Supergroup (music)

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In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe music groups comprising members who had already achieved fame or respect in other groups or as individual artists. The term took its name from the 1968 album Super Session with Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, and Stephen Stills. The coalition of Crosby, Stills and Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young) is another early example, given the success of their prior bands (The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and The Hollies).

With the success of Cream, of whom only Eric Clapton was widely known, the term came to include groups that sold huge numbers of albums and headlined massive concerts regardless of the previous fame of their individual members. However, the term as correctly applied refers to the architecture of the group, not the achievements. The term also generally does not encompass existing bands whose members achieved individual fame after the band's founding, though some have chosen to retroactively deem such bands (including Genesis, Yes, and Broken Social Scene) to be supergroups. 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. By any standards, it is not a rigidly defined category and has become, more than anything, a marketing term.

Supergroups (of the strict definition) tend to be short-lived, often lasting only for an album or two, perhaps because of the natural conflict of egos between established stars. Additionally, supergroups are often formed as side-projects that are not intended to be permanent.

Contents

1 Notable supergroups
2 Charity supergroups
3 Other supergroups
4 See also

Notable supergroups

Temple Of The Dog: Chris Cornell (Audioslave/Former Soundgarden); Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam/Former Soundgarden); Eddie Vedder, Matt McCready, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam).
A Perfect Circle: Maynard James Keenan (Tool); Josh Freese (The Vandals), James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins); Jeordie White (aka Twiggy Ramirez of Marilyn Manson, also of Nine Inch Nails); (Former or Temporary Members) Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails), Tim Alexander (Primus); Paz Lenchantin (Zwan) ; Troy Van Leeuwen (Failure)''
Asia: Geoff Downes (Yes and Buggles), John Wetton (King Crimson and UK), Steve Howe (Yes), and Carl Palmer (Emerson Lake and Palmer and Atomic Rooster)
Audioslave: Chris Cornell (Soundgarden); Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine).
Bad Company: Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke (Free); Mick Ralphs (Mott The Hoople); Boz Burrell (King Crimson).
Blind Faith: Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker (Cream); Steve Winwood (Traffic); Ric Grech (Family).
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: David Crosby (The Byrds); Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield); Graham Nash (The Hollies); Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield)
Damn Yankees: Ted Nugent; Jack Blades (Night Ranger); Tommy Shaw (Styx)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Keith Emerson (The Nice); Greg Lake (King Crimson); Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster).
Power Station: Robert Palmer; John Taylor and Andy Taylor (Duran Duran); Tony Thompson (CHIC).
Traveling Wilburys: Roy Orbison; Tom Petty; George Harrison (The Beatles); Bob Dylan; Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra).
Velvet Revolver: Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots); Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses); Dave Kushner (Wasted Youth)

Charity supergroups

All-Star Tribute: Covered What's Going On as a tribute to 9/11
Artists United Against Apartheid
Band Aid: Three groups of British artists who released "Do They Know It's Christmas?" firstly in 1984, then in 1989 and finally in 2004 as part of Live Aid
Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars
Hear 'n Aid, a heavy metal charity organized by Ronnie James Dio
Northern Lights: Canadian supergroup, recorded "Tears Are Not Enough" in 1984 to combat famine in Ethiopia (song was later included in the USA for Africa album).
One World Project
Rockestra: large group led by Paul McCartney and featuring Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, John Paul Jones and John Bonham; recorded "Let It Be", "Lucille", "Rockestra Theme", and "So Glad to See You Here" to benefit people of Cambodia suffering from Pol Pot's reign. Released as a promotional EP and film.
USA for Africa: 45 American recording artists who recorded "We Are the World" in 1984 to combat famine in Ethiopia as the American part of Live Aid
Voices That Care: a group of musicians, entertainers and athletes who recorded the song with the same name for the U.S. troops in Operation Desert Storm.

