Marty Casey

Also a finalist in the first season Rock Star: INXS, Marty Casey was my favorite among the male competitors.

Born Martin Xavier Casey, Marty started his musical career in 1988 while he was attending Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Illinois. Initially called the Swinging Lovehammers, the Lovehammers comprises of Marty Casey on lead vocals and guitar, Billy Sawilchik on lead guitar, Dino Kourelis on bass, and Bob Kourelis on drums. His good relationship with this circle of original bandmates became one of the key elements that have caused his talent and artistry to evolve to the supernova that it is now. A 2004 Chicago Sun Times interview discloses his feelings on the best thing about being Marty Casey: “Being in a band with my three best friends. Most friendships fall apart after a certain age. Best thing about being in a band: getting to record with amazing people, see different parts of the country and sell out places like the Viper Room in L.A.”

What sets Marty apart from the other performers not just in the competition but in the whole rock industry is his enigmatic stage presence, whatever the tune he’s carrying out from soft ballads to rock classics. He finds his own style within whatever piece interweaving everything to come up with an intense pull. This charisma was remarked on by Dave Navarro, “You are totally relevant in music today...Being a rockstar is not about hitting notes. It’s about having the intangible magnetism that you already have. In my opinion, you’re already a rockstar.”

Here are some of the renditions he made during the performances of Rockstar: INXS with his original "Trees":