Rand is one of seven remaining hopefuls competing in television show Rockstar: Supernova.
The winner of the show will become the lead singer of rock hell-raiser Tommy Lee's new all-star band, which includes ex-Guns 'n Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.
Rand, a blonde-haired 28-year-old surfer from Melbourne, was one of the early favourites to win Rockstar: Supernova, but seven weeks into the series his popularity has fallen, with internet and text message voters around the world.
Things, however, are now looking up.
In the latest episode, Rand stripped naked for the right to sing the Peter Gabriel classic Solsbury Hill on the show, with Clarke accompanying him on guitar.
Lee, almost as famous for his exploits away from the music scene, including an X-rated video with former wife Pamela Anderson, applauded Rand's decision to bare all.
"After seeing you run around naked there's no question in my mind about your commitment," Lee said.
"This is what rock stars are all about, dude, and it was nice to see you being a maniac, so welcome.
"And Toby, by the way, nice arse."
Rand is well known in Melbourne's music scene for fronting band Juke Kartel. He worked at a Brunswick carpet company to make ends meet, but quit the job to fly to the US to compete in Rockstar: Supernova which is filmed each week in LA.
The show is the sequel to last year's series, which found a new lead singer for INXS.
Rand said he was not sure if his parents would be so appreciative of his naked romp, although he would do it again.
"What are you prepared to do next week? That's what the ladies want to know," host and former guitarist with Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Navarro, asked Rand in front of the show's live audience.
Rand thought for a moment, before replying: "I'm prepared to run down Melrose Avenue naked to get the song next week."
Rockstar: Supernova is shown in Australia on Foxtel's FOX8 channel.
The other competing singers come from the US, Canada, Iceland and South Africa and each week one is eliminated, with viewers around the world voting via the http://www.rockstar.msn.com website or via text message.
Rand and his rival contestants live in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, just a short drive from the million dollar home Thorpe bought as his LA base while training for next year's world swimming championships in Melbourne.
Rand and the other Rockstar: Supernova contestants last week had a taste of what their lives could be if they won when Lee flew them via private jet to Las Vegas for a boozy night out.
Rand lived it up.
Footage aired from the Vegas trip showed a groggy Rand telling Newsted at a bar: "I'm smashed."
Naked ambition ... Toby Rand, left, with mate and fellow band member Tommy Kende.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/performingmales
(August 23, 2006)
AAP
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