Supergroups

Have any been very good? Not as far as I can recall. They always seem to add up to less than the sum of their parts.

Why don't they work? One reason: Too many chiefs, not enough indians.

What about Cream? Or the Traveling Wilburys? You could probably argue that Mr. Big are a supergroup of sorts, as well. That's all I've got, though.

supergroups work in jazz all the time, it's mostly hard rock and metal that can't make it work.

Cream is one of the best supergroups in rock history, Traveling Wilburys was cool but that was more of fun then a serious project IMO.

But I have to agree with ToB, as much as I like The Firm, Chickenfoot, Velvet Revolver, I always end up disappointed, maybe because I except to be as good, if not better then their previous work.

Even Blind Faith which IMO is an excellent album, but maybe fans (mine) exceptions are too big and unrealistic.

Is Dublin Death Patrol considered a supergroup?

Damn Yankees made it work...sorta... for a little while, anyway.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Damn Yankees made it work...sorta... for a little while, anyway.

NOT

Shawn D. wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Damn Yankees made it work...sorta... for a little while, anyway.

NOT

Shawn does not think they made it high enough.

No, I just think Night Ranger+Styx+Ted Nugent = exactly what we got. Mediocre "blah" with a hint of testosterone...but not nearly enough.

I don't consider Cream a super group because those musicians hadn't made a name on their own before they joined forces.

Same goes for Led Zeppelin.

Temple of Blood wrote:

I don't consider Cream a super group because those musicians hadn't made a name on their own before they joined forces.

Same goes for Led Zeppelin.

You need to study your music history my friend.

Shawn D. wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

I don't consider Cream a super group because those musicians hadn't made a name on their own before they joined forces.

Same goes for Led Zeppelin.

You need to study your music history my friend.

Being "in a band" prior to your big band forming is different than members of big bands forming a new band after already being world-famous.

Humble Pie was considered a Supergroup at the time

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Shawn D. wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

I don't consider Cream a super group because those musicians hadn't made a name on their own before they joined forces.

Same goes for Led Zeppelin.

You need to study your music history my friend.

Being "in a band" prior to your big band forming is different than members of big bands forming a new band after already being world-famous.

Yeah.

Temple of Blood wrote:

I don't consider Cream a super group because those musicians hadn't made a name on their own before they joined forces.

Same goes for Led Zeppelin.

I'd say you're off a tad with Cream. Clapton and Bruce were pretty well established in the British blues movement of the era, maybe not as solo artists, but as members of other popular bands. I'm not sure about Ginger Baker's background.

Zeppelin I can kinda agree with. Jimmy Page might have been known in the blues circuit, traveling the same circles as Clapton & Bruce, but Jones was a session guy. As talented as he was at the time, I doubt many "mainstream" folks knew of his work. Plant & Bonham were unknowns at the time.

"Clapton is GOD" happened in 1966 when he joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, one of the biggest bands in Europe at the time. The album was also a huge hit in the US and spawned a couple tours.

Ginger Baker was the house drummer at Ronnie Scott's Jazz club in London, THE primary venue for blues, rock and jazz during that era. He started playing there in 1961.

Jack Bruce was one of the most celebrated studio and touring bassists during that era.

Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck both came from THE YARDBIRDS which were a huge success throughout the world.

Supergroup doesn't have to mean "multi-platinum".

P.S. - the term supergroup was created to describe CREAM.

Shawn D wrote:

P.S. - the term supergroup was created to describe CREAM.

THIS is true!!!!!!!!

Quote :

Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck both came from THE YARDBIRDS which were a huge success throughout the world.

Right, and the other 3 came out of nowhere...not a supergroup.

Cream a little moreso, sure. Clapton was a superstar already (relatively for the times) and Bruce also played with Manfred Mann...but Bruce & Baker together were nobodies compared to Clapton.

Humble Pie
Crosby, Stills And Nash
CSN&Y
Emerson, Lake And Palmer

Captain Beyond.......... how could I forget them????
UK
Asia

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Quote :

Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck both came from THE YARDBIRDS which were a huge success throughout the world.

Right, and the other 3 came out of nowhere...not a supergroup.

Cream a little moreso, sure. Clapton was a superstar already (relatively for the times) and Bruce also played with Manfred Mann...but Bruce & Baker together were nobodies compared to Clapton.

Nobodies in the rock world maybe, but you need to realize that both these guys played Jazz prior to joining Cream and they both had very high profile gigs both touring and in the studio. The entire world wasn't about Rock in the mid-sixties.

Supergroup = incredible musicians, joining together. Record sales don't enter into it.

Shawn D. wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Quote :

Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck both came from THE YARDBIRDS which were a huge success throughout the world.

Right, and the other 3 came out of nowhere...not a supergroup.

Cream a little moreso, sure. Clapton was a superstar already (relatively for the times) and Bruce also played with Manfred Mann...but Bruce & Baker together were nobodies compared to Clapton.

Nobodies in the rock world maybe, but you need to realize that both these guys played Jazz prior to joining Cream and they both had very high profile gigs both touring and in the studio. The entire world wasn't about Rock in the mid-sixties.

Supergroup = incredible musicians, joining together. Record sales don't enter into it.

OK

Quote :

Supergroup = incredible musicians, joining together. Record sales don't enter into it.

So Toto was a supergroup based on that definition?

Then every technical band is a "supergroup" based on that.

I'm not going to argue with you about definition, think whatever you like.

Manny said:

Quote :

Traveling Wilburys was cool but that was more of fun then a serious project IMO.

I said:

Traveling Wilburys for the win