PunkNews.org is reporting that '90s punk/pop trio SUPERNOVA (MySpace page) has found itself in a conflict with the new the new band featuring former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted, ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke and MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee. The original SUPERNOVA was formed in 1989 in Costa Mesa, California and released their first record, "Ages Three and Up", on Atlantic followed by dates on the Warped Tour in 1995 and 1999 and a tour with the BUZZCOCKS. The band also recorded the famous track "Chewbacca" for Kevin Smith's "Clerks". The band has run into conflict with a new "Rock Star" reality show project, which will feature an unknown fronting a group backed by Lee, Newsted and Clarke. According to the established SUPERNOVA, the major label, when confronted, "flipped the real SUPERNOVA the royal corporate bird."

In a recent appearance on the "Camp Freddy Radio" show on Indie 103.1 FM, Newsted dismissed suggestions that the new SUPERNOVA could end up running into some legal trouble down the line over their name. "There was once a band called that [SUPERNOVA], and they had a song in the movie 'Clerks', I think in '93 or '94," Newsted said. "[But the people behind the 'Rock Star' program] worked it out to trademark the name and do all the proper things you're supposed to do with a band, and there was a couple of other bands that had it in their name amongst a few other words, but that's all been worked out, and we are the one and only SUPERNOVA."

The original SUPERNOVA continues to tour in support of their 2002 release, "Pop as a Weapon", which was released on Sympathy for the Record Industry. Upcoming dates are as follows:

May 13 - Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA
May 16 - 2006 Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA
May 17 - Slim's - San Francisco, CA
May 18 - El Dorado - Lancaster, CA
May 19 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
May 20 - Alpine - Ventura, CA