Supergroup (music)

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In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups".[1][2]

In some cases, an act will later be referred to as a supergroup when multiple members from said group end up securing individual fame later on. Supergroups are often short-lived, lasting only for an album or two, although this is not always the case, as some of the examples shown below demonstrate. They are sometimes formed as side projects that are not intended to be permanent, while other times can become the primary project of the band members' careers.

Contents

[edit] History

The term took its name from the 1968 album Super Session with Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, and Stephen Stills. The coalition of Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) is another early example, given the success of their prior bands (The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and The Hollies respectively). In 1969, Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner credited Cream with being the first supergroup.[3] Music writers have also applied the term, wrongly in the context of this article, to bands or vocal groups that sold huge numbers of albums, headlined massive concerts or have a high celebrity or media status, regardless of the previous (or even subsequently acquired) fame of their individual members, such as the band Led Zeppelin, wherein only Jimmy Page was well known at the time the group formed.[citation needed] The term is also used to describe existing bands whose members achieved individual fame after the band's founding, such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Genesis and Yes[citation needed].

There are also instances in which an existing band added a prominent new member or members, where the resulting group might have been considered a supergroup had it not kept its original band name, such as Van Halen after recruiting Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone, and the Eagles after hiring Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, and Styx, hiring Lawrence Gowan, and Ricky Phillips.

[edit] Criticism

In 1974, a Time magazine article entitled "Return of a Supergroup" quipped that the supergroup was a "potent but short-lived rock phenomenon" which was an "amalgam formed by the talented malcontents of other bands." The article acknowledged that groups such as Cream and Blind Faith "played enormous arenas and made megabucks, and sometimes megamusic", with the performances "fueled by dueling egos." However, while this "musical infighting built up the excitement...it also made breakups inevitable."[4]

Chris DeVille's 2008 article "Super or blooper?", which is subtitled "Supergroups: So much promise, so often squandered", notes that "when well-known rockers get together in new configurations, they're guaranteed lots of attention, but these ego summits rarely bear fruit as fresh as what made these guys famous in the first place."[5] DeVille praises supergroups such as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Fantômas (a post-Faith No More supergroup); and Velvet Revolver. However, he rates a number of other projects as "bloopers", including Blind Faith, the country supergroup The Highwaymen (which included Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson); The Traveling Wilburys (the Wilburys were seriously affected by the death of member Roy Orbison shortly after releasing their first album); Audioslave; Zwan; Eyes Adrift; and The Good, the Bad & the Queen.

[edit] Notable groups

 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008)

This list is of each band's founding line-up, and members who joined within a year of founding.

This list contains only groups which have performed more than a single song or live show together.

Founded Band/project name Members Notes Citations
1965 The Steampacket Albums: Steampacket, The First Supergroup
1966 Cream Albums: Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire, Goodbye [3]
1968 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Albums: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Déjà Vu, CSN, Daylight Again, American Dream, Live It Up, After the Storm and Looking Forward and three live albums [6][7]
The Dirty Mac [3]
1969 Blind Faith Albums: Blind Faith [8]
Humble Pie Albums: Humble Pie, Smokin', and more
1970 Emerson, Lake & Palmer Albums: Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Tarkus, Trilogy, and more [9]
Ginger Baker's Air Force Albums: Ginger Baker's Air Force, Ginger Baker's Air Force 2 [10]
Derek and the Dominos Albums: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
1971 Captain Beyond Albums: Captain Beyond, Sufficiently Breathless, Far Beyond a Distant Sun - Live Arlington, Texas and more.
1973 Journey
Albums: Journey, Look into the Future, Next, and more
Bad Company Albums: Bad Company, Straight Shooter, Run With the Pack and more. [11]
1975 Sonic's Rendezvous Band Albums: Sweet Nothing (1999), City Slang (2000), Sonic's Rendezvous Band (Box Set) (2006), Masonic Temple, Detroit 1978 (2007)
Little River Band Albums: Little River Band, After Hours, Diamantina Cocktail, Sleeper Catcher, First Under the Wire, Time Exposure and more [12]
1977 U.K.
Albums: U.K. (1978)
Danger Money (1979)
1981 New Race Albums: The First and Last
1982 Asia Albums: Asia, Alpha, Astra, Phoenix
1984 The Firm Albums: The Firm, Mean Business
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Albums: For full discography, see Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Power Station Albums: The Power Station, Living In Fear
1985 The Highwaymen Albums: Highwayman, Highwayman 2, The Road Goes on Forever
Gogmagog Albums: I Will Be There
1987 UGK Albums: Too Hard to Swallow, Super Tight, Ridin' Dirty, Dirty Money, Underground Kingz, UGK 4 Life
1988 Bad English Albums: Bad English, Backlash
Blue Murder
Albums: Blue Murder, Nothin' But Trouble
Alias Albums: Alias
Traveling Wilburys Albums: Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3
Mr. Big
Albums: Mr. Big (1989), Lean Into It (1991), Bump Ahead (1993), Hey Man (1996), Get Over It (2000), Actual Size (2001), What If... (2011)
Badlands
Albums: Badlands, Voodoo Highway
1989 Electronic

