Supernova (band)

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For other uses, see Supernova (disambiguation).
Supernova
Origin Costa Mesa, California
Flag of the United States United States
Genre(s) Punk rock
Pop punk
Years active 1989–present
Label(s) Amphetamine Reptile Records
Sympathy for the Record Industry
Website Official website
Members
Art Mitchell
Dave "Nova" Collins
Jodey Lawrence (1994-present)
Former members
Hayden "Hank" Thais (1989-1994)

Supernova is an American pop punk band formed in 1989 in Costa Mesa, California. They've released three full-length albums on various labels, countless singles and EPs, and were part of the original Warped Tour in 1995. They are best known for their song "Chewbacca", which was featured on the soundtrack to Kevin Smith's 1994 independent film Clerks.

Contents

[edit] Career

Supernova formed in 1989 by drummer Dave Collins, bassist Art Mitchell, and guitarist Hayden Thais. The band gained a following from their energetic and often wacky live performances, but it wasn't until 1992 that the band started releasing 7" singles on various indie labels, some of which went on to be major hits on college radio and with the indie music scene.

Supernova got significant exposure in 1994 when their song "Chewbacca" was featured in the smash hit indie movie Clerks. Later that year, however, Thais left the group, later to join two other sci-fi punk bands, Servotron and Man or Astro-Man?. He was replaced by Jodey Lawrence.

1996 saw the release of Supernova's first album, Ages 3 & Up, released on Amphetamine Reptile Records. A single, "Vitamins", was released, and received radio airplay. In conjunction with the album, Supernova produced a 25-minute television pilot starring themselves entitled Last In Space: A Show for Kids?, an adult-oriented children's show chronicling their adventures within their 'space van', complete with musical numbers. The show wasn't picked up, but copies were distributed on VHS and are still being sold at shows.

1998 saw the release of Supernova's second album Rox, which was followed by the 2001 compilation album Pop as a Weapon, which collected tracks from the band's earlier years that, up until then, had only been available on vinyl.

Since its inception in 1989, Supernova has toured with a variety of well-known acts, including The Buzzcocks, Dick Dale, The Presidents of the United States of America, The Supersuckers, The Aquabats, Reel Big Fish, and Boss Hog. The band also has been a part of the 1999 Warped Tour and the 2006 Bamboozle festival.

In 2003, OC Weekly named them #86 in their "129 Greatest OC Bands Ever" article. [1]

As of 2007, Supernova is working on a new album. The band released a 7" single, "¡Diga Queso!", its first release since 2001's Pop as a Weapon, has been invited to play the Warped Tour for a third time.

The band performed its 1995 song "Up & Down" in a 2007 episode of the children's television show Yo Gabba Gabba! Lawrence also appeared in a separate episode's "Cool Tricks" segment, playing guitar alongside Eagle "Bones" Falconhawk of The Aquabats.

[edit] Band Mythology

Supernova in spaceman regalia.
Supernova in spaceman regalia.

Not unlike later related bands Servotron, Man or Astro-Man?, The Phenomenauts, and the Aquabats Supernova is distinctive for its science-fiction inspired theatrics, including a (supposedly) fictitious backstory.

The origin of Supernova begins on the peaceful planet of Cynot 3, a distant planet inhabited by kind folk who spend their days relaxing and searching for aluminum foil. One day in 1989, Cynot 3's arch-nemeses, The Smarmies (creatures bent on destroying the world with good will & love), blow up the planet in a supernova, forcing the inhabitants to flee. Three native Cynotians, Art, Jo, and Dave, escape just in time in their rock n' roll-fueled spaceship and crash-land in Costa Mesa, California, where they decide to start their very own rock band.

At live shows, the band dresses in silver jumpsuits and custom-made space helmets. Tin foil remains a major part of the Supernova experience: fans are encouraged to wear foil accessories (most venues offer ticket discounts for those who do) and, at the insistence of the band, try to pelt the members in the face with foil balls.

Art's claim is that he has never been hit in the face ever even though he has been hit in what most would consider his face. When asked, Art explained his face is "anywhere I don't get hit." Dave and Jodey make no such claim.

[edit] "Rock Star" Dispute

In mid-2006, CBS launched the second season of their hit reality television show Rock Star, in which aspiring singers compete to become the lead singer of a featured band. The band created for the season, which included musicians Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted, and Gilby Clark, was to be named "Supernova".

On 27 June 2006, the former bandmembers of the Orange County Supernova band filed a lawsuit against CBS, Mark Burnett, and Rockstar Entertainment seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as trademark protection of the "Supernova" name and the destruction of all Rock Star materials bearing the name "Supernova". One of the primary pieces of evidence was a MySpace message from Rock Star producer Butch Walker in which he notes that the defendants had been informed of the existence of a prior band of the same name, but decided to proceed anyway.[1]

The defendants did not believe that the plaintiffs had exclusive and enforceable trademark rights to the band name "Supernova" for a number of reasons, including that the Orange County Supernova band had not performed for years, that they were not the only band who used the name "Supernova", and that their trademark rights had never been very strong.

On September 12, 2006, the judge ruled in favor of the original Supernova, granting their request for a preliminary injunction. The injunction kept the producers and musicians of Rock Star from performing, recording, or selling merchandise under the name "Supernova" pending the outcome of the lawsuit. As a result, the CBS band was simply renamed "Rock Star Supernova". The lawsuit was dropped soon thereafter.

[edit] Discography

Supernova performing live at The Glass House Record Store in Pomona, California.
Supernova performing live at The Glass House Record Store in Pomona, California.

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

  • More Songs About Hair (1993, Oddessy Records)
  • Live at the Lava Room (1997, What Else Records)

[edit] Singles

[edit] Non-album tracks/compilations


[edit] References

  1. ^ "Supernova Sue 'Rock Star: Supernova' Producers, Bandmembers", Chris Harris, MTV News, posted July 11, 2006, accessed July 18, 2006.

[edit] External links