Other supergroups

Alice Mudgarden: All the members of Alice In Chains, Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, later Audioslave), Mark Arm (Green River, Mudhoney).
Alter Bridge: Myles Kennedy (The Mayfield Four); Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips, and Brian Marshall (Creed)
Angels and Airwaves: Tom Delonge (blink-182, Box Car Racer); Atom Willard (The Offspring, Alkaline Trio), Ryan Sinn (The Distillers); David Kennedy (Hazen Street, Box Car Racer).
Arcade: Stephen Pearcy (ratt), Fred Coury (Cinderella), Frank Wisley (Sea Hags)
Arc Angels: Charlie Sexton, Doyle Bramhall II, with Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton (both of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble).
Arcturus: black/avantgarde metal supergroup consisting of Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs (ex-Borknagar, Dimmu Borgir); Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem, Winds, Thorns); Steinar Sverd Johnsen (ex-Covenant, ex-Ulver, ex-Satyricon); Knut Magne Valle (ex-Ulver), Hugh "Skoll" Mingay (ex-Ulver, ex-Ved Buens Ende) and Tore Moren (Carnivora) (former members include
Army of Anyone: Richard Patrick (Filter), Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots), Ray Luzier (David Lee Roth)
Army of the Pharaohs: Apathy, Chief Kamanchi, Crypt The Warchild of Outerspace, Planetary of Outerspace, King Syze, Reef The Lost Cauze, Faez One, Des Devious, 7L & Esoteric, Celph Titled, and Vinnie Paz
Asesino: Dino Cazares (Fear Factory), Tony Campos, Emilio Marquez, Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed).
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Bad English: John Waite (The Babys), Neal Schon (Santana, Journey), Jonathan Cain (The Babys, Journey), Ricky Phillips (The Babys), Dean Castronovo (several groups).
Beck, Bogert & Appice: Power trio formed by guitarist Jeff Beck with Vanilla Fudge's Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice.
The Bens: Ben Folds, Ben Kweller, and Ben Lee.
Bloodbath: Death metal supergroup consisting of Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity); Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström (Katatonia); Martin Axenrot (now Opeth) (former members
Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C.
Brakes: The band is made up from Eamon Hamilton of British Sea Power, Tom and Alex White of The Electric Soft Parade and Marc Beatty from The Tenderfoot.
Bruderschaft: European futurepop supergroup consisting of DJ Rexx Arkana, Ronan Harris of VNV Nation, Sebastian Komor of Icon of Coil, Stephan Groth of Apoptygma Berzerk and Joakim Montelius of Covenant.
Broken Social Scene: Kevin Drew, Amy Millan, Leslie Feist, Emily Haines
Burden Brothers: Vaden Lewis (Toadies), Taz Bentley (Reverend Horton Heat, Tenderloin, Izzy Stradlin's band, Loaded), Casey Hess (Doosu, Jump Rope Girls), Corey Rozzoni (Clumsy); (former members
Captain Beyond: Rod Evans (Deep Purple); Rhino Rheinhardt and Lee Dorman (Iron Butterfly); Bobby Caldwell (The Johnny Winter Band)
Casbah Club: Simon Townshend (The Who), Bruce Foxton (The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers), Mark Brzezicki (The Cult, Procol Harum, Big Country) and Bruce Watson (Big Country).
Class of '99: Layne Staley (Alice in Chains); Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine); Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction); Martyn LeNoble (Porno for Pyros)
Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains: Les Claypool and Brian Mantia (Primus); Buckethead (Guns N' Roses); Bernie Worrell (Parliament/Funkadelic)
Contraband: Bobby Blotzer (Ratt), Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, Michael Schenker Group), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Share Pedersen (Vixen), and Richard Black (Shark Island). The band released one album in 1991.
Cry Cry Cry: a folk supergroup of Richard Shindell, Dar Williams, and Lucy Kaplansky
Cyberaktif: cEvin Key & Dwayne Goettel of Skinny Puppy, with Bill Leeb of Front Line Assembly/Delerium.
The Damage Manual: A quartet of prominent industrial musicians; Chris Connelly, Martin Atkins, Jah Wobble and Geordie Walker.
Dark Lotus: A supergroup consisting of members of Psychopathic Records. Members include Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope (Insane Clown Posse), Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child (Twiztid), Blaze Ya Dead Homie, & Anybody Killa (who replaced rapper Marz after the first album)
Damnocracy: Created for VH1's reality show SuperGroup. Features Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Ted Nugent, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Evan Seinfeld of Biohazard, and Jason Bonham, son of famed Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.
The Daredevils: Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion); Gore Verbinski (Little Kings); Dean Opseth (Medicine); Josh Freese (The Vandals)
Dark new Day: Brett Hestla of Virgos Merlot, Troy McLawhorn of Doubledrive, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, Corey Lowery of Stereomud, and Will Hunt of Skrape.