Occasionally joined by:

 Albums: Electronic (1991)
Damn Yankees Albums: Damn Yankees (1990), Don't Tread (1992)
1990 Don Dokken's backing band
Temple of the Dog
1991 Contraband
1992 Magdallan
Tex, Don and Charlie
  • Albums: Sad But True (1993), Monday Morning Coming Down (live album, 1995), All Is Forgiven (2005)
1993 Slash's Snakepit
1993–1995
1998–2002
 [13][14][15]
1994 Mad Season
The Backbeat Band
Foo Fighters
1995 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Cork [16]
Neurotic Outsiders Albums: Neurotic Outsiders (1996) [17]
1996 Westside Connection [18]
1997 LSG
1997 The Firm
1998 Fantômas
Bad Meets Evil
Liquid Tension Experiment
1999 Dark Lotus [19]
Broken Social Scene [20]
Dream Evil [21]
Lucy Pearl
A Perfect Circle [22]
Transatlantic
The Transplants
Rebel Meets Rebel Albums: "Rebel Meets Rebel" (2006)
The Wondergirls
  • Releases: Drop That Baby, Let's Go All The Way (1999)
Loaded Albums: Episode 1999: Live (1999), Dark Days (2001), Wasted Heart EP (2008), Sick (2009) [23][24][25][26]
2001 Son of Sam Albums: "Songs from the Earth" (2001)
The Philadelphia Experiment Albums: "The Philadelphia Experiment" (2001)
Audioslave Albums: Audioslave (2002), Out of Exile (2005), Revelations (2006) [27]
Spys4Darwin Albums: microfish (EP) (2001)
Khanate Albums: Khanate, Things Viral, Capture & Release, Clean Hands Go Foul
The Postal Service Albums: Give Up
Zwan Albums: Mary Star of the Sea
2002 Eyes Adrift Albums: Eyes Adrift (2002)
Box Car Racer
Velvet Revolver Albums: Contraband (2004), Libertad (2007)
Brides of Destruction [28][29][30][31][32]
2003 Living Loud
2004 Frost* Albums: Milliontown (2006), Experiments in Mass Appeal (2008)
Wintersun
  • Albums: Wintersun (2004), Time (~2009)
  • Until after the release of their first album, Jari handled all instruments except drums, which were left to Kai. Teemu and Jukka were hired to complete a touring-ready lineup.
The Sound of Animals Fighting Albums: Tiger and the Duke (2005), Lover, the Lord Has Left Us... (2006), The Ocean and the Sun (2008) DVD: We Must Become the Change We Want to See (2007)
Alter Bridge Albums: One Day Remains (2004), Blackbird (2007), AB III (2010)
Monsters of Folk Album: Monsters of Folk (2009)
Falcon Album: Unicornography (2006)
2005 Angels & Airwaves
Former member
Army of Anyone Album: Army of Anyone (2006)
Five Finger Death Punch
2006 Heaven and Hell Albums: Live from Radio City Music Hall (2007), The Devil You Know (2009)
  • A re-formation of the 1980-1982 Black Sabbath lineup.
Big Dirty Band
Another Animal Album: "Another Animal" (2007)
Scars on Broadway Album: Scars on Broadway, 2008
Black President
Thought Chamber
2007 Cavalera Conspiracy Albums: Inflikted (2008), Blunt Force Trauma (2011)
Magnetic Man Albums: Magnetic Man (2010)
Child Rebel Soldier
Northern Kings Albums: Reborn (2007), Rethroned (2008)
Against All Will Albums: A Rhyme and Reason (2009)
2008 Apparatjik Album: We Are Here, 2010
Chickenfoot Albums: Chickenfoot (2009), Chickenfoot III (2011)
Damnocracy
SMV Albums: Thunder, 2008
Orbs
United Nations Albums: United Nations, 2008
Slaughterhouse Albums: Slaughterhouse (2009)
Two Tongues Album: Two Tongues, 2009 [33]
2009 Isles & Glaciers Album: The Hearts of Lonely People, 2009 [34]
Ov Hell Album: The Underworld Regime, 2010 [35]
Basement Birds Album: Basement Birds, 2010 [36]
Duck Sauce Album: Greatest Hits, 2010
Shrinebuilder Album: Shrinebuilder, 2009 [37]
Tinted Windows Album: Tinted Windows, 2009 [38]
The Dead Weather Album: Horehound, 2009, Sea of Cowards, 2010 [39]
Them Crooked Vultures Album: Them Crooked Vultures, 2009 [40]
Dead by Sunrise Album: Out of Ashes, 2009
Atoms for Peace Album: TBA [41]
Broken Bells Album: Broken Bells, 2010
2010 Black Country Communion Albums: Black Country, 2010
2, 2011
The Damned Things Album: Ironiclast 14th, 2010
Burning Empires Album: TBA, 2010
How to Destroy Angels Album: How to Destroy Angels (album), June 2010
Symfonia Album: 2011
2011 Wild Flag Album: TBA, 2011
The Throne Album: Watch the Throne, August 2011
Adrenaline Mob Album: EP Adrenaline Mob, June 2011
SuperHeavy Album: SuperHeavy, September 2011
V.A. Playaz

