When Lukas Rossi won the summer reality TV show “Rockstar: Supernova,” there were no guarantees of rock stardom.
The only guarantee was that Rossi, a 30-year-old Toronto native, would become the frontman of a supergroup that included Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, one-time Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, and ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.
As it turned out, even that wasn’t guaranteed.
Newsted recorded on the band’s self-titled album, released in November, but missed out on the tour after suffering a shoulder injury. One-time Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt replaces Newsted for the tour.
The incident is a microcosm of the fate that has befallen Supernova, a band that even had to legally change its name after another band named Supernova sued them. They’re now known, officially, as Rockstar Supernova on merchandise and on their CD, which came out to mostly bad reviews and didn’t crack Billboard’s Top 100.
These are the types of obstacles that might throw some bands off course, but Rossi is ready to keep pushing forward as his band crosses the country and arrives Sunday in Everett.
“Obviously you want the (record) sales and so forth, but there was no help, the label didn’t really push it much,” Rossi said last week. “It’s kind of sad, you know, but the proof is in (the) pudding, bro, and the fans are going to see what the band’s all about if they come to the show.”
Supernova is the product of the second season of CBS’s franchise. The first season, “Rockstar: INXS,” crowned J.D. Fortune as lead singer of INXS.
Rossi and Supernova will be joined by The Panic Channel, featuring guitarist Dave Navarro who serves as a co-host on “Rockstar” and Dilana and Toby Rand (with his band Juke Kartel), who were runners-up on the show.
“That’s really cool (having Dilana and Toby on tour),” Rossi said. “When we started on the show, we were just crazy kids, you know? They always keep it light, keep it loose.”
So while the post-reality show experience hasn’t gone strictly according to the script, Rossi delights in the fact he’s getting to see parts of the world he’s never seen and getting the true rock star experience.
“I’m having the time of my life, to be honest,” he said. “Just seeing all the people, all the fans, and I’ve been keeping in contact with some of the fans online, trying to reach every one of them.
“There’s so much that goes into this tour besides just playing the shows, you know? I’m seeing the world, man. I wouldn’t even fathom, back in the day, going two blocks down the road to get a pack of cigarettes. Now I’m going to New Zealand (in a few weeks).”
Rossi didn’t have a direct answer for the critics who dismiss the Supernova project as a one-time deal, but fans who are even curious should get a look at this band before it’s all over.
“I’m focusing on this right now,” Rossi said. “It’s just like any other band, brother. The band will be together as long as the band wants to be together, as long as the fans support it. We just take it a day at a time. I totally believe in Supernova. It’s my band, man.”
Associated Press
Lukas Rossi leads Rockstar Supernova last month in a concert in Toronto.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
