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JASON NEWSTED Says He's Not 'Selling Out' By Appearing On 'Rock Star' Program

April 5, 2006

Former METALLICA/current VOIVOD bassist Jason Newsted has rejected accusations that he is "selling out" by associating himself with the the "Rock Star" talent-search TV program to find a lead singer for SUPERNOVA, the new band he is forming with ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke and MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee.

As previously reported, "Rock Star" has signed songwriter-performer Butch Walker to produce SUPERNOVA's first album, to be released just before the new band hits the road in 2007. Walker, named Rolling Stone's 2005 "hot" producer, has written or produced tracks for AVRIL LAVIGNE, PINK, BOWLING FOR SOUP and TOMMY LEE.

When asked what his reponse is to the people who think he is selling out by appearing on "Rock Star", Newsted said during his appearance on the "Camp Freddy Radio" show on Indie 103.1 FM on Saturday (April 1),"When people say something like that, then you go, 'OK, well, if I put you in the same situation, and knowing that you have spent through all the years millions upon squillions of dollars for advertisement, marketing, all this stuff, to get your band out there and get it noticed as you tour and whatever, and your album is out and everything. All of a sudden you have this opportunity where the people that are backing you and paying for the advertisement all over 70 countries for your band, for your new band, and it's not on your dime. C'mon, what? I said, 'What time and what city?' when they asked me. Would you not take this opportunity of a lifetime to be recognized possibly at the top of your field once again, take it to the mountain another time? What? C'mon."

During the same interview, Newsted also dismissed suggestions that SUPERNOVA could end up running into some legal trouble down the line over their name. Back in the early 1990s, a poppy punk trio called SUPERNOVA emerged from California's Orange County. The band, which released its first album on Atlantic Records in 1995, is perhaps best known for the track "Chewbacca", which appeared on the soundtrack to Kevin Smith's "Clerks".

Commented Newsted: "There was once a band called that [SUPERNOVA], and they had a song in the movie 'Clerks', I think in '93 or '94. [But the people behind the 'Rock Star' program] worked it out to trademark the name and do all the proper things you're supposed to do with a band, and there was a couple of other bands that had it in their name amongst a few other words, but that's all been worked out, and we are the one and only SUPERNOVA."

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