Def Squad: Redman, Erick Sermon, and Keith Murray

Demons and Wizards: Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian); Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth).
Dirty Mac: Made up of John Lennon (The Beatles), Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), Eric Clapton, Ivry Gitlis, Yoko Ono and Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience). Performed 2 songs on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.
Dodgin' Bullets: Hardcore supergroup consisting of members of xDisciplex A.D., No Innocent Victim, and Shockwave. Members include Dan Quiggle and Tom Engler, vocals; Tim Mason and Neil Hartman, guitar; Kyle Fisher, bass; and Jason Dunn; drums.
Down: Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown (Pantera); Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity); Kirk Windstein (Crowbar); Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod)
DPG-Unit: group formed by 50 Cent's G-Unit and Snoop Dogg's Dogg Pound.
Electronic: Bernard Sumner of New Order and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, with one or both members of the Pet Shop Boys on certain tracks; and one member of Kraftwerk on even rarer occasions.
Eyes Adrift: Krist Novoselic of Nirvana, Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets, Bud Gaugh of Sublime
The Falcon: Brendan Kelly (guitar and vocals) and Neil Hennessy (drums) of The Lawrence Arms, Dan Andriano (bass) of Alkaline Trio, and former Rise Against member Todd Mohney (guitar).
Fantômas: Mike Patton (Faith No More); Buzz Osborne (The Melvins), Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle)
Far Corporation: A multinational supergroup whose greatest his Led Zeppelin cover Stairway to Heaven.
The Firm (1980s rock music supergroup): Jimmy Page; Paul Rodgers; Chris Slade.
The Firm (1990s hip hop supergroup): Nas; Cormega; Foxy Brown; AZ (rapper); Nature.
The Fog Breathers: the group includes Weston DuPree of Eisley, Eisley's tour mangager Boyd DuPree all the members of LuvBeat, members from Midlake, Ivoryline, Brighten, and others.
Free Kitten: Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
G-Unit: an ever-expanding hip hop & rap music group (current members include 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Mobb Deep, Mase, Olivia, Hot Rod & M.O.P.)
G3: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and various other guitarists, including Yngwie Malmsteen, Robert Fripp, Eric Johnson, and John Petrucci
Generation X: While recording the group's final album, "Kiss Me Deadly," the band at one point included former Sex Pistols members Paul Cook and Steve Jones. However, the two left after recording one track, and the group was joined by Terry Chimes, formerly of The Clash (whom is formally credited on drums)
Ginger Baker's Air Force
The Glove: a side-project for The Cure's Robert Smith and Siouxsie & the Banshees's Steven Severin.
Go.
Golden State Warriors: Ras Kass, Xzibit & Saafir
GTR: formed by guitarists Steve Hackett (Genesis) and Steve Howe (Yes and Asia).
Gutterball: a Paisley Underground tour de force that consisted of Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate, Stephen McCarthy of The Long Ryders and Brian Harvey and Johnny Hott of House of Freaks.
Happyland: Pop-rock collaboration between Quan Yeomans of Regurgitator and partner Janet English of Spiderbait. The original name of the band was to be "The Shits", but was renamed for "commercial reasons".
HARP: folk group taking its name from the initials of Holly Near, Arlo Guthrie, Ronnie Gilbert, Pete Seeger. The latter two were in The Weavers.
Hazen Street: formed by Toby Morse, Freddy Cricien, David Kennedy, Hoya and Mackie James.
The Heartbreakers: composed of Richard Hell, Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan
The Highwaymen: Willie Nelson; Johnny Cash; Kris Kristofferson; Waylon Jennings. All members had long solo careers behind them.
The Horsemen: Ras Kass, Canibus, Killah Priest & Kurupt
Humble Pie: Steve Marriott (The Small Faces); Peter Frampton (The Herd); Greg Ridley ([[Spooky Tooth])] and Jerry Shirley
Jeff Beck Group: Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Mick Waller, Nicky Hopkins