[edit] Project supergroups

Question book-new.svg
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These were often one-show or one album projects, though some played more than one show, because all or most members were involved in other bands or groups.

Founded Band/project name Members Notes Citations
1956 Million Dollar Quartet Impromptu recording session later released as a 47 track compilation. Without Presley, the group would reunite in 1982 (The Survivors Live) and 1986 (Class of '55).
1966 Eric Clapton's Powerhouse The band did not release any albums, in fact, they recorded only three singles featured on the Elektra compilation What's Shakin'.
1967 The Super Super Blues Band Albums: Super Blues, The Super Super Blues Band
1968 The Dirty Mac They performed only once, at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus television event, and are featured on the soundtrack album released in connection with the show being issued on VHS.
1969 The Plastic Ono Band Albums: Live Peace in Toronto 1969, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, Sometime In New York City
1979 The Greedies Originally known as The Greedy Bastards, recorded one Christmas single, "A Merry Jingle."
1983 The Glove Album: Blue Sunshine (1983)
1984 Hindu Love Gods Album: Hindu Love Gods (1990)
1990 The Gak Played two charity concerts in 1990.
1992 Praxis Albums: Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis), Sacrifist, Metatron, Live in Poland, Transmutation Live, 1984, Mold, Warszawa, Collection, Tennessee 2004, Profanation (Preparation for a Coming Darkness)
1993 Automatic Baby One-time performance of U2's "One" during an MTV concert for President Bill Clinton.
1994 Bruce-Baker-Moore Albums: Around the Next Dream
1999 Avantasia Albums: The Metal Opera, Avantasia, The Metal Opera Part II, Lost in Space Part I, Lost in Space Part II, The Scarecrow
2000 The Word Album: "The Word" (2001)
2001 Oysterhead Album: The Grand Pecking Order (2001)
2002 Planet Us Songs: "Vertigo" and "Peeping Through a Hole". "Vertigo" was originally intended for the first Spider-Man movie, but it was turned down.
2004 Probot Albums: Probot
  • Features Dave Grohl playing most all of the instruments, along with one of his favorite heavy metal / punk rock vocalists on each track.
Tak Matsumoto Group Albums: TMG I
2005 Roadrunner United Albums: The All-Star Sessions. Released October 11, 2005 to commemorate Roadrunner's 25 anniversary.
2006 Tipton, Entwistle & Powell Albums: Edge of the World. The album was released in 2006, but was recorded in the mid-1990s.
Unnamed Band Albums: The Good, the Bad & the Queen [42]
2007 Liquid Trio Experiment Albums: Spontaneous Combustion
S.K.I.N. The band gave its debut performance on June 29, 2007 at the Anime Expo in Long Beach, California.

Albums: As of mid 2009, neither an album release date nor a full-time bass player have been announced.
2009 Operation Aloha Albums: Operation Aloha
Young Legionnaire
Blakroc Albums: Blakroc, 2009
The White Album Concert Toured Australia with the show The White Album Concert in 2009, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of The Beatles' classic album. This involved the listed performers collectively playing the entire double album live.

[edit] Charity supergroups

Main article: Charity supergroup

These are usually one-shot projects, organized to create a charity record to raise money or awareness for a cause or charity. Notable examples are Band Aid ("Do They Know It's Christmas?"), USA for Africa ("We Are the World") and Northern Lights ("Tears Are Not Enough").

