James Durbin Shocked by Elimination, Has a Hunch Who Will Win 'American Idol'

"Give metal a chance!" Those words have been James Durbin's battle cry throughout his 'American Idol' run and his parting comments during today's exit interview conference call.

"It's been a real whirlwind of emotion, but I've been really thinking about why I came on this show and why I even auditioned in the first place and I'm brought back to those feelings," said Durbin. "It's for my family, and it's to try and give a voice to a genre of music that seems like it's really slowly fading away. I just really accomplished a lot on the show, and I'm just really grateful and thankful for the opportunities."

Like many fans who expected Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart to battle it our for a place in the Top 3, last night, James Durbin admitted that he too was shocked by his elimination.

"I'm not gonna lie. I definitely was [shocked], but there was something off with the kinetic energy with everyone at the studio yesterday, and I just kinda felt it with everyone's body language. There was something, a real somber feeling I just kinda caught it. I freaked out a little before the show started and I just knew it. I was told 'Don't worry about it,' but I knew it."

Of course, comparisons to another famous fourth-place finisher, Chris Daughtry, are inevitable. But the season 5 rocker commented that not winning 'Idol' probably preserved his "rock cred," in retrospect. Asked if he felt taking the crown in America's no. 1 singing/popularity contest would hurt his rocker rep, James acknowledged the potential downside.

"That makes plenty of sense, but winning would have been just great, too. I don't know, there's the first instinct when you're up there and Ryan says you're going home. First instinct is, Gosh, I wanted to win so badly and it feels like like I failed, but thinking about it, I haven't failed at all. It's still just the beginning."

On that note, James revealed some of his musical plans moving forward, post-'Idol.' Aside from Zakk Wylde, the rocker has already connected with another great metal / prog rock artist.

"Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater -- I talked to him, I got to meet him, and I asked him if he'd be down for anything like that, and he said 'absolutely,' so that's pretty amazing," he said. "Zakk Wylde, again but I have a little secret weapon back home, my best friend back home, I asked him if he'd be my guitarist for anything post 'Idol' and that's why I'm really looking forward to this now, because we have a plan to bring back great frontmen and their lead guitarists. You had Ozzy and Randy Rhoads or Ozzy and Tony Iommi and or Dio and Iommi or Dio and Vivian Campbell, just amazing metal duos. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry or Steve Perry and Neal Schon. It just keeps going and going....the list goes on and on and for some reason it seems like it stopped and we really want to bring it back. The essence of rock and roll."

Looking back on his 'Idol' run, James commented on the best piece of advice he's received as well as his performances leading up to this his fourth-place finish.

"[The best advice I got] would probably have to be just don't hold back, just overall, just roll with it. Just keep going, keep giving it everything. And Randy said this is your competition to lose. You know and I felt like I'm going out on top, Wednesday. I had two of my best performances of my entire my life. They were both really consistent, they were both pinpoint perfect. You know, I'm my own biggest critic and I shut myself up on that one. I didn't have anything to say. I was really proud of myself and just really excited to see what was next and go home for that top 3 [visit], but not everything works out the way you expect it."

Asked who he thinks will win, now that he's out of the running, unlike past eliminated contestants, who typically dodge the question, James said he's got a feeling about the Top 3 but played it coy when pressed for a name.

"I have a feeling who might take it but at this point, you can't really choose...Who do you think? I ain't saying but who do you think...?"

A few other tidbits from The Durbinator's last words:

• James storyboarded all of his performances, working closely with the crew on each number

• James has been told he looks like both Matt Damon and Steven Seagal (when he had long black hair in a pony tail)

• He met his fiancee Heidi when he was just 9 and she was 13; both their moms attended the same church.

• Performing in children's theater was a great help to James as he learned to deal with high-functioning Autism and Tourette's.

• Now chums with pro-wrestler and 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant, Chris Jericho, James noted that both were eliminated after dancing to/singing Journey's "Don't Stop Believin.'"

• Expect a Black Sabbath / Iron Maiden feel on James' album. He noted both Neon Nights and Holy Diver, as big influences.

• "Expect the unexpected" from James at the finale!

What are your thoughts of James Durbin's elimination? Let us know in the comments and for more on this week's results show, check out our full recap and the latest edition of 'Something Pitchy!'


'American Idol' airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8PM ET on Fox.