Jason Newstead's former band, Metallica, had a hit entitled "For Whom The Bell Tolls". What transpired yesterday was, for all intents and purposes, the bell tolling the death of hard rock music as we know it. When Supernova chose Lukas Rossi to be the lead singer of their fledgling project they sent a loud and clear message to the world that style, boisterous antics, and pomposity trump singing ability, song writing talent, and a team oriented spirit - traits that the other contestants had plenty of.
I doubt seriously that Supernova's decision was solely based on voter turnout. I think they merely used that as an excuse to placate those, who having good taste, would have chosen Toby, Dilana, or Magni over the Tasmanian Devil. Supernova's decision was in a sense a microcosm of what is wrong with music today. They in essence capitulated to the new trend in music that is so predominate in our era. If you look drugged out, behave spastically, and have an aloof air about you, your chances of being a star are greater than if you are a normal person with outstanding instrumental virtuosity, great vocal range, and superb song writing ability.
The vocal brilliance of Robert Plant, Steve Perry, David Coverdale, and Freddie Mercury of yesteryear are now replaced by the whinny growls of angst ridden 20 somethings. The illuminating lyrics of U2, Pink Floyd, and the Police, that shed light on the human condition, are now supplanted by the nihilism and self-loathing of a breed of musicians who are too self-absorbed to speak of anything other than themselves. The phenomenal dexterity and melodic creativity of guitarists like Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Jimmy Page are now marginalized in favor of no talent hacks that clumsily compose and perform every banal song with two or three cords.
Hard rock music is suffering from the same malady that our modern education system is suffering from - that of the tendency to dummy down everything to the lowest common denominator. Lucas Rossi's victory over a superior vocalist such as Dilana; his win over a much more creative song writer like Toby; and his being chosen over a much more versatile instrumentalist like Magni is direct proof that our music is in fact regressing along with many other facets of our society. It's no wonder that tripe like rap and hip-hop have pretty much monopolized the airwaves and topped the charts as of late. With the downfall of rock music being hastened with ascension of "artists" like Lukas, what else is left but to abandon the whole enterprise of music and revel in the mind numbing stupidity that is rap and hip-hop. There is a saying that states that all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. Similarly, the only thing that is required for rap and hip-hop to win the hearts and minds of youngsters is for "rock stars" not to live up to their name.
The sad thing is Tommy Lee, Jason Newstead, and Gilby Clark were all at the zenith of their careers when rock music was at its apex back in the late 70's and early to mid 80's. Yes hair and flare was popular back then as well, but there was something substantive and laudable during that time period when real musicians used rule the radio. It's sad that they have forgotten about their heyday, or have chosen to ignore it so they can sacrifice artistic integrity for business expedience. To choose that effeminate troll over three stellar musicians is repulsive. I don't care how profitable he might be in the short run.
It brings me comfort that so many people on this forum and others still look back on the old days of hard rock fondly. I hope Supernova's betrayal of the very fans that made each band member household names back in the 80s, will spell their own demise. I am looking forward to seeing their CDs in the discount bins at Walmarts and Targets around the country. I have been looking for some colorful coasters to rest my coffee mug on anyway. Who knows that crude, noisy, and juvenile alien that Supernova calls their lead vocalist can be used at Guantánamo or Abu Ghraib as a torture technique. Maybe Lukas' growl can be beneficial after all.