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 On the surface, the CBS show Rock Star: Supernova may look like another American Idol knockoff, a hopeless retread banished by CBS into the wasteland of Summer programming. But, if you watched last season's Rock Star: INXS in which the band INXS successfully found a capable lead singer to replace former front man Michael Hutchence, you know that Rock Star is far more important that your typical reality TV talent show.
The goal of CBS's Rock Star: Supernova is to find a viable lead singer for the newly-formed "super-group" consisting of Tommy Lee (former drummer of "Motley Crue"), Jason Newsted (former "Metallica" bassist), and Gilby Clarke (former rhythm guitarist of "Guns n' Roses". Now, back in the previous sentence, you may have noticed that I placed quotations around the compound word super-group. Why? Frankly, I don't find the first three members of Supernova to be all that super. Granted, their pedigree is pretty darn good, especially if you were a fan of metal back in the 80's and early 90's. However, none of these three could really be considered key cogs in their former band's respective success.
Jason Newsted joined "Metallica" after beloved bass player Cliff Burton was crushed to death by the band's own tour bus. Newsted was never fully accepted into the band, constantly being hazed by the other members. His bass playing, especially on the studio albums, was also notoriously insignificant.
Gilby Clarke joined "Guns n' Roses" when Izzy Stradlin, boyhood friend of Axl Rose, co-founder of "Guns n' Roses" and a key creative songwriting force, quit the band in the midst of 28-month world tour in 1991. Gilby was fired by Axl Rose for unknown reasons in 1994, after three years of playing second fiddle to "Guns n' Roses" lead guitarist, Slash.
Tommy Lee, of course, was an original member of the extremely successful eighties rock band "Motley Crue". Known for his on stage antics (like spinning in a metal cage above the crowd while playing the drums) and his sexual escapades (most notably the sex tape he made with Pam Anderson which, among other things, showcased his ability to steer a boat with his junk), Tommy Lee has become a recognizable celebrity. Tommy Lee is, by all accounts, a good musician, probably the best of the three, but was by no means a noteworthy creative contributor in Motley Crue; Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil were responsible for the majority of the songwriting.
Knowing these facts, I think I understand why these three musicians have decided to comb the depths of reality TV for a lead singer on strong>Rock Star: Supernova. They have to. It's not for publicity (although that certainly doesn't hurt), it's that they have an actual need for something that is completely missing from their band.
Talent.
Again, this isn't to say Jason, Gilby and Tommy aren't talented. They kind of are. But they're also kind of washed up. None of them have written a song of note in over a decade (Unless you count the track "Good Times" from Tommy Lee's 2005 album, "Tommyland: The Ride" which reached #2 on the South African charts. I don't.) Through CBS on Rock Star: Supernova they are trying to catch lightning in a bottle and find a legitimate talent, a singer who can come in immediately and help with the creative process in the studio.
And who knows, they may find just what they need. Last year, on Rock Star: INXS, J.D. Fortune, a Canadian singer/songwriter, burst on to the scene and turned out to be a perfect fit for the, now rejuvenated, Australian rockers INXS. Granted, INXS already had a backlog of hits and weren't as interested in production of new material as Supernova will be. It's likely that the competitions on Rock Star this season will emphasize songwriting more and charisma less.
Without a doubt, when (and if) Supernova performs as a full band, Tommy Lee will be front and center, oozing charisma, acting out the role of "Rock Star" to a T. They don't need the help of CBS to find a presence; they already have one.
What Supernova needs are songs. Hopefully, on Rock Star: Supernova, they'll find some.
-Oscar Dahl
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