Rock Star: Supernova – A Preview
Rock Star: Supernova – A Preview by Jenn Brasler -- 07/03/2006 Rock Star is back, and this time a brand-new band (right) is looking for a lead singer. They have 15 singers to choose from, and they’re all definitely qualified. Which one already has two gold albums? Which one has a boot named after her? And who the heck is Storm Large? Last summer, Rock Star gave 15 singers the chance to become the new lead singer of INXS. This summer, Rock Star returns to CBS, but this time things are different – instead of an already-established band seeking a new lead singer, the show is looking for someone to head up a completely new band called Supernova. The band already consists of Tommy Lee (former drummer for Mötley Crüe), Jason Newsted (former bassist for Metallica), and Gilby Clarke (former Guns N’ Roses guitarist). The winner will record a CD with Supernova, to be produced by Butch Walker, who has written hit songs for Bowling for Soup, Avril Lavigne, the Donnas, Pink, Lit, and Lindsay Lohan. The three members of Supernova will serve as judges each week, along with a different famous musician. The show will air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST. However, the first episode airs Wednesday, July 5th at 8 p.m. EST for 90 minutes, and the first elimination show will be Thursday, July 6th at 9 p.m. EST. It doesn’t look like there will be a third weekly episode, probably since the ratings for those were low last season, leading execs to move them to VH1. Despite those changes, two things remain the same – Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke will be back. CBS recently revealed the names of the 15 contestants, and they all have extensive experience singing with bands, writing music, and recording albums. Some have even toured and earned impressive awards. Here they are: Zayra Alvarez: Zayra was born in Puerto Rico and now lives in Dallas. She has played in bands since she was 14. Zayra has two solo records, Breaking Up Grey Skies and Ruleta She has opened for Los Lonely Boys and Blue October. Her website is www.zayraalvarez.com Dana Andrews: Dana hails from Augusta, Georgia, and is in a band called Everything After. She plays piano, guitar, and flute, and sings with hairbrush. At 22, she appears to be the youngest of the group, which might be a disadvantage. Magni Asgeirsson: Born in a small town in Iceland, Magni now lives in Reykjavik. He’s already a star in his native country – his band A Moti Sol has released six albums, two of which have gone gold. Jenny Galt: Jenny has toured Canada with her former band, Cherrybomb, which released the album Speed of Light, and now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. Though Cherrybomb has disbanded, Jenny still collaborates with one of her former bandmates. She has also performed on radio and TV and recorded music for TV and movies. She names Neil Young as one of her influences. Jill Gioia: New Yorker Jill has been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since she was a child, so she’s used to being in the public eye. She has opened and sung backup for Third Eye Blind, Gloria Gaynor, Dee Snider, the B-52s, and 98 Degrees, and has also appeared on Letterman. Jill also has a boot named after her – as a winner of Steve Madden’s 2000 Rock N Sole Girl Band Search Contest, one of Jill’s prizes was the honor of having a shoe named after her. (It’s called the Jill Joy Boot, but it doesn’t look like you can buy it anymore.) One of Jill’s songs went gold in Spain, and she has a connection to last season – she has performed with INXS. Her website is www.jillgioia.com Matt Hoffer: Before becoming serious about music, Matt played hockey for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini while earning a degree in finance, and worked as a real estate agent. He has released an album called Never Comfortable, which you can buy at Amazon or his website, matthoffer.com. Among his influences are the Police, Metallica, and Rufus Wainwright. Storm Large: I’ll say it right now, before ever hearing her sing a note: I want Storm to win. She already has a rock star name (which she claims is real). Of course, if she sucks, I reserve the right to take this back. Storm is from Portland, Oregon, and fronts a band called the Balls. She earned a degree in performance from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC in 1988, which makes her the oldest contestant at 36. That could either work for her or against her. Storm’s website is www.stormlarge.com and you can buy at least one of her albums on Amazon. Josh Logan: Just like J.D. Fortune, Josh used to sleep in his car. After his band broke up and he suffered through a bout of homelessness, Josh wound up in Manchester, New Hampshire, and formed a band called Josh Logan & Nobody’s Business. In 2003 The Hippo Press named him the Hardest Working Musician in Manchester, and they released at least one album. Josh’s influences are Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, and punk rock. His website is www.joshlogan.com Chris Pierson: I couldn’t find much information on Chris. All I know is that he’s from Atlanta, where he settled after touring with his band, Streetlight Syndrome. He may win the award for most creative, as he made first CD on an 8-track recorder. Patrice Pike: Patrice appears to have the most impressive résumé. As the lead singer of a band called Sister Seven, she toured the U.S. and Western Europe, recorded six albums, and saw some of her singles chart on Billboard (which called her “one of the finest up-and-coming contemporary rock singers in America”). Patrice, who’s from Austin, Texas, has performed with Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews, Allman Brothers, Indigo Girls, Ray Charles, Cheap Trick, Neville Brothers, Soul Asylum, Cake, Natalie Merchant, and Blues Traveler. Her first solo album is called Fencing Under Fire. When not making music, Patrice works with at-risk youth. Her website is www.patricepike.com Toby Rand: Like Chris, there isn’t a whole lot of info out there on Toby. He hails from Melbourne, Australia, and fronts a band called Juke Kartel, which has opened for Nickelback. Toby dropped out of college to pursue career in music and moonlights for a carpet company. Phil Ritchie: Phil’s band, Lennex, is releasing an album this summer (though they have at least one prior one that can be ordered) and has performed with Bon Jovi, the Goo Goo Dolls, Cake, and Fuel. Phil is from Ocean City, Maryland, and used to be in a marching band (though I couldn’t find out what instrument he played). His influences are Jeff Buckley, Tool, Tom Petty, and Soundgarden. Dilana Robichaux: Dilana, whose real name is Dilana Jansen Van Vuren, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, but now lives in Houston. She started a band in the Netherlands, and her first album, Wonderfool, released five singles. She counts Tina Turner as an influence. Dilana’s website is www.dilanarox.com Lukas Rossi: Lukas is from Toronto, Ontario, and used to be in a band called Cleavage. He has performed with Papa Roach and a couple of Canadian bands. In addition, he has done radio and TV voiceover work. Ryan Star: Not to be confused with American Idol’s Ryan Starr, Ryan was born and raised in Long Island and still lives in New York. After performing at places like CBGB’s and the Mercury Lounge, he and his band State were signed to Maverick Records by Madonna. However, after a tour and before recording a second album, Ryan left the band for a solo career. It turned out to be a good move, as Billboard praised his song “The Back of Your Car” from his album, Songs from the Eye of An Elephant. Ryan’s website is rstar.net. As mentioned above, the competition begins Wednesday, July 5th at 8 p.m. with a 90-minute episode. The next night the first singer will be eliminated. After that, the show will air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=4&article=article6225.art&page=1