Has-beens, meet the wannabes on new Rockstar

Gilby Clarke (left), Jason Newsted and Tommy Lee want a leader with a serious vibe who can also cope when bottles start flying.

Where do 80s rockstars go when they hit the road to middle age? If you're Metallica's Jason Newsted, Guns'n Roses Gilby Clarke, and Tommy Lee, who was Motley Crue's drummer, you form a supergroup, join the reality TV phenomenon, and call yourself Rockstar Supernova.

Following up from Rockstar, in which INXS found their new lead singer, this season will feature Supernova who will choose their frontman from 16 contestants from around the world for what they have described will be "the world's greatest rock band".

Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke return as hosts - Burke doing the introductions and Navarro back on the judges' couch.

Despite the phenomenal success of Rockstar, it endured its share of criticism questioning the credibility of finding a singer on television, voted by people sitting on their couches at home. Not very rock 'n roll by anyone's standards.

Says Navarro, "I don't care about criticisms. Look at the way media is today, cable and the internet and 500 channels. We're living in a fast-paced society and things have to grow and change with the times. Rock has always reinvented itself. Why shouldn't rock be a part of reality TV?"

One could argue that rock music was born out of rebellion and this homogenized form of bringing it to the mainstream is a hard pill to swallow for rock purists. "You can look at it that way but for me it's a rebellious act of [creator] Mark Burnett to take on a show like this. Great art is great art and how it reaches somebody is irrelevant."

Quick to defend himself, Newsted, says: "This is different from the INXS show. They had a back catalogue. They had a very present lead singer and very big shoes to fill. In contrast, we are building the shoes together. People knew the music from INXS. This is a brand new thing with brand new songs."

It's hard to imagine these musicians (with the exception of Tommy Lee who does double duty as producer) jumping at the notion of starring in a reality show, which always comes across with an element of falseness.

Lee says: "Try and wrap your head around this - if you were an accomplished rock musician with a couple of platinum albums and a quarter of a billion records sold and you have the opportunity to use internet television to promote your band's new album what would you do? It's a no-brainer."

Supernova will also record and take to the road. Whoever fronts this quartet will have to step up to a formidable plate. Says Clarke, "It's hard to say what we're looking for. It's important for the Supernova singer to have a serious vibe.

"We're not looking for a puppet. They will be our centrepiece and they will be required to bring something to the table when they perform with us. We've already paid our dues. They have to step up into that world right away. They require a certain wherewithal and they have to be super-talented."

Adds Lee: "Some people are very talented on their couch but get them in front of folks and it doesn't go down that way. You can practise and practise but you cannot prepare someone for a big crowd and bottles flying by your head."

As most of the candidates are fans of the three bands these musicians represent, the intimidation factor is high.

"A lot of people try too hard," says Lee. "The best advice I would give anyone trying to be in our band is, 'Dude, take it easy. Do your thing.' It wrecks it when you push too hard and that's really not a good look," he laughs.

"Of course they're going to be intimidated," adds Newstead.

"They're performing in front of us, along with the CBS executives, all going, 'impress us' But these contestants have already waded through some serious challenges. They're all pretty fantastic."

Although there are as many female contestants, it's hard to imagine a woman fronting this testosterone-fuelled band.

"You're wrong," says Lee. "There are some really talented women who can sing their asses off and we're going to be looking just as hard at them as we are the dudes."

And what about the social aspect of touring with the kind of musicians not exactly known for a sedate lifestyle?

"They gotta keep up the pace," says Clarke. "This person will be with us and they have to be able to hang, too."

"This person's life will change forever," says Lee. "I'm so excited just thinking about what that must be like. We might pick someone who's never performed in front a large audience before. And how will Lee manage his swearing on air? "I guess I'll have to get friendly with the guy with the bleeper button."

The band are writing new songs. "I couldn't really tell you what our sound is like yet," says Lee. But one thing is for sure, it will be rock music and it will blow your mind."

LOWDOWN

* What: Rockstar: Supernova, the second series of the Mark Burnett reality show that made JD Fortune a household name first time around. This time 12 rockers compete to front a new rock group called Supernova, featuring ex-Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, ex-Guns n Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.

* When: The show premieres with a 90-minute special at 7.30pm tonight on TV3, followed up on Saturday at 7.30pm. From then the contestants will perform on Wednesdays and elimination will take place on Thursdays at 7.30pm each week.

How to vote: Watch for the code corresponding to your favourite on the show then text in your vote or go to the TV3 website.

THIS YEAR'S CONTESTANTS

Chris Pierson

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, this southern boy isn't afraid to tap into his soft side by turning his personal angst to song. Recently he reinvented himself as a "darker, more mature performer". Guess he and Tommy Lee won't be hitting it off.

Dana Andrews

This 22-year-old waitress from Georgia fronts a band in South Carolina and performs in the weekends in a covers band. She also considers herself a "southern belle".

Dilana

The show's most tattooed and pierced contestant is Tina Turner's biggest fan. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dilana left school at 16 to pursue music, moved to the Netherlands and started her own band. She now lives in the US where she goes without a surname.

Jill Gioia

This New Yorker has performed as a support act for the B-52s, and has made several TV and radio appearances, including on The Late Show with David Letterman. Her song Don't Make Me Wait went gold in Spain and she has a boot - yep, a boot - named after her.

Jenny Galt

This "mysterious" 24-year-old Canadian has lived in Australia and not only sings but plays piano and guitar. Her band Cherrybomb have released four albums and she cites Neil Young as an influence.

Josh Logan

It's no wonder this Manchester native grew up listening to punk-rock, Pearl Jam and Stevie Wonder - his mother was a karaoke DJ. Like JD Fortune, he's spent time living in his car.

Lukas Rossi

Described as "Jeff Buckley meets Freddie Mercury", this soulful singer fronts a band tastefully named Cleavage. His performance experience includes working with Papa Roach, on TV and radio ads and an animated cartoon.

Magni Asgeirsson

Like Bjork, this singer hails from Reykjavik, Iceland and goes by his first name only. Unlike Bjork, he has a serious goatie. His pop band, A Moti Sol, have released six albums, two of which have gone gold.

Matt Hoffer

Born in Denver, raised in upstate New York, this 29-year-old was an ice hockey player and real estate broker before he became a speed metal guitarist and rock singer. His influences include Metallica, the Police, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Rufus Wainwright.

Patrice Pike

Named by Billboard magazine as "one of the finest up-and-coming contemporary rock singers in America", this punk-edged Texan from Austin has been a professional musician since the age of 16. She's also a humanitarian who works with at-risk youth.

Phil Ritchie

Once a straight-A student and marching band member, this tattooed rocker from Maryland toured with his band Lennex with Cake, Fuel, Bon Jovi and the Goo Goo Dolls. He likes Tom Petty, Tool, Soundgarden and Jeff Buckley.

Ryan Star

This New Yorker is the one most likely to be giving Brooke Burke the glad-eye. He moved to LA after his band Stage signed to Madonna's Maverick Records but went solo when the band started work on their second album.

Storm Large

You don't mess with a chick called Storm. Especially not a redhead who is 1.8m tall and fronts a band called The Balls. A rebellious kid, she tamed her wild ways to earn a university degree in performance, and now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Toby Rand

This Melburnian with a "tough-guy charisma" works for a carpet company when he's not fronting his band Juke Kartel, who have played support for Nickelback.

Zayra Alvarez

This model-like Puerto Rican played music in school, dropped it for a while then reconnected with it in Dallas, Texas. After landing a record deal she embraced her Latin roots on her first album.