by Brian D. Holland.
Cream with Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker
To begin with, for those unaware, a supergroup is a rock band consisting of members from a variety of prior successful endeavors, musicians who are renowned independently as well. Every now and then, a supergroup infiltrates the rock music world, immediately creating intense anticipation and interest. These bands have a tendency to be short-lived unfortunately, or transient even, as other plans enter into their music business lives as quickly as the seasons change. However, the excitement they generate is often warranted, primarily because they tend to release some good music, often epic in quality, during their brief existence.
The term ‘supergroup’ was coined in the 60s when some ambitious bands started achieving deserved notoriety for each member’s twofold successes. In paraphrasing the Neil Young lyric, sometimes their previous endeavors would either ‘burn out or fade away’. But it has also been fashionable to sustain membership in the original band while performing simultaneously in another. This scenario provides the performer with a sense of freshness, a change from the sound and style of the original band.
When it comes to both change and diversity, musician Jack White easily comes to mind. Though continuing on with ex-wife Meg in The White Stripes, he’s also in the Raconteurs. And just for the record, we’re talking about a guy who produced and performed on an album that resulted in two Grammy awards for country star Loretta Lynn a while back. Talk about freshness and diversity. To top it all off, he’s also a member of The Dead Weather, another interesting band made up of independently recognized musicians.
Guitar icon Eric Clapton has experienced his share of this type of musical get-together, as he has been involved in at least three classic supergroups: Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominoes. He didn’t stick around very long in any of these, as his roaming eye for melodic venture always saw something new on the horizon. Even today, Clapton demonstrates a sense of variety in his musical approach, one that involves a revolving door of band members and appearances onstage with many different acts and contemporaries. His musical existence is always entering new phases and fresh beginnings.
David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young
From a different angle, one that involves longevity, the fact that Crosby Stills & Nash are still carrying on today makes them one of the longest running supergroups in history. They were formed in the late 60s by original members of The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and The Hollies respectively. Neil Young, their sporadic fourth member, was also in Buffalo Springfield.
Other notable supergroups include Emerson Lake & Palmer, Bad Company, Traveling Wilburys, Asia, Audioslave, The Plastic Ono Band (also featuring Clapton), Little Village, Journey, The Firm, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, Hindu Love Gods, A Perfect Circle, and Velvet Revolver. Country music had a huge one, too, with The Highwaymen, the topnotch assembly that included Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.
Though bands of this type pop up regularly, it’s often debatable as to whether they’re of actual supergroup status or not, as prior success is a questionable issue in itself. And besides degree of fame, the details surrounding a band’s existence get a little fuzzy at times. For example, the year 2005 gave us Heaven and Hell, and although the band is without a doubt super, it’s more or less Black Sabbath under another name. Ronnie James Dio had been the band’s alternate celebrated frontman for some time anyway, as Ozzy Osbourne was always coming and going and doing his own thing. Others labeled supergroups, though in reality are/were bands with different singers, are Audioslave (Rage Against the Machine with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell on vocals), Hindu Love Gods (REM with Warren Zevon on vocals), and Alter Bridge (Creed with Myles Kennedy on vocals).
What it boils down to is that genuine supergroup classification is a contentious issue for many reasons. Nevertheless, prior to 2008, it’s safe to say that the last big one was Velvet Revolver, the explosive ensemble that erupted onto the music scene in 2002. Yet once again, they’re essentially one particular band with a different lead singer (Guns N Roses with Stone Temple Pilots’ vocalist Scott Weiland). But it would be preposterous to label Weiland, Slash, and the rest of VR anything but a supergroup. Unfortunately, though, an inclination to be short-lived exists with them as well. Their pursuit of a new lead singer has been an ongoing thing since Weiland’s departure, putting the band on a seemingly never-ending hiatus. But at least they stayed together long enough to give us two decent album releases.
Some fans believe that the time is ripe for an influx of supergroups, some genuine ensembles mega in status. It’s not a mystical premonition either, as the wheels have been in motion for some time now. For good reason, too. In today’s weak economy, mixed with the reality that rock is currently overshadowed behind an enormously synthetic pop music industry, the supergroup situation might just be the best road for many renowned rockers to take, those with a desire to stay relevant in today’s music world. To break up the monotony by doing something different can also be a positive thing. It makes sense, and it has to do with the fact that these bands have a tendency to sell out concert halls, generate substantial income for everyone involved, and most importantly: have fun and make some great music together.
