Before I start this thread and seek member’s nomination for 'The Best Supergroup Ever', I should add that the term ‘supergroup’ was only coined in the late ‘60s. I believe the first combination of musicians to be accorded this title was Cream, a coming together of bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker, who both played with the Graham Bond Organisation, and guitarist Eric Clapton, formerly with the Yardbirds and then John Mayall’s ‘Bluesbreakers’. The title was also used to describe Crosby Stills Nash and Young and later Emerson Lake and Palmer.
There have been other ‘optimal’ combinations of musicians, especially in the jazz genre – how about the line up on Miles Davis’s ‘Kind of Blue’: Cannonball Adderley; John Coltrane; Bill Evans etc.? Or how about bassist Charles Mingus with saxophonist John Handy and drummer Danny Richmond?
These might seem a little arcane and, I suspect, jazz is not a prime interest to many members. So I’ll put forward a more recent optimal combination of musicians: The Travelling Wilburys.
The Travelling Wilburys are for me the ‘dream team’ of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. All these had already achieved a successful career, fame and fortune. What I love about their work is here we have five musicians with nothing to prove and are happy just to play together ‘for the fun of it’ – and coming up with some cracking rock ‘n’ roll on the way. It’s great to play whilst driving!
Sadly they only made two albums and Roy Orbison died before the second album had been recorded. Now only three of the original members survive.
So that is my nomination. What are yours?
29-11-2010, 14:21
lurcher
I agree entirely about the Wilburys. But for me one of the best combinations of talent was Miles's band at the time of "In a silent way"
Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Chick Corea – electric piano
Herbie Hancock – electric piano
Joe Zawinul – organ
Dave Holland – double bass
Tony Williams – drums
I would also mention the players on Joni Mitchell's Shadows and light tour.
Joni Mitchell - electric guitar, vocals
Pat Metheny - lead guitar
Jaco Pastorius - bass
Don Alias - drums
Lyle Mays - keyboards
Michael Brecker - saxophone
But that just me .
29-11-2010, 14:32
Rare Bird
Emerson Lake and Palmer
29-11-2010, 15:08
Haselsh1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre
Emerson Lake and Palmer
I'll second that one...
Along with early Yes and very early Genesis
;)
29-11-2010, 16:03
colinB
I dont listen to them much but i would have loved to see Cream live. British jazz rhythm section with blues guitar and Marshall stacks.
29-11-2010, 16:19
isuckedmandelsonslemons
Blind Faith
29-11-2010, 16:43
Barry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haselsh1
I'll second that one...
Along with early Yes and very early Genesis
;)
I wouldn't call either of those 'supergroups' (well not in the sense that the members of either group played in other notable groups before they played in the groups you name. Otherwise one would have to include a near endless number of acts: The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd .... You get the idea.
29-11-2010, 16:44
Barry
Quote:
Originally Posted by isuckedmandelsonslemons
Blind Faith
Agreed - one of the shortest lived 'supergroups'; made just the one album.
29-11-2010, 18:30
The Grand Wazoo
The trouble with most supergroups is that they rarely fulfil anyone's expectations.
I'd agree with Barry that the 'Kind of Blue' Miles Davis band were something rather special, but then so was the one he assembled for Bitches Brew, which included:
Wayne Shorter
Joe Zawinul
Chick Corea
John McLaughlin
Dave Holland
and Jack DeJohnette
How about the Jeff Beck Group? Look who the first album has on it:
Jeff Beck
Rod Stewart
Micky Waller
Ronnie Wood
Nicky Hopkins
Keith Moon
Jimmy Page
John Paul Jones
The Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Yoko Ono
Eric Clapton
George Harrison
Klaus Voormann
Alan White
Ringo Starr
Keith Moon
Katmandu
Peter Green
Ray Dorset (Mungo Jerry)
Vincent Crane (Atomic Rooster)
BBM
Jack Bruce
Ginger Baker
Gary Moore
Also: Ginger Baker's Air Force, Humble Pie
The best for me would be Bad Company - members from Free, Mott the Hoople & King Crimson
But as far as record sales go, the best supergroup has probably got to be Band Aid
29-11-2010, 19:25
Spectral Morn
ASIA :)
Carl Palmer, Steve Howe, John Wetton, Geoffrey Downes
Saw them live.....fantastic.
Yes on the Union tour...
Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Rick Wakeman, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, John white, Bill Bruford. All playing on one circular stage :rave: