Since finishing runner-up in the inaugural series of New Zealand Idol, Michael Murphy has enjoyed a successful career in the music industry throughout New Zealand and internationally.
After finishing New Zealand Idol in 2004, Michael signed to BMG records and started work on a solo career. His first single debuted at number 1 and further singles after that spent a considerable amount of time at the top of radio airplay charts. His debut album 'No Place To Land' earned him gold status and took him around the country performing to sold out audiences and eager fans.
Michael's first passion had always been rock music and performing as part of a band, so eventually he gave up on his solo career and reunited with his best friends from high school and formed '5star Fallout'. They immediately recorded their first single and embarked on a nation-wide tour. As the band started to gain momentum they found themselves touring New Zealand on a regular basis and their first three singles received great play on both radio and T.V.
5star Fallout then found themselves receiving interest from parties in the U.S.A, so with the help of a U.S. booking agent they embarked on a three-month tour of the United States. The tour was a great success and the band was received amazingly well playing to sold out crowds throughout California and New York state. Upon arriving back in New Zealand the band broke up due to personal reasons. Michael was then flown back to L.A. to help write and record songs for a hot young up-and-coming singer and actress. Michael then travelled to England and spent 3 months touring and playing in pubs with his close childhood friend and member of 5star Fallout, John McCaffrey. He then returned to New Zealand to continue work on a musical version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet - a project he has been assisting with for a number of years.
Michael's other passion whilst growing up had been acting and theatre, and he had been looking for a way to get back into acting for some time. At the end of 2009 he had the chance to audition for RENT and jumped at the opportunity. He was given the role of Roger Davis, which he found very exciting, challenging and rewarding. Michael thrived on the opportunity to perform this incredibly powerful show surrounded by such a talented cast. He has since starred in numerous stage productions in Auckland and spent the summer of 2012/2013 playing ‘Kenickie’ in prestigious Christchurch theatre company The Court Theatre’s sold out production of Grease.
Michael has spent the last few years working as a session singer and also performing up and down the country for corporate audiences and at events such as Coca Cola Christmas in the Park. He has been involved in a number of successful Auckland shows and has currently started working on his own material again. Michael’s ambition is to continue to grow his musical and acting talents and to gain as much experience in this field as possible – especially combining his passions of rock music and performing.
Michael is so awesome he may in fact be Batman…
