Feeling Super Supergroups Roundup
Recorded on a December night in 1956, the daylong jam session known as the Million Dollar Quartet consisted of an almost incomprehensible dream team of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cashmore and Carl Perkins. Over 40 songs were recorded in varying degrees of polish, though it wasn't until 2006 that, in honor of the session's 50th anniversary, the songs were finally assembled together on one record.
Not known for their modesty -- the band name is no accident -- Cream combined the jazz ear of drummer Ginger Baker, the slamming bass and thug-crooner vocals of Jack Bruce and the caterwauling rock goditude of Eric Clapton's guitar. They lasted less than three years, from 1966 to '69, but in that brief time they put out immortal records such as "Disraeli Gears" (1967) and "Wheels of Fire" (1968) and are widely considered one of the primary progenitors of heavy metal.
Watch: CSN&Y perform Young's 'Down by the River'
The kings of four-part harmonies in the late '60s and early '70s, CS&N brought together David Crosby from the Byrds, Graham Nash from the Hollies and Stephen Stills from Buffalo Springfield. For a brief while they were joined by Neil Young, resulting in the classic "Deja Vu" from 1970, and singles such as the chilling and beautiful "Ohio," which you can still hear every other hour on classic rock radio.
A one-day-only configuration put together on Dec. 11, 1968, for the filming of "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus," the Dirty Mac was made up of John Lennon on vocals, Eric Clapton on guitar, Keith Richards on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The band recorded all of two songs for the TV show -- "Yer Blues" and something called "Whole Lotta Yoko" -- which unfortunately, considering the caliber of the performances, didn't see release until 1996
Because Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker weren't sufficiently sick of each other after Cream broke up, they formed yet another supergroup, this time with Steve Winwood of the Spencer Davis Group, and bass player Rick Grech of Family. They lasted long enough to release one album, 1969's "Blind Faith," which, though featuring fine tunes such as "Can't Find My Way Home," is known primarily for its banned cover of a topless girl of a troubling age holding a long silver model airplane. Eek.
Bing: Listen to the classic album
Another Eric Clapton-centered supergroup, Derek & the Dominos put out one album, 1970's "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," which is best known for the amazing slide guitar playing of Duane Allman, as well as the title track, in which old Slowhand proclaimed undying love for his best friend's wife. Of course, this best friend was a Beatle named George Harrison. To paraphrase a song from the '80s, that's one heck of a bizarre love triangle.
Browse: See pics of Clapton's (and
Bing: Watch the band perform 'Feel Like Makin' Love'
Few bands say "lost in the '70s" like Bad Company, known for such classic-rock radio staples as "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Can't Get Enough." The band, which existed from 1973 to 1982, consisted of singer Paul Rodgersmore from Free -- Free's radio staple "All Right Now" is often mistaken for Bad Company -- drummer Boz Burrell from King Crimson and Mick Ralphs from glam pioneers Mott the Hoople.
The Million Dollar Quartet
If you like prog of the poppy variety, you'll love Asia. Featuring members of Yes, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the band hit it huge with their 1982 debut, "Asia," which featured "Only Time Will Tell" and "Heat of the Moment." Considered a sellout by their supposed fan base, they instead became huge with sports fans and teenyboppers. After that initial early '80s popularity, however, they struggled commercially, breaking up in 1986.
Bing: The band rocks 'Raspberry Beret' on 'Letterman'
Surely one of the booziest supergroups, Hindu Love Gods featured Warren Zevon on vocals with Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry from R.E.M. as his backing band. They played live on occasion throughout the '80s, and in 1990 released "Hindu Love Gods." Though consisting mostly of inspired covers of blues standards, the high point is their badass take on Prince's "Raspberry Beret," which is a little psycho, loud as hell and completely unforgettable.
Bluesy rock with a distinctly mid-'80s production aesthetic, the Firm was Jimmy Page's first sustained project after Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980. With Paul Rodgers of Bad Company and rounded out by the rhythm section of drummer Chris Slade and bass player Tony Franklin, the band released two fairly successful records -- 1985's "The Firm" and 1986's "Mean Business" -- before calling it a day
With the "Are you serious?!" lineup of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash, the Highwaymen put out three studio albums: "Highwayman" in 1985, "Highwayman 2" in 1990 and "The Road Goes on Forever" in 1995. These albums are considered integral efforts in the subgenre of outlaw country, which aimed to toughen up the prevailing approach to country music during the '80s along both thematic and sonic lines.
What makes the Wilburys so unusual -- and effective -- is the sheer unlikeliness of the lineup. George Harrison and Tom Petty? Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne? And where was Bob Dylan supposed to fit into the mix? Strange as it initially sounded, this combination of talents and styles worked perfectly together on the band's two long-players, 1988's "Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1" and 1990's "Traveling Wilburys, Volume 3."
"Trio" was intended as a one-off record in 1987 that teamed up Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on a bunch of pop, blues and country gems such as Phil Spector's "To Know Him Is to Love Him." The record was a huge hit, selling over 4 million units and netting two Grammys. Six years later, in 1993, Parton would put together another super-trio, this time with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, under the name of Honky Tonk Angels, while the original Parton-Ronstadt-Harris triumvirate finally delivered a sequel, "Trio II," in 1999.
