Note: Originally Posted 8-23-06

So as most of you know, I am a big fan of the CBS show Rock Star.  I loved it last season with INXS.  I thought I would love it this season also as a new “super” group composed of Jason Newsted, Gilby Clarke, and Tommy Lee searched for their lead singer.

I was wrong.

The main reason I am not enjoying Rock Star: Supernova is because of Tommy Lee.  Tommy’s been through a lot of ups and downs during his career, and he’s survived them all.  And before this show, I actually liked Tommy Lee quite a bit.  I accepted him for what he was and appreciated the music he produced.

However, Tommy is guilty of insulting both the contestants and the viewers of his television show.  There are a few attractive women competing for the job of lead singer.  Tommy, at this point, invariably makes a sexual comment to them after their performance.  For instance, last night, after Storm Large gave her rendition of Aerosmith’s “Cryin’,” Tommy’s objective criticism went something like, “I want to see you without any clothes on.”  Sure, this may have been funny if it was just a one-time thing.  He’s a rock star, after all.  But, he’s doing this, particularly to Storm, now on a regular basis.  Unacceptable.  

It bothers me because Tommy is sending both Storm (who is a talented singer) and the viewing audience a message that he absolutely does not take her seriously.  And because Storm is one of the top two female singers in the competition, that tells us that he is not taking females seriously for the potential role of lead singer.

We all know Tommy is a sexual guy.  We all know Tommy likes the ladies.  Unfortunately, what he’s doing is at best condescending and at worst sexual harassment.  I mean, are we seriously supposed to think that Tommy is going to hire a woman he wants to see naked as his lead singer?  Are we supposed to believe Tommy can play in a band with a woman he wants to see naked and not wind up doing something that could split up the band? 

Gilby Clarke and Jason Newsted seem like classy guys, relatively speaking, and I think I sense them writhing in discomfort when Tommy hits on Storm.  I believe they see the writing on the wall, and Jason and Gilby have been through too much with, respectively, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses to let Tommy ruin Supernova before it has really gotten off the ground.

So what is the lesson here?  The lesson is that Supernova is not taking the females seriously, which means the last month and a half have been a joke.  If you want your lead singer to be a dude from the start, guys, then don’t make it open to females! 

Furthermore, do the ladies, all of whom seem to be taking their musical career very seriously, really want to join a band where they’re going to be treated like a piece of meat by one of the members and apparently hit on non-stop? 

I would hope the answer is no.