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ supergroup definition - MSN Encarta
  2. ^ supergroup - yourdictionary.com
  3. ^ a b c "Show 53 - String Man. : UNT Digital Library". Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu. 1969. http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19835/m1/. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  4. ^ "Music: Return of a Supergroup". Time. 1974-08-05. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,879436,00.html. Retrieved 2010-05-24. 
  5. ^ Columbus Alive
  6. ^ "Crosby Stills and Nash". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/crosby-stills-and-nash. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
  7. ^ Wild, David. "Crosby, Stills and Nash Greatest Hits (review)". Rolling Stone, posted April 25, 2005. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/7072066/review/7235725/greatesthits. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
  8. ^ White, David. "Blind Faith - London Hyde Park 1969 DVD". About.com. http://classicrock.about.com/od/artistsaf/fr/blind_faith_dvd.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
  9. ^ Eder, Bruce. "allmusic.com entry for Emerson, Lake & Palmer". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4186. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  10. ^ "AllMusic (((Ginger Baker's Air Force > Biography)))". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p196908. Retrieved 2008-11-15. 
  11. ^ "Bad Company Biography". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/badcompany. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
  12. ^ "Little River Band". nostalgiacentral.com. http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/music/lrb.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2012. 
  13. ^ Tinelli, Paul. "Slash's Snakepit Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/slashs-snakepit-p424625/biography. Retrieved 2011-03-15. 
  14. ^ Huey, Steve. "Slash Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/slash-p125919/biography. Retrieved 2011-03-14. 
  15. ^ Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 406. ISBN 978-0 00-725775-1. 
  16. ^ "allmusic.com entry for Speed of Thought, Cork's debut album". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r421915. Retrieved 2008-08-02. 
  17. ^ "allmusic ((( Neurotic Outsiders > Overview )))". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r241012. Retrieved March 9, 2010. 
  18. ^ Bush, John. "Westside Connection". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p194861. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
  19. ^ True, Chris. "Dark Lotus". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p507519. Retrieved 2008-08-20. 
  20. ^ "Broken Social Scene". http://www.brokensocialscene.ca. 
  21. ^ "Dream Evil". http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1162. 
  22. ^ Freeman, Jason (April 30, 2009). "Supergroups can save the day". southtownstar.com. Retrieved on May 4, 2009.
  23. ^ Slash; Anthony Bozza, (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0 00-725775-1. 
  24. ^ "A Q&A with Mike Squires from Duff McKagan's Loaded". Blogger. http://shaundix91.blogspot.com/2009/12/q-with-mike-squires-from-duff-mckagans.html. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
  25. ^ "DUFF MCKAGAN's LOADED To Release New Album This Summer". Blabbermouth. 2008-02-12. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90599. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
  26. ^ "DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED Drummer Quits; Replacement Announced". Blabbermouth.net. September 12, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=126833. Retrieved September 12, 2009. 
  27. ^ Blashill, Pat. "Audioslave, Audioslave (review)". Rolling Stone, original publication date November 28, 2002. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/257215/audioslave. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
  28. ^ MOTORDOG Becomes BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION - Oct. 11, 2002
  29. ^ BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION Part Ways With ADEMA Drummer - Nov. 24, 2002
  30. ^ Metal Rules John Corabi Interview
  31. ^ JOHN CORABI Leaves BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION - Apr. 2, 2003
  32. ^ BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION Announce First Live Performances! - Dec. 9, 2002
  33. ^ "Two Tongues Release date | The Official Say Anything Site". Sayanythingmusic.com. http://www.sayanythingmusic.com/news/two-tongues-release-date. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  34. ^ AP: FEATURES - Isles & Glaciers Alternative Press. original publication date March 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  35. ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - OV HELL: Debut Album Title, Track Listing Revealed". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=131131. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  36. ^ "Basement Birds official website: About the band". http://www.basementbirds.com.au/about. Retrieved 2011-07-03. 
  37. ^ "Index of /artists/shrinebuilder". Neurotrecordings.com. http://www.neurotrecordings.com/artists/shrinebuilder/. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  38. ^ "Tinted Windows". Tintedwindowsmusic.com. http://www.tintedwindowsmusic.com/site/tintedwindowsmusic/section/name/press_release?site=tintedwindowsmusic. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  39. ^ "Home". The Dead Weather. http://www.thedeadweather.com/. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  40. ^ "Them Crooked Vultures". Them Crooked Vultures. 2010-06-30. http://www.themcrookedvultures.com/. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  41. ^ "Atoms For Peace.". Atomsforpeace.co.uk. http://atomsforpeace.co.uk/. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  42. ^ Harrington, Richard (2007-03-09). "Supergroup Dynamics". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/08/AR2007030800677.html. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
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