Tommy Lee’s Supernova has a new name … sort of

By M&C News Sep 22, 2006, 14:22 GMT

It looks like the California indie punk band and the CBS reality show band Rock Star have reached an agreement concerning who has the right to be called Supernova, and the punk rockers are keeping the name.

According to an announcement on Thursday, the original Supernova will be keeping their name, and the new band, that includes former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, will now be known as Rock Star Supernova.

The band’s name has been up in the air since the original Supernova (best known for the song “Chewbacca” on the Clerks soundtrack) sued CBS, the band members, and Mark Burnett Productions in June stating that the use of the Supernova name in connection with the CBS reality show “Rock Star” created unfair competition and trademark infringement.

Although the show ran throughout the summer using the name, a judge issued an injunction barring the new band from using the name, and throwing a bit of a wrench into the show’s finale – where the group was never once referred to by name.

The glam/goth singer Lukas Rossi won the right to “front” the band, and is expected to tour with the group starting with their first performance on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Rossi is also expected to be in the studio soon to do the vocal tracks for the band’s upcoming album.