When supergroups aren't so super

Rock Star Supernova

Supergroups don’t come any more pre-fab than “Supernova,” the band assembled for the second season of the CBS reality show “Rock Star.” The first season of “Rock Star” staged an “American Idol”-style singing competition to find a new lead singer for Australian rockers INXS; for the second season, the show’s producers couldn’t find an existing band, so they went out and assembled one, made up of former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.

Almost from the moment they crowned a lead singer (Lukas Rossi), the makeshift supergroup was plagued with problems. They were sued by another band called Supernova and had to change their name; their hastily recorded debut album was universally panned by critics; Newsted was injured and had to leave the band (he was replaced by ex-Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt); and the band’s first headlining tour sold poorly. The band is officially now on “hiatus,” but all signs point to this Supernova having long since flamed out.