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Rock Star Supernova wants to prove it isn't a flash in the pan |
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Written by Glenn BurnSilver
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Thursday, 08 February 2007 |
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Rockstar: Supernova from left, bassist Jason Newsted (formerly of Metallica), singer Lukas Rossi, drummer Tommy Lee (Motley Crüe) and guitarist Gilby Clarke (Guns ’N Roses). Newsted is recovering from an injured shoulder, so former Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt is substituting for him.
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What’s in a name? Well, with Rockstar: Supernova, plenty.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines Supernova as, “A rare celestial phenomenon involving the explosion of most of the material in a star, resulting in an extremely bright, short-lived object that emits vast amounts of energy.”
So, here we have three aging hard rock superstars whose star material exploded years ago, now giving one final high-energy musical blast that may ultimately be as short-lived as the TV show that spawned them. Yes, Supernova indeed.
For Gilby Clarke (Guns ‘N Roses), Tommy Lee (Motley Crüe) and Jason Newsted (Metallica) their former bands may still exist to some degree, but the glory days are behind them. So can there be a better way to reboot a career than with a “reality” show that puts these old rockers on a pedestal before 15 young pups hoping for that big rock and roll breakthrough?
“Our (new) career started after the show was completed and we had our singer,” Clarke explained by phone from his Los Angeles home. “That’s when we become a band—we pick our singer, we make a record, and we go on tour.”
Canadian Lukas Rossi was the chosen one, picked over the hundreds of contestants who auditioned for the show. Getting to that point was perhaps as difficult for Clarke as it was for Rossi.
“None of us watched last year’s show (with INXS) so we didn’t really know what the show was about. I was definitely uncomfortable and confused at first,” Clarke said. “All three of us were really uncomfortable. We’re not used to being in front of a camera. Our opinions aren’t always primetime television rated. We had to censor ourselves a lot, and we were censored a lot … but after awhile we got the groove of the show.”
Before taping even began, the three musicians were already in the studio laying down tracks. Clarke said at times it was difficult writing songs without a singer, but the process allowed them to define the ideal Supernova singer.
“It was not like we had a mold. We were just looking for someone that would fit the music we were creating,” Clarke said. “When Lucas sang on one of our songs we all knew that was our guy.”
While it is not hard to pick out the individual influences of Clarke, Lee and Newsted, the self-titled album is a departure from the expected. There are classic rock romps mixed with T-Rex inspired stomps, gritty blues-rock filtered through metal riffs. Yet, perhaps to help keep the album’s popularity in line with the show’s ratings, Butch Walker (Avril Lavigne, Pink) was brought in to produce. Supernova’s potential edge was lost for a radio-friendly pop predictability.
“It was absolutely Butch’s doing,” Clarke said with a laugh. “What surprised us was that it ended up being poppier than anyone expected it to be. I probably would have liked it to be a little harder. … (But) you can still hear our drive and hard-rock attitude more than anything.”
Stars in their last blaze of celestial glory?
It’s better to burn out than to fade away.
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GO TO THE SHOW
Rockstar: Supernova
Doors 6:30 p.m., show 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Budweiser Event Center, 5290 Arena Circle, Loveland
$37, $47 & $57. Go to: www.comcasttix.com | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
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