Jelly Jam: John Myung (Dream Theater), Ty Tabor (King's X), Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs. (Previously played with Derek Sherinian as Platypus)
The Jones Gang: Kenny Jones (The Faces/The Who), Rick Willis (Foreigner), Robert Hart (Bad Company)
Katmandu: Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac; Ray Dorset of Mungo Jerry; Vincent Crane of Atomic Rooster
King James: Rex Carroll (Whitecross), Jimi Bennett (Sacred Fire), Tim Gaines and Robert Sweet (Stryper)
L.A. Guns: Phil Lewis (Girl), Tracii Guns (Guns N' Roses), Steve Riley (W.A.S.P.), Kelly Nickels (Faster Pussycat), Mick Cripps (Faster Pussycat)
The Last Hard Men: Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins); Kelley Deal (The Breeders); Jimmy Flemion (The Frogs); Sebastian Bach (Skid Row)
Liquid Tension Experiment: John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Jordan Rudess (now Dream Theater), Tony Levin (King Crimson)
Little Village: first formed as John Hiatt's backing group for his album Bring the Family
Los Super Seven: Latin American supergroup
The Lost Dogs: Gene Eugene, Terry Scott Taylor, Mike Rowe, and Derri Daughtery
Lucy Pearl: Raphael Saadiq (Tony! Toni! Toné!), Dawn Robinson (En Vogue), Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest)
Mad Season: members included Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees.
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens / Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo: a South African supergroup comprised of "groaner" Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde, session group Mahotella Queens and the backing Makgona Tsohle Band.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes: Spike Slawson of $wingin' Utter$, Fat Mike of NOFX, Joey Cape and Dave Raun of Lagwagon, and Chris Shiflett of No Use for a Name
Mike & the Mechanics: members included Mike Rutherford (Genesis); Paul Carrack (Ace, Squeeze); Paul Young (Sad Café).
Mutual Admiration Society: Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), and Chris Thile, Sean Watkins and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), who were joined by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and Pete Thomas (many bands including The Attractions). This may have been a one-shot tour.
Naked City: John Zorn
Neurotic Outsiders: Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses, and John Taylor of Duran Duran
The New Cars: Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton of The Cars, Todd Rundgren of Utopia and solo, Prairie Prince of The Tubes.
NiNa: Kate Pierson (The B-52's), YUKI (Judy and Mary), Mick Karn (Japan)
The No WTO Combo: Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys, Krist Novoselic of Nirvana, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden
The Ol' Skydaddies: a combination of legendary Australian bands Ol' 55, Daddy Cool and Skyhooks that toured in the 2000s.
Osaka Popstar: John Cafiero (The Misfits), Jerry Only (The Misfits), Dez Cadena (Black Flag, The Misfits), Marky Ramone (The Ramones, The Misfits, The Voidoids), Ivan Julian (The Isley Brothers, The Foundations, The Voidoids), Daniel Johnston
OSI: Jim Matheos (Fates Warning), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Kevin Moore, Chroma Key), Sean Malone (Gordian Knot, Cynic), and Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree).
Oysterhead: Les Claypool (Primus); Trey Anastasio (Phish); Stewart Copeland (The Police).
Various artists on Perfect Day.
Pigface: The industrial supergroup. Martin Atkins (Ministry), Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Steve Albini, Nivek Ogre (OhGr, Skinny Puppy).
Planet X: Virgil Donati, Tony MacAlpine and Derek Sherinian.
Plus 44: Mark Hoppus (blink-182); Travis Barker (blink-182); Carol Heller (Get The Girl)
Praxis: Bootsy Collins (Parliament/Funkadelic), Brian Mantia (Primus), Bill Laswell, Buckethead, Bernie Worrell (Parliament/Funkadelic) and others.
The Raconteurs: Jack White (The White Stripes), Brendan Benson, Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence (The Greenhornes).
