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Supernova's Space22 August Observe, Explore and RockRock music is about exploring. As a musician, it's something you should always do. Imagine if, just because I was in Guns and Roses, I had said to myself: "I'm only going to be in a hard rock band." But I didn't. I explored. Playing with Nancy Sinatra for example. It's music I would have never played but Nancy is the one of the first rock and roll women and I learned so much from her. And the same thing playing with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. Those girls can rock as hard as just about anyone I know. When Ann Wilson sings Led Zeppelin, she sings it better than Robert Plant. To just close yourself off and say, "I don't want to explore different parts of myself in music," to me that's just not OK. When I was starting out, I never got advice from anyone. But I took things in. Every time I watched a guitar player, I didn't watch him thinking, I'm better that that guy— I watched him going, oh my God that's great! Let me see what I can learn from that. I think the Rockers could take a lot from that. Just observe. For instance, how come the guys in the House Band are so successful and have such great jobs? What are they doing? You really need to watch everything around you and take from it. The Rockers need to remember that we're comparing them to people like Freddie Mercury and Steven Tyler and Roger Daltrey—true Rock Stars. We're talking about guys who are hugely successful on so many fronts, and really, that's the standard the Rockers should be comparing themselves to. --posted by Gilby 15 August Gilby's Ultimate FrontpersonNow that we’re down to eight Rockers, I can say these people were probably the ones we were really considering to be in the band. I think that as of now, we’ve been right in our choices of who we’ve gotten rid of.
Listen, all these guys and girls can sing, so it’s important that they have what it takes to front the band. Meaning, do they perform well, do they look good, do they have the right attitude as the person who represents us.
There are three things that factor into being a great frontperson. Here’s an example: To me, Steven Tyler is the ultimate frontman. Not only can he sing well, but he performs well and he looks great. And Steven Tyler lives it every single day. He is that person all that time. And he’s an interesting person. That’s what you really want.
He also writes his songs. But, in terms of songwriting and who we choose, there are two sides to every coin. Roger Daltrey never wrote anything in The Who—Pete Townshend wrote everything— but Daltrey’s still probably one of the greatest frontmen around. Of course it’s great that the Rockers can write because you want them to contribute. When the singer is singing words they wrote, they can often relate to them better. But of course, that’s not always the case. Look at a band like Fall Out Boy— the bass player writes everything but the singer sings it. So it always works out differently.
Stagecraft is one of the most important elements for Supernova because we are going to be a very visual band. This is what’s going to set us apart from a lot of new bands. We want to bring back the big stage show. We don’t want to just be playing clubs and theaters; we want to move it up to the arena level. And we want it to be theatrical, we want it to be fun, so we’re going to need someone who can accomplish this. Someone who can really open up.
And really, when it comes down to it, we are a rock band, no matter what we’re trying to achieve, we are a down and dirty rock band. So it’s important that the Rockers have the same common thread. They’ve got to prove to us that they are rock people. That they are a rock star.
--posted by Gilby 08 August Bring the Fire, Bring the IntensityHere's something everybody should know and everybody should pay attention to: Bring the fire and bring the intensity.
Be willing to transform. And also stand up for yourself. But be careful against your defense mechanism. People, all people, should be careful about how cool they think they are. If you don't have enough to back it up. Really. Very, very few can back up that kind of attitude.
So it's really important that you listen to what we have to say. I'm not doing them a favor here. I'm also not here for anything but to get some business taken care of--to find our lead singer. It's certainly entertaining and fun but I'm still a very business-like person, even when I'm having fun. That's just how it is. Some of the Rockers need to realize what's at stake, what they're apart of. The incredible, incredible chance that they have here; the privilege. They should feel very fortunate.
They should also take care of themsleves, which some do very well. In our business if you don't take care of yourself, you will be a puddle on the floor after the first week. On the road, either you've got it together or you lose. Being a weak link in a big band is not a fun thing to be. You can't be that. You just can't. That's like a mantra amongst a band of power and magnitude like this: Nobody wants to be the weak link.
And be innovative. These performers are creating right on the spot in front of millions of viewers. And with credit to them, that takes some doing.
--posted by Jason 27 July What Supernova Is Looking ForMany elements are important when it comes to finding our lead singer for Supernova.
Understanding performance and understanding instrumentation is valuable. You don’t have to be super proficient on the instrument— what’s more essential is if you have knowledge of theory and knowledge of orchestration. If somebody has an understanding of what their role is in the orchestra/band; if they have an understanding of what’s it takes to make the music sound right to people, this is significant.
Also, being multi dimensional. Knowing about guitar solos, knowing about vocal fluctuations. You know, like how to sing, loud soft, loud soft! Just simple things. Dynamics. All very fundamental but not everybody has them. Dynamics take time to develop and hone. It’s never just “I read this in a book about dynamics and now I have dynamics!” That’s not possible. It’s gonna be hours and hours and week and weeks and months and months and years and years and hundreds of shows. Then— you have dynamics. It’s the only way to do
it. Sorry, but it just can’t be wished.
And musical innovation is important. To have an understanding of our (Supernova’s) music but also of the future—to be contemporary and beyond. Somebody coming into this will be a little younger than we are, so they should bring the flavor of their generation into our music. That’s something I’m really looking for.
American music history is really important to me; blues history and worldwide music for that matter, but especially American rock. So when a person has that knowledge, it’s great. Because when you’re touring and you’re on a plane and you’re hanging out and playing cards with your band mates and you’re getting through things, you need someone to banter with. Someone who can talk about Creedence Clearwater Revival or Black Sabbath or Cheap Trick. You need that! One of us! That’s what we want.
And on top of that, and this is imperative, we need a person who has character, depth and soul.
--posted by Jason
18 July The First Two Weeks With JasonYou might ask...why are you doing this? If I was worried about money I would have stayed in Metallica. So here's the deal --how can I get across some positive vibrations to people through the medium of television?
When I was growing up, learning albums, playing instruments and teaching myself without lessons, I received no advice. There wasn't an opportunity like this ever. You really had to do it on your own. So to have this kind of forum, to offer advice to people in a workshop atmosphere is really something special. And to all kinds of people...whether they're digging ditches or working in a slaughterhouse.
I have to admit, during the first week of auditions, I was sure that Supernova's singer was going to be a male. However, over the past two weeks, I've realized it doesn't matter. Gender doesn't play a part.
What matters? Attitude, style and individuality.
Now that we've gone through the second week of the show, the critique is beginning to sink in. Matt is gone. Chris is gone. When Matt was taken off the show, a lot of his comrades were upset. They didn't agree. But they also realized that anyone could exit. So this show is a real challenge for them. Everybody in this contest is automatically taken out of their box.
I am noticing that some of the Rockers need to watch their attitude. You want to have an open mind, but not so much that your brain falls out. I'm not sitting on that couch for my own thing. I'm sitting there to give constructive criticism--criticism these guys can use whether they're in Supernova or not. There's no need for me to talk about my past accolades but there is a reason for them. Discipline. This business is a lot more than having a glossy 8 x 10 and a limo!
So the Rockers should listen. Look, if I got to talk to Eric Clapton in a room for ten minutes, I'm soaking it up. I'm not going to say a damn thing unless he asks me a question.
Still, I'm not here to throw rocks. I don't make negative comments unless I have suggestions for a solution. And I have some useful solutions.
There is always a method to my madness. It's not my first rodeo. --posted by Jason |
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