IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP IF YOU WANT TO ROCK 'N' ROLL `SUPERNOVA' IN SEARCH OF HEAVY METTLE.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

On ``Rock Star: Supernova,'' the series that turns the ``American Idol'' formula up to 11, what you'll see on TV tonight is only the half of it.

During twice-weekly tapings, the banter between contestants and the grizzled panel of hard-rock veterans often delves into areas that could make Dr. Drew blush. But almost none of it reaches the airwaves.

Completely unscripted and loose as amateur night at the Frisky Kitty, ``Rock Star: Supernova'' is a high-octane rush for those in attendance when cameras roll at CBS Television City.

During a recent Sunday taping, risque dialogue between rock rebel Storm Large and ``Rock Star's'' judging panel of tattooed and pierced love boys Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N' Roses) and Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica) -- and host Dave Navarro -- ended up on the cutting room floor when the episode aired two nights later.

Hey, what do you expect from two guys (Lee and Navarro) who are happily dating porn stars?

Now in its second season, the loud, amusing show gives fans of hard rock their very own ``American Idol.'' The premise: drummer Lee, guitarist Clarke and bassist Newsted must winnow the list of contestants to find a lead singer for their new band Supernova. Devilish Dave, the Jane's Addiction guitarist and five-minute member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, plays the acid-tongued referee.

``The singers are really good this year,'' the irrepressible Lee said at the studio, where he acts the provocateur on and off the set. ```American Idol' is karaoke for kids. These are real rock singers who have some experience.''

Last year's debut season placed singer J.D. Fortune as frontman of INXS. The year, the stakes in reality-TV producer Mark Burnett's sexy 13-week summer series are even higher. Once they settle on a singer, the members of Supernova will finish their first album for Epic and hit the road for a world tour in 2007.

``The thing is, whoever it is has to be really super good,'' Clarke said. ``They have to bring a whole lot to the table. We're talking about a singer that's got to stand in front of Tommy Lee while he's playing drums. We don't want the audience to spend the whole time trying to see what Tommy's doing while the singer is standing there trying to distract them.''

The 15 finalists for the lead-singer opening were chosen after a search that attracted 25,000 hopefuls in 22 cities and six continents. The winner will be selected during a two-hour finale on Sept. 27.

Unlike ``American Idol,'' viewer votes only influence the outcome but don't determine who gets voted off each week. On ``Rock Star: Supernova,'' the three rockers with the fewest votes each week are deemed eligible to leave. At that point, they must battle for survival by performing a song in front of the audience and panel. Ultimately, Supernova chooses who to eliminate each week.

Here's a look at the scene backstage, some of the top contenders and the impressive House Band.

BACKSTAGE

TV studios are usually utilitarian habitats with little personality aside from welded, plastered sets and eye-catching ephemera for the camera.

Those sets are surrounded by soulless offices and dressing rooms resembling little more than glorified cubicles.

At the Hollywood tapings of ``Rock Star: Supernova,'' the backstage scene is perfectly in sync with a lavish set that makes you think of King Kong's lair relocated to a New Orleans bordello.

Upstairs, in his dressing room, the bordello is in full swing, and Tommy Lee is handling the Kong role.

The other week, candles burned in Lee's lair, and every other available light was draped in scarves. White wine was flowing (admittedly in paper cups), and a head-turning harem was draped on every available surface, including Tommy Lee.

Lee's sly grin greeted a wide-eyed visitor.

``This is awesome,'' the perpetual teenager said. ``It's totally rad. We get to be ourselves, have fun on and off stage, invite our friends and have a good time.''

Tall, constantly in motion and tattooed on all visible areas, Lee is the personification of ``Rock Star: Supernova.'' And he's having the time of his life.

After the taping, when the audience had cleared out and the crew was busy packing up, Lee stuck around to bash the drums, throwing his sticks high in the air and catching them, just as he does in the Crue. ``I (expletive) love to play the drums,'' he murmured to no one in particular.

