Rock Star Supernova

For the TV series through which the band was created, see Rock Star: Supernova. For the band's debut album, see Rock Star Supernova (album).

Rock Star Supernova is a reality television formed supergroup consisting of drummer Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), bass player Jason Newsted (Voivod and ex-Metallica), guitarist Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N' Roses), and new singer Lukas Rossi (Rise Electric and ex-Cleavage). Supernova formed the basis of the second season of the Rock Star television program on CBS in the quest to find a lead singer. The show began online on the Rock Star web site on MSN on Monday, July 3 with an Internet exclusive weekly episode and premiered on CBS on July 5, 2006. Votes were cast via the Rock Star website. On September 13, 2006, Rossi was crowned the winner.

Lee and Clarke performed together in an all-star KISS tribute band at the inaugural "VH1 Rock Honors" event on May 25, 2006 in Las Vegas.

In addition, songwriter/performer Butch Walker has been hired to produce the band's first album. Walker, named Rolling Stone 2005 "hot" producer, has written or produced tracks for Avril Lavigne, Pink, Bowling for Soup and Tommy Lee.

Their first video was recorded in early October, and is due for release soon.

On October 23, 2006, Jason Newsted was injured while attempting to catch a falling bass amp head. The accident resulted in a torn anterior labrum in his left shoulder and a rotator cuff and biceps tear in the right. He is scheduled for immediate surgery, and will then undergo a lengthy rehab process which could detain him for up to nine months.

While Newsted recovers, Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt will serve as a temporary replacement and was with the band on its national television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live on November 21. [1]

The band is currently on tour with supporting acts Dilana, Juke Kartel (the band of Australian Rock Star: Supernova contestant Toby Rand) and The Panic Channel.

Name controversy

The band was originally formed as "Supernova", but the legality of the use of that name was called into question by another band of the same name: Supernova, a pop punk trio from California founded in 1989 and best known for a song contributed to the soundtrack of the 1994 film Clerks. On June 26, 2006, the latter band filed a federal lawsuit against Mark Burnett Productions, Rockstar Entertainment, CBS, Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted, and Gilby Clarke. The California band is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, as well as trademark protection of the "Supernova" name, the destruction of all Rock Star materials bearing the name "Supernova", and clarifying statements made on the show. One of their primary pieces of evidence is a message from Walker on the social networking website MySpace, in which he notes that the defendants had been informed of the existence of a prior band of the same name, but decided to proceed anyway.^[1]

Lee, Newsted, and Clarke were dropped as defendants in late August at the request of the original Supernova's lawyers..

On September 12, 2006, San Diego Judge John Houston ruled in favor of the original Supernova, granting their request for a preliminary injunction. The injunction keeps the producers of "Rock Star: Supernova" — which concluded September 13 as a television show, but will continue as a recording, touring, and merchandise entity for some time to follow — from "performing rock and roll music, or recording, or selling rock and roll music recordings under the same [name], pending a trial of this action on its merits, or until otherwise ordered by the court."

The decision bars the CBS-created rockers from touring, recording and selling merchandise as "Supernova" once the order takes effect. First, the original Supernova must post bond, the amount of which has yet to be determined by the court.^[2]

Currently, all promotional material being released and sold generally bears the name "Rock Star Supernova" on it. This is especially evident on the band's MySpace page, which lists them as Rock Star Supernova and not Supernova, whereas INXS have remained INXS, and not kept the "Rockstar INXS" name.

Discography

Album

• Rock Star Supernova (November 21, 2006) #101 US, #87 Australia, Platinum in Canada, debuted at #4

Singles

• It's All Love (2006)
• Be Yourself (and 5 Other Cliches) (2006)
• Headspin (2007)

Rumoured singles

• It's On
• Leave the Lights On
• Can't Bring Myself To Light This Fuse

References

1. ^ "Supernova Sue 'Rock Star: Supernova' Producers, Bandmembers", Chris Harris, MTV News, posted July 11, 2006, accessed July 18, 2006.
2. ^ "Judge Sides With Original Supernova In 'Rock Star' Suit", Chris Harris, MTV News, posted September 12, 2006, accessed September 14, 2006.

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