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Rossi Under Restraint
Toronto singer Lukas Rossi promises a sexually tamer show when Rockstar Supernova pulls into Massey Hall tomorrow night.
The band that sprang from the second season of last summer's CBS reality-TV show, Rockstar: Supernova, got off to a lascivious start on New Year's Eve in Sin City with a raunchy spoken-word introduction by Rossi that wouldn't have been out of place in Penthouse.
"I want to use that intro, but it depends because there are some kids that come to our shows. I don't want to pollute their minds before they get a chance to get polluted themselves," said Rossi, 31, in an exclusive Canadian newspaper interview with Sun Media in the dressing rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel's The Joint the day after the tour launch in Las Vegas.
"It's f---in' rock 'n' roll man, but it doesn't mean we have to be f---in' belligerent. If there's young fans coming, there won't be any bulls--t like that."
The tour opener by Rockstar Supernova -- rounded out by Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt (filling in for an injured Jason Newsted, formerly of Metallica) -- also employed the use of "the titty cam."
Basically, Lee operated a video camera that encouraged females in the audience to flash their breasts, something that's hard to imagine happening at Massey Hall.
"Well, that's up to Uncle T, man," said Rossi with a sly smile. "No, at Massey Hall, you sit down and s--t. You know what? We're just going to feel it. I won't allow that if there's children and s--t."
Surprisingly, given the assembled players and their back catalogues, there were no Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses or Black Crowes covers in the set list at the tour launch.
Rossi said there was some discussion about that but he was against it.
"There was talk about that but I just don't want to bring the past into the future and I think the guys agreed on that," he said. "It's open for conversation, I guess. It's just I don't think we need to do that right now. I don't think people want to hear that. I mean, sure, there's a lot of people who do. But the majority, I think, they're interested in Supernova, the band, not ex-members of (other) bands."
Unlike the Vegas launch, the Massey Hall show will also have three openers all related to the reality-TV show: Finalist Toby Rand's band Juke Kartel, finalist Dilana, and judge Dave Navarro's band The Panic Channel.
"We have a sold-out show there, so that's going to be crazy, man," said Rossi. "Toronto, Canada is where my heart is, man. Again, I was raised there my whole life and I learned the ups and downs of life there. Yeah, it'll probably be the most special one. They're all special to me, but that'll be the most touching, I guess. I'll be a little nervous. It'll be amazing."
The Torontonian, who at the time of the interview remained estranged from his family, said he only gets six comped tickets, but is willing to bring more people into Massey Hall if he has to.
"Hey man, they're going to come in with me -- even if they're just fans walking down the street. I don't care. I don't give a s--t. You can't put limitations on a fan's love, man. I don't care. I'll pay for a ticket myself, just to show some love."
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What Rockstar Supernova played at their North American tour launch in Las Vegas:
SETLIST
Underdog
Be Yourself (And 5 Other Cliches)
It's On
It's All Love
Can't Bring Myself To Light This Fuse (With Strings)
Valentine
Social Disgrace
Headspin
Bittersweet Symphony (With Strings)
Make No Mistake ... This Is The Take
The Dead Parade (With Strings)
Leave The Lights On
ENCORE
Let's Spend The Night Together
Jane Stevenson, Toronto Sun
2007 Toronto Sun