Rebel Meets Rebel: David Allan Coe; Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell (Pantera and Damageplan); and Rex Brown (Pantera).
The Reindeer Section: 27-strong Scottish indie rock supergroup featuring (amongst others) members from Snow Patrol, Belle & Sebastian, Idlewild, Mogwai, Arab Strap and Teenage Fanclub.
The Rising Sons: Named after the famous song 'House of the Rising Sun'
Roadrunner United: A celebration of Roadrunner Records' 25th anniversary, featuring music written by Joey Jordison (Slipknot and Murderdolls), Matt Heafy (Trivium), Dino Cazares (Fear Factory) and Robb Flynn (Machine Head), and performed by a multitude of guest musicians.
Shandie's Addiction: Tom Morello, Billy Gould, Brad Wilk and Maynard James Keenan
Shriekback: members of XTC, The Pop Group and Gang of Four
Sinergy: Formed by Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom and Roope Latvala of Stone together with former Dimmu Borgir keyboardist Kimberly Goss.
Sky: classical guitarist John Williams, with other classical performers
Stars: Syd Barrett, Twink, Jack Monck
Supernova: Gilby Clarke of Guns N' Roses, Jason Newsted of Metallica and Voivod, Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe and Methods of Mayhem, along with the upcoming winner of the next season of
Super Super Blues Band: one album of material by Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Howlin' Wolf
Swan Lake: Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes), Daniel Bejar (Destroyer and The New Pornographers; Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown).
Tapeworm: reported collaborative project of Trent Reznor, Danny Lohner, and Charlie Clouser (Nine Inch Nails), Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Atticus Ross (12 Rounds), and many others. Existed for 8 years, but disbanded without releasing any music.
The Tear Garden: All members of Skinny Puppy and The Legendary Pink Dots.
Temple of the Dog: A one-album group, put together as a tribute to Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, featuring members of Soundgarden and Mother Love Bone. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam appeared as a guest vocalist on the band's sole album.
Tomahawk: Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle); Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard); Kevin Rutmanis (The Cows, The Melvins); John Stanier (Helmet, The Mark of Cain).
Transatlantic: Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater); Pete Trewavas (Marillion); Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings); Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard).
Transplants: Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Travis Barker of Blink-182 and Rob Aston.
TRIO!: side-project fusion supergroup. Consists of renowned banjo player Bela Fleck, legendary bassist Stanley Clarke (Return to Forever), and violin virtuoso Jean-Luc Ponty. Toured in 2005 but have yet to record an album.
U.K.: Eddie Jobson, Terry Bozzio, John Wetton, Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth
The Vicious White Kids: Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols , Rat Scabies of The Damned, Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols and Rich Kids, Steve New of The Rich Kids.
The Vital Tech Tones: Fusion side-project supergroup. Consisted of bassist Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones), guitarist Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech), and drummer Steve Smith (Vital Information/ Journey). Made 2 albums but never appeared live.
The Wrights: Consisting of Nic Cester (Jet), Chris Cheney (The Living End), Kram (Spiderbait), Davey Lane (You Am I/The Pictures) & Pat Bourke (Dallas Crane), and featuring guest vocals from Bernard Fanning (Powderfinger) and Phil Jamieson (Grinspoon).
XYZ: ex-Yes and Led Zeppelin members who became a true supergroup on creation, despite the group not surviving long enough to produce any official albums.
Zwan: Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins); Matt Sweeney (Chavez); David Pajo (Tortoise, Slint, Papa M); Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle).

Supergroup (music)

Notable supergroups

Charity supergroups

Other supergroups

See also