Ringo Starr and an array of All-Star performers and friends
Ringo Starr realized this back in 1989, when he went on tour with the first installment of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. Since then, he has put together ten different versions of this successful touring machine, not only covering his songs throughout his solo career and his hits with The Beatles, but the other member’s hits, too. It was a worthwhile undertaking for Ringo as well as the others, and the shows always contained extremely diverse setlists. It worked for Velvet Revolver as well. Besides songs from both releases, they entertained fans with the music of both Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N Roses. No way could a crowd leave unfulfilled by the show’s end.
I’m certain the members of Chickenfoot took all of this into consideration when they got together in 2008. This quintessential supergroup has without a doubt been the perfect platform for ex-Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony to be involved in something huge again. They’re certainly renowned enough, and fans love them both. Getting together with mammoth shredder Joe Satriani and drummer Chad Smith was an ingenious move, one that once again put their faces on the front of music magazines everywhere, earning them a successful CD and a sold out tour as well. Generally an instrumentalist by trade, it was also a good move for Satriani. It has allotted him the opportunity to subsist in a vocal band and reinforce an already successful career. Though he’s had his share of supergroup instrumental machines with his G3 concoctions, Joe isn’t exactly new to the rock band situation either. He toured with Mick Jagger years ago, and later with Deep Purple. But this is his first affair as an original guitarist of a mega rock vocal outfit, one of supergroup caliber. Last but not least, drummer Chad Smith has himself a substantial gig that’s far removed from the sound of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. It has freshness and individuality written all over it for him. And everyone’s talking about his “I’m not Will Ferrell” t-shirt.
Hagar and Anthony have recently downplayed the supergroup idiom, choosing to keep more of a low profile instead. But even though they desire to be labeled just a rock’n’roll band, it doesn’t change the fact that Chickenfoot fits the supergroup description just as good if not better than many other bands have over the years. However, taking the modest road might be a good thing. Maybe they’ll break pattern and stay together longer, in an effort to create a lot of music and carry out some mega tours. We’ll just have to wait and see.
2009 has awakened to the formation of Them Crooked Vultures, made up of guitarist Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss), drummer Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and bassist John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin). I’m sure most would agree that supergroup status here is indisputable, though we’re still awaiting the release of a debut CD.
What’s interesting about this band is that there’s already a big buzz going around. Tour tickets and t-shirt sales on the band’s website can attest to that. The anticipation is immense. And although Grohl and Homme are more than enough to bring out fans of grunge, stoner, and modern west coast rock, the addition of John Paul Jones builds the hype to rock enormity. Hype of this level can be overwhelming for sure, but these three can handle it. Fans obviously agree, which is the motive behind the excitement to begin with.
This trend has the potential to continue, and different names will probably keep popping up. We’ll see Slash involved in something big soon as well. One of the most beloved guitar heroes around today, he’s a prime candidate for another supergroup mesh, with or without Velvet Revolver. Of course, some eventually choose to leave the supergroup concoction and return to the band that made them who they are, or to a variation thereof. Maybe even Velvet Guns or Revolving Rose. Who knows!
Are all rock fans geared up for a modern day supergroup rage? Maybe not. Let’s look at the minor issue of naysayers, those who cast negativity on the whole concept, by knocking everything current in the rock world even before it gets started. They’re also the pessimists, and the geezers, those who won’t let you forget that they lived through ‘the best rock years ever’. There’s truth in that, of course, but it would be nice if they at least took some time to listen to today’s quality rock music. And there’s a lot of great stuff out there. Without wasting any more time and energy on cynical opinion, let’s be optimistic about the future of rock and its bands — big and small, super and not so. If the bands stop coming, the music will too. And keep in mind the statement supposedly made by a Decca records executive back in 1962, in reference to The Beatles, “We don’t like their sound, and rock and roll is on the way out.” Paying attention to that declaration wouldn’t have done anyone any good. It certainly didn’t do Decca any good. We need more rock groups today, and the bigger the better.
More supergroups, please!
Links:
Chickenfoot On Amazon
