Supergroup (bands)

In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe music groups comprising members of great proficiency 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 example.

Renowned supergroups

• Asia - Geoff Downes (Yes and Buggles), John Wetton (King Crimson and UK), Greg Lake (King Crimson and Emerson Lake and Palmer), Steve Howe (Yes), and Carl Palmer (Emerson Lake and Palmer)
• Alter Bridge - Myles Kennedy (The Mayfield Four); Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall, Scott Phillips (all Creed).
• Audioslave - Chris Cornell (Soundgarden); Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine).
• Bad Company - Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke from Free, Mott The Hoople's Mick Ralphs, and Boz Burrell from King Crimson.
• Black Star - Mos Def; Talib Kweli.
• Blind Faith - Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker (Cream); Steve Winwood (Traffic); Rick Grech (Family).
• Captain Beyond - Rod Evans (Deep Purple); Rhino Rheinhardt and Lee Dorman (Iron Butterfly); Bobby Caldwell (The Johnny Winter Band)
• Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - David Crosby; Stephen Stills; Graham Nash; Neil Young
• Cream - Eric Clapton; Jack Bruce; Ginger Baker
• Damn Yankees - Ted Nugent; Jack Blades (Night Ranger) Tommy Shaw (Styx)
• David Lee Roth Band - David Lee Roth (Van Halen); Steve Vai (Frank Zappa); Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, "the Eddie Van Halen of bass"); Gregg Bissonette, (Maynard Ferguson).
• Demons and Wizards - Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian); Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth).
• Derek and the Dominos - among the members of this one-shot supergroup were Eric Clapton and Duane Allman (strictly speaking, Allman was a guest; however, the band only recorded a single album, featuring Allman.)
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Keith Emerson (The Nice); Greg Lake (King Crimson); Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster).
• The Faces - Rod Stewart; Ron Wood; Ronnie Lane; Kenney Jones; Ian McLaglan.
• Fantômas - Mike Patton; Buzz Osborne, Dave Lombardo and Trevor Dunn
• Foo Fighters - formed by Dave Grohl (Nirvana), other members including Pat Smear (The Germs, Nirvana) (1995-97), William Goldsmith (Sunny Day Real Estate) (1995-1997), Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate) (1995-present), Chris Shiflett (No Use for a Name) (1999-present), Taylor Hawkins (1997-present), and Franz Stahl (1997-1999)
• Gorillaz - Damon Albarn (Blur), Guests include Dan the Automator, DJ Danger Mouse, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Miho Hatori...
• The Highwaymen - Willie Nelson; Johnny Cash; Kris Kristofferson; Waylon Jennings. All members had long solo careers behind them.
• Led Zeppelin - a marginal case, because although Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were famous and respected when the band formed as The New Yardbirds, the other half of the group were relative unknowns at the time (albeit very competent unknowns). Page's original intention for the group was to include other well known musicians for the vocalist and drummers spots.
• Mike & the Mechanics - Mike Rutherford (Genesis); Paul Carrack (Ace); Paul Young (Sad Café).
• New Edition - Bobby Brown; Johnny Gill; Ralph Tresvant; Ricky Bell; Michael Bivins; Ronnie DeVoe.
• Oysterhead - Trey Anastasio; Les Claypool; Stewart Copeland.
• A Perfect Circle - formed by Billy Howerdel, the group consists of a rotation of members including Maynard James Keenan (Tool); Josh Freese (The Vandals); Troy Van Leeuwen (Failure); Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails); James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins); Jeordie White (aka Twiggy Ramirez of Marilyn Manson); Tim Alexander (Primus). Paz Lenchantin (Zwan) first gained success within this band as well.
• The Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon (The Beatles); Yoko Ono; Eric Clapton; Klaus Voorman; Alan White (who later joined Yes).
• Power Station - Robert Palmer; John Taylor and Andy Taylor (Duran Duran); Tony Thompson (Chic).
• TransAtlantic - Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater); Pete Trewavas (Marillion); Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings); Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard).
• The Traveling Wilburys - Roy Orbison; Tom Petty; George Harrison; Bob Dylan; Jeff Lynne.
• U.K. - Eddie Jobson, Terry Bozzio, John Wetton, Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth
• Velvet Revolver - Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots); Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum (Guns n' Roses); Dave Kushner (Wasted Youth)