Probably the hairiest, manliest supergroup ever, Damn Yankees were an outfit in the early '90s fronted by Ted Nugent and accompanied by Tommy Shaw from Styx and Jack Blades from Night Ranger. Their self-titled 1990 debut contained their one big hit, "High Enough," which was an MTV staple in the final months of hair metal's dominance. Soon, Nirvana would show up and make bands like Damn Yankees damn near irrelevant.
Bing: Watch the video for 'Some Like It Hot'
The heavy funk sound of the Power Station -- John and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, singer Robert Palmer and drummer Tony Thompson from Chic -- had a huge hit with their one studio record, 1985's "The Power Station." You couldn't turn on the radio that summer and miss the thunderous sound of their two mega-singles, "Some Like It Hot" and a brassy cover of T.Rex's "Bang a Gong
A rotating cast of alt-rock superstars has made up A Perfect Circle since its inception in 1999, including James Iha from the Smashing Pumpkins and session drummer extraordinaire Josh Freese, but the focus of the band has always been singer Maynard James Keenan from Tool and guitar player Billy Howerdel. Albums such as 2003's "Thirteenth Step" and 2004's "eMOTIVe" showcase their distinctive combination of dynamics, melody and, most of all, volume.
A who's who of Vancouver indie-rock royalty, the New Pornographers, headed by singer Neko Case and guitar player Carl Newman, have released five records since they burst onto the scene in 2000 with "Mass Romantic." With their infectious blend of '60s keyboards, jangly guitar and multipart harmonies, you can pretty much identify them from down the street. Their most recent album is last year's "Together."
After their respective bands broke up, Soundgarden's Chris Cornell hooked up with the three non-singing members of Rage Against the Machine to form Audioslave. Sounding pretty much what you'd expect them to sound like -- a mix of Sabbath-y riffs, hard funk rhythms and a certain unmistakable set of pipes -- the band put out three albums between 2002 and 2006 before breaking up and, paradoxically, getting their old bands back together.
Explore: Song lyrics
After the tragedy of Kurt Cobain's death, Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters with Nate Mendel and William Goldsmith from emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate, and Pat Smear from L.A. punk icons the Germs. Sixteen years and seven studio albums later, they are going strong, a powerful blend of beautiful melodies and diamond-hard rock, consummate pros whose shows are legendary. Their most recent effort is this year's "Wasting Light."
Like some band of millionaire rock refugees, Velvet Revolver combined Duff McKagan, Slash and Matt Sorum from Guns N' Roses with Scott Weiland, frontman from Stone Temple Pilots. Formed in 2002, the band released two albums -- 2004's "Contraband" and 2007's "Libertad" -- that were chock-full of songs about mixing the high life with the low life, which is doubtless a mixture these guys know a heck of a lot about.
Probably the most sensitive supergroup, Monsters of Folk is an indie-rock outfit consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, and solo singer M. Ward. The band put out their eponymous debut in 2009, a wistful collection of sweetly sung tunes that showcase their remarkable and varied vocal styles.
Party-hardy and Tequila shot-ready, Chickenfoot combines Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony from Van Halen with Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and guitar legend Joe Satriani. They've released two albums, 2009's "Chickenfoot" and this year's "Chickenfoot III," that are like soundtracks for body shots. Listening to Chickenfoot, you just want to belly up to the bar.
Party-hardy and Tequila shot-ready, Chickenfoot combines Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony from Van Halen with Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and guitar legend Joe Satriani. They've released two albums, 2009's "Chickenfoot" and this year's "Chickenfoot III," that are like soundtracks for body shots. Listening to Chickenfoot, you just want to belly up to the bar.Chickenfoot
hem Crooked Vultures
Formed in 2009, Them Crooked Vultures consists of two rock demigods -- Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age and some guy named Dave Grohl -- and a bona fide Zeus in the form of John Paul Jones, who played bass for a band you might have heard of calledLed Zeppelin. You can hear all the shades of their stomp on their self-titled debut, which came out in 2009.
Formed in 2009, Them Crooked Vultures consists of two rock demigods -- Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age and some guy named Dave Grohl -- and a bona fide Zeus in the form of John Paul Jones, who played bass for a band you might have heard of calledLed Zeppelin. You can hear all the shades of their stomp on their self-titled debut, which came out in 2009.
Atoms for Peace
Named after a 1953 speech by President Eisenhower, Atoms for Peace is the unlikely collaboration between Tom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood from Radioheadand Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Though they haven't yet released a studio album, they did an eight-date American tour in 2010 and also appeared at that year's Coachella festival.
NKOTBSB
A dream team of '90s boy bands, NKOTBSB brings together New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys. While much of their album is a dual greatest-hits compilation, NKOTBSB also features two new songs that the bands recorded together, "All in My Head" and "Don't Turn Out the Lights," and, to end the collection, a mash-up of their music.
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