Jon Stevens (born 8 October 1961) is a New Zealand singer, best known as the lead singer of the band Noiseworks in 1986–1992, the portrayal of Judas in a 1992 Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and as the lead singer for the Australian rock band INXS in 2000–2003 after the death of the band's original lead singer Michael Hutchence.
1980–1986: career beginnings and Jezebel
Stevens was born in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, and is of Scottish and Māori descent. His brother is singer Frankie Stevens. He formed his first band while at Heretaunga College.
Stevens released his debut studio album Jezebel on CBS Records in 1980. It peaked at number 7 on the New Zealand charts and was certified Gold. He had consecutive number one hits in New Zealand with singles "Jezebel" (December 1979) and "Montego Bay" (January 1980).
He moved to Australia in 1981 and subsequently became an Australian citizen.
In 1982, a self-titled album was released, but was not successful. In 1983, Stevens formed the band the Change with guitarist Stuart Fraser. Over the next few years, additional members were added before renaming themselves as Noiseworks in 1986.
1986–1992: Noiseworks and Jesus Christ Superstar
In 1986, Stevens became the lead singer of the Sydney band Noiseworks. The band released three platinum studio albums between 1987 and 1991, with a greatest hits released in 1992. The band had three top ten singles across that time, those being "Take Me Back", "Touch" and "Hot Chilli Woman".
In 1992, Stevens played the role of Judas in an Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar. A cast recording album was released in July 1992, which peaked at number 1 and was the highest selling album in Australia in 1992.
1993–1999: Solo work – Are U Satisfied and Circle
In 1993, Stevens signed with Columbia Records and released his third solo studio album, Are U Satisfied, which peaked at number 27 on the ARIA Charts.
In 1994, Stevens recorded "Don't Knock My Love" with Kate Ceberano for her album Kate Ceberano and Friends.
and released "Last One Standing For You" with Black Sorrows and a cover of the Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain" with all proceeds from the song benefitting drought-stricken farmers.
In 1996, Stevens released his fourth studio album, Circle. In 1997, he recorded a cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Two Tribes". It was also the time in Australia when rugby league was going through a change with the split to "Super League". Television hosts, Foxtel, decided to use this song as their theme song for the series.
Stevens co-wrote the official song for the Sydney 2000 Olympics torch relay, entitled "Carry the Flame", with Barbara Griffin, who arranged the composition.
From 2000 to 2003, Stevens fronted Australian rock band INXS after the death of their lead singer Michael Hutchence. Stevens toured with the band for a year before he was officially announced as their lead singer in March 2002, prior to a 40-city US tour. The Stevens-fronted INXS released a song in 2003 called "I Get Up" but he quit the band in October of that year before an album was released. Stevens explained in a May 2009 interview that his departure from the band was due to a creative lull:
After 3½ years I'd had enough - the creativity was too slow. I had too much going on with my own stuff and I just said, "No". No need to be going away for months on end, away from home, away from family. It's hard to justify it when you're just playing other people's songs.
2004–2011: Solo work and touring