutes we were on top of the mountain. It's what this town is about."

Following an acoustic concert at the Thirsty Ram on Tuesday night - where one audience member was invited on stage to accompany Casey with a ratchet - he woke yesterday morning and shortly after was flung through the Nevis on the Canyon Swing.

There was time for a quick lunch before he was rushed to the Shotover Jet and then on to AJ Hackett's Kawarau Bungy operation to throw himself off the bridge.

There's no doubt life has changed dramatically for Casey since Rockstar INXS.

Previously, he put his finance degree to good use working as a commercial appraiser during the week, and became a "weekend warrior", fronting the Lovehammers, a band he founded at the age of 13, which still boasts the same members.

Then he got an email suggesting he apply for Rockstar INXS.

"At the beginning of 2005 I thought it was time to focus on one of the careers - it was either time to settle down, buy a house and have some kids and a wife [or make music a career].

"I'd done everything in Chicago . . . but [the music career] hadn't grown so much.

"I got an email and it said `try out for INXS'."

Auditioning for the reality show, which he described as a "pipe dream" changed his life overnight.

After five months of interviews, testing and sending DVDs to the show's producers, he was taken to Santa Monica to perform for nine days.

"The whole time I was just so focused, I was kind of obsessed."

It was 2am when he was told he had made the cut and he celebrated on his own in his hotel suite, drinking the mini bar dry and calling everyone he needed to.

Even though he did not go all the way in the television show, life has never been the same - "way more than I expected, way more fun, but way harder".

"When the show aired, I was 31. Things usually level out for people [at that age].

"That, for me, was the shot out of the cannon. I always wonder when it's going to end, but the exciting thing is the longer you stay in it, the more opportunities happen."

One of those opportunities Casey rates as the highlight of the past three years, when the members of Kiss landed a Lear jet in Chicago to pick him up.

"Flying in a Lear jet with Kiss for six hours and having Gene Simmons tell me that I should buy the word 'airport' . . . discussing why Paris Hilton isn't really rich because she only earns $100 million . . .

"I thought I might as well just jump out of the plane now."

Still involved with the Lovehammers, Casey is now also with the LA Guns - ex Guns N' Roses - which will release its first album in North America in April and a corresponding reality show.

He has also just received an email from Disney with an offer of another project, he said.

While his time in Queenstown may have been brief, Casey said there was no doubt he would be back and hopefully next time he would bring the Lovehammers.

"You have to come here [to Queenstown]. To be in the South Island and not come here is like going to Nevada and not going to Las Vegas.

"It seems like the focal point for insanity."