THE SINGERS

Some of the season's remaining favorites include:

Zayra Alvarez: The sassy Puerto Rican songstress has frequently stolen the show, and revealing outfits like her skintight blue catsuit have sparked bawdy conversation with the boys. (Memorable performance: the Kinks' ``You Really Got Me'')

Dilana: Tattooed, talented and diminutive, this gutsy South African-born singer-songwriter counts Tina Turner among her musical idols. (Cyndi Lauper's ``Time After Time'')

Lukas Rossi: A Canadian musical chameleon with a wealth of experience, he's got a soulful voice, charisma and a brave front. (Radiohead's ``Creep'')

Storm Large: Tall and lanky, this Bay Area rock refugee is fearless in front of the show's panel of rock vets. In relentless give-and-take with the guys, Storm gives it right back and brings the house down at tapings -- but her comments are usually edited out when the show hits the airwaves. (Queen's ``We Are the Champions'')

HOUSE BAND

One of the most talked-about aspects of ``Rock Star'' is the use of an unusually high-quality house band -- remarkably called the House Band -- which often outshines the contestants and could probably outplay the members of Supernova on a nightly basis.

``Rock Star's'' resident ensemble was put together from scratch by the show's music producer Clyde Lieberman, who assembled the five-member group for the series' first season last year.

Personality and looks were as important as superior musicianship. ``We weren't looking for studio musicians or pros who spent too long in music school who needed to have everything written down,'' Lieberman said. ``We wanted a loose, tight rock band that looked like a rock band. We wanted players who looked like they were having a good time up there.''

Asked about the House Band, all three members of Supernova answered in the affirmative, using varying degrees of profanity. ``They rock hard,'' Newsted said. ``They're a really great band,'' said Clarke. Lee's colorful enthusiasm has been edited out.

``This isn't `American Idol,' where everything's taped,'' Lieberman said. ``We want a real music show, with real live performances. We want to take chances. We want the audience to wonder what's going to happen next.''

The House Band is led by Paul Mirkovich, keyboard player and musical director, who previously worked with Cher, Janet Jackson and others.

His seasoning is evident. At short notice -- often the day of a taping -- Mirkovich helps ``Rock Star'' contestants arrange their songs and most importantly cut the tunes -- some famously difficult -- down from their original length to about 90 seconds each.

``I guess the one I'm most proud of was (Queen's) `Bohemian Rhapsody,' which we did with all the harmony vocals and the guitar solo in about a minute and a half. That's the sort of thing we do.''

The other House Band members are drummer Nate Morton, whose resume includes stints with Chaka Khan and Vanessa Carlton; rhythm guitarist Jim McGorman, formerly of the New Radicals and Michelle Branch's band; bassist Sasha Krivtsov, who worked with James Blunt and Billy Idol and was in one of Russia's most popular hard-rock bands; and Brazilian guitarist Rafael Moreira, who played with Pink.

The five are excellent musicians. The members of Supernova have mentioned the House Band's versions of Stone Temple Pilots' ``Plush'' and their two-guitar reading of Lauper's ``Time After Time'' as evidence.

The future for the House Band?

``The dream would be the winner goes with Supernova and the runner-up becomes part of the House Band, and we go on the road opening for Supernova,'' Lieberman says.

Fred Shuster, [phone]

[e-mail]

ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA

What: Rockers Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted and Gilby Clarke search for a lead singer for their new band Supernova. One of eight remaining contestants will be eliminated tonight. Dave Navarro hosts, Brooke Burke announces.

When: 8 tonight. Show airs 9 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 27.

Where: CBS.

`ROCK STAR' LIVE ON STAGE

``Rock Star: Supernova'' is coming to Universal CityWalk.

On Aug. 25, the remaining contestants on the hard-rocking reality series will perform two songs each, probably backed by the show's House Band, as part of Star 98.7 host Richard Blade's weekly night at the shopping and entertainment complex.

Admission is free, and the event starts at 7:30 p.m.

Mig Ayesa from last year's ``Rock Star: INXS'' opens the show.

CAPTION(S):

7 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) ROCK IT SCIENCE

`Supernova' searches for a no-holds-barred singing sensation

(2 -- 5 -- color) From top, ``Rock Star'' contestants Zayra Alvarez, Dilana, Lukas Rossi and Storm Large.

Danny Moloshok/Blue Pixel

(6 -- 7 -- color) Top photo, Dave Navarro, left, Tommy Lee and Jason Newsted critique one of the contestants. Above, the ``Rock Star'' House Band is, clockwise from top left, Jim McGorman, Nate Morton, Rafael Moreira, Paul Mirkovich and Sasha Krivtsov.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box:

`ROCK STAR' LIVE ON STAGE (see text)