Jon Stevens
A powerhouse vocalist from New Zealand who stepped into two of Australian rock's most formidable frontman roles with guts and gravel.
Born 1961 (age 65)·New Zealand singer·Birthday: October 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Jon Stevens brought a raw, blues-soaked intensity to the stages of Australia and New Zealand. He first found major success fronting the anthemic rock band Noiseworks, whose hits like 'Touch' dominated charts. His vocal prowess led to a searing turn as Judas in a landmark Australian production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' a performance preserved on a bestselling cast album. Following the tragic death of Michael Hutchence, Stevens faced the immense challenge of becoming the lead singer for INXS, guiding the band through a period of tribute and new material on global tours. His career is a testament to a voice built for both rock grandeur and soulful depth.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Jon was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the lead singer of the hit Australian rock band Noiseworks, scoring multiple top-ten albums.
- Played Judas Iscariot in the 1992 Australian production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' releasing a platinum-selling cast recording.
- Toured globally as the lead vocalist for INXS from 2000 to 2003 following Michael Hutchence's death.
- Released several solo albums, including the ARIA-charting 'Ain't No Life for the Faint Hearted.'
Did You Know?
He is of Māori descent (Ngāi Tahu iwi).
He performed the theme song 'In This Life' for the film 'The Sum of Us.'
He briefly fronted the band The Dead Daisies in 2013.
“A song isn't finished until you've poured your guts out on stage every night.”
