Rockstar Disappointment
I have been a huge fan of CBS’ Rockstar show for two seasons. I thought season one with INXS was an interesting and legitimate way to try and find a new singer, albeit within the confines of a reality TV show. When that season ended I felt as though INXS really did choose the best person for their band and could see them continuing with JD after the show was over.
When CBS announced that this season they would be putting together a “supergroup” I was dubious. It is pretty obvious to me that they couldn’t find a band that was marketable enough that happened to need a singer. I heard they approached Van Halen and Alice in Chains and both bands passed. Who else needs a singer at this point? Journey? Anyway, they decided to form “Supernova” (which incidentally lost a ruling yesterday forcing them to change their name going forward). Who was in this amazing supergroup? Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted, and Gilby Clarke. Ok, so Tommy Lee is probably the most famous rock drummer playing today, and he’s got a great TV personality. But really, Newsted and Clarke? Both were second string players in Metallica and Guns N’ Roses respectively. I would hardly call that “super.” Anyway, I’m a sucker for rock n’ roll and I watched every episode.
Compared to season one, I felt the overall talent pool was lacking. Ten of out the original sixteen had no business in this competition. They were awful. As they narrowed it down to the last six, things were pretty decent. It was clear to me from week one that the faves were Dilana and Lukas. I do think Dilana would have been a fine choice, but Lukas makes me shreik. It’s like nails on a chalkboard listening to him growl. Yet, every week Supernova continued to heap undue praise on him. Long story short, my favorites Storm and Toby were sent packing and Lukas was chosen as the winner. I’m not surprised, just disappointed. Butch Walker is producing and co-writing a bunch of the album and I would have bought it no matter who won…except for Lukas. I was set to go see them on tour and plunk down my $15 for their CD. Nope, not now. I can’t even listen to him sing for two minutes on the show, nevermind endure a two-hour set.
Anyway, what do you guys think? Did you like Lukas? Oh, and did anyone else find it odd that even though these guys came from three of the biggest bands of the 80’s/90’s that not a single one of their songs were ever performed on the show? Instead each episode was dominated by the same songs from Nirvana, STP, Live, etc…over and over and over.
Thoughts?
September 14th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
HUGE FAN of RockStar Supernova…didn’t catch season one however. I wish i would have though. i never even knew it existed until it was almost over and then my TiVo was overloaded.
Anyways. as we all knew from episode 1, it was going to come down to Dilana and Lukas. I wasn’t a big fan of your girl Storm. She used her sex appeal to sell herself to the panel too much, it got way too old too quick. she just always looked possesed by the music or something, just weird, until the elimination song…now that was beautiful!! brought a tear to my eye. anyways..moving on…Toby grew on me and Jason, loved his style, loved his voice, loved it. The only problem is that he had to run all over the place to make himself into a “rockstar”. Lukas on the other hand, walks out and just emminates rock star. He never had to jump out into the crowd, run over to the guys to prove something, he just used his voice, his body and the lights to do his thang. Dilana like the boys said is “enchanting” to listen to. i loved her more at the beginning of the show when she was mysterious and dark. I think that fit more into what they wanted then what she started doing later, expect when she performed “mother, mother”.
I know for a fact that i wouldn’t pay a dime to see this group regardless who the singer was, it’s just not my cup of tea. the songs aren’t rock-n-roll. they are very pop-rock and seem unfinished. i didn’t like any of them that they did on the show. I don’t think this band has a shot at having a life span of more than 2 years tops, the newness will die and then that will be it for them. Tommy Lee goes through bands, like Hugh Hefner does his girlfriends.
I believe that going with Lukas was their only shot at having the widest fan base, then didn’t have much of an option. He epitimizes “rockstar” you have to admit that. when he’s not growling, he has a great voice, the man knows how to arrange a song and he has a keen ability to hear it differently than anyone else ever has. Give credit where credit is due.
As far as them not playing any of their songs, i think there is probably a good reason for that. I bet, Axl didn’t want any GNR stuff on there in the first place, Nikki Six is too much of a business man to let the Crue stuff out there, it probably would have cost too much especially since Tommy was a part of it, and Metallica, if i remember correctly didn’t Jason leave on bad terms because of stress, could be hard trying to draw up a deal with Lars in the room….this is just speculation of course….
September 16th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Its great to know that a canadaian won 2 years in a row
October 7th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
“Rockstar Supernova”? Puh-leassse! I’ve seen the show on numerous occasions (wife works in the business and much to my chagrin, she’s a fan) and can’t for the life of me figure out why there hasn’t been more of an outburst of contempt for this grandstandingly pompous platform for some of the most vile and lecherous POSEURS spewed from the acceptable behavior image machine of commercial watered down “rock” you are ever going to encounter this side of the “classic” rock radio format. As Johnny Rotten, aka; Lydon said of a similar shtick; “this was the perfect excuse for punk”.