Supergroup (music)
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2008) |
A supergroup is a music group whose members are already successful as solo artists or as part of other groups.
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, producing only for an album or two, but this is not always the case as some of the examples shown below demonstrate. They are sometimes formed as side projects and thus not intended to be permanent, while other times can become the primary project of the members' careers.
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History [edit]
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.[1] 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.
Criticism [edit]
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."[2]
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."[3] 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 and western supergroup The Highwaymen (who were a supergroup specifically of the Outlaw Country subgenre of country music and 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.
Notable groups [edit]
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This section needs additional citations for verification. (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.
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (July 2008) |
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 |
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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 | ||
| 1970 | Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends |
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Album: Smoke and Fire | |
| 1979 | The Greedies |
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Originally known as The Greedy Bastards, recorded one Christmas single, "A Merry Jingle." | |
| 1983 | The Glove | Album: Blue Sunshine (1983) | ||
| 1984 | Hindu Love Gods |
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Album: Hindu Love Gods (1990) | |
| 1990 | The Gak | Played two charity concerts in 1990. | ||
| 1992 | Praxis |
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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 |
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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 | Global Trotters |
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Albums: Drive, GLOBAL TROTTERS PROJECT volume I - DRIVE.
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| 2000 | The Word | Album: "The Word" (2001) | ||
| 2001 | Oysterhead | Album: The Grand Pecking Order (2001) | ||
| 2002 | Planet Us |
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Songs: "Vertigo" and "Peeping Through a Hole". "Vertigo" was originally intended for the first Spider-Man movie, but it was turned down. | |
| 2004 | Probot |
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Albums: Probot
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| Tak Matsumoto Group |
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Albums: TMG I | ||
| 2005 | Roadrunner United |
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Albums: The All-Star Sessions. Released October 11, 2005 to commemorate Roadrunner's 25 anniversary. | |
| 2005 | Men with Banjos (who Know How to Use Them) |
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Performed at the 2005 New Yorker Festival and on Late Show with David Letterman | |
| 2006 | Tipton, Entwistle & Powell |
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Albums: Edge of the World. The album was released in 2006, but was recorded in the mid-1990s. | |
| Unnamed Band |
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Albums: The Good, the Bad & the Queen | [41] | |
| 2007 | Liquid Trio Experiment | Albums: Spontaneous Combustion | ||
| S.K.I.N. |
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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. |
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| 2008 | Fear And The Nervous System | Album: Fear And The Nervous System | ||
| 2009 | Operation Aloha |
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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. | |||
| 2010 | NKOTBSB | Albums: NKOTBSB (2011) They recorded two new songs together, a mash-up track, and released a compilation album featuring said tracks. The supergroup also toured North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia in 2011-2012. |
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| 2012 | Hey! Portlandisonfire |
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Albums: We Are Your Rough Hands Blowing Smoke Rings (2013). Starting in 2013, Dallas Green is relocating to the UK for this secret Sideproject. |
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| 2012 | Tainted Nation | Albums: F.E.A.R. (2013). Starting in 2013 |
Charity supergroups [edit]
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").
See also [edit]
- List of grunge supergroups
- List of progressive rock supergroups
- Superstar: a term applied to some celebrities
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "Show 53 - String Man. : UNT Digital Library". Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu. 1969. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Music: Return of a Supergroup". Time. 1974-08-05. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
- ^ Columbus Alive
- ^ "Crosby Stills and Nash". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ Wild, David. "Crosby, Stills and Nash Greatest Hits (review)". Rolling Stone, posted April 25, 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ White, David. "Blind Faith - London Hyde Park 1969 DVD". About.com. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "allmusic.com entry for Emerson, Lake & Palmer". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
- ^ "AllMusic (((Ginger Baker's Air Force > Biography)))". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ "Bad Company Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ "Little River Band". nostalgiacentral.com. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ Tinelli, Paul. "Slash's Snakepit Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Slash Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
- ^ Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 406. ISBN 978-0-00-725775-1.
- ^ "allmusic.com entry for Speed of Thought, Cork's debut album". Retrieved 2008-08-02.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Neurotic Outsiders > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
- ^ Bush, John. "Westside Connection". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ True, Chris. "Dark Lotus". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ "Broken Social Scene".
- ^ "Dream Evil".
- ^ Freeman, Jason (April 30, 2009). "Supergroups can save the day". southtownstar.com. Retrieved on May 4, 2009.
- ^ Slash; Anthony Bozza, (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-725775-1.
- ^ "A Q&A with Mike Squires from Duff McKagan's Loaded". Blogger. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
- ^ "DUFF MCKAGAN's LOADED To Release New Album This Summer". Blabbermouth. 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
- ^ "DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED Drummer Quits; Replacement Announced". Blabbermouth.net. September 12, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
- ^ Blashill, Pat. "Audioslave, Audioslave (review)". Rolling Stone, original publication date November 28, 2002. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ MOTORDOG Becomes BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION - Oct. 11, 2002
- ^ BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION Part Ways With ADEMA Drummer - Nov. 24, 2002
- ^ Metal Rules John Corabi Interview
- ^ JOHN CORABI Leaves BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION - Apr. 2, 2003
- ^ BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION Announce First Live Performances! - Dec. 9, 2002
- ^ "Two Tongues Release date | The Official Say Anything Site". Sayanythingmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ AP: FEATURES - Isles & Glaciers Alternative Press. original publication date March 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
- ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - OV HELL: Debut Album Title, Track Listing Revealed". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Basement Birds official website: About the band". Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ "Index of /artists/shrinebuilder". Neurotrecordings.com. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Tinted Windows". Tintedwindowsmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Home". The Dead Weather. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Them Crooked Vultures". Them Crooked Vultures. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Atoms For Peace.". Atomsforpeace.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Lizardo, Altagracia (April 18, 2010). "Fluye el talento entre Jorge, Lena y Alex" (in Spanish). El Informador. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (2007-03-09). "Supergroup Dynamics". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
