Supergroups are like hand-selected All-Star teams.
They are typically formed with members of famous bands and the projects tend to have a short shelf life. Occasionally, the group is only “super” in hindsight as some members reach stardom after the project.
The groups below live up to the hype of their collective parts. Acknowledging how foolish it is to refer to anything as the “greatest,” here are the results of deeply scientific methods in locating, understanding, and delivering to you, kind reader, the five greatest supergroups.
I’ve been fobbed off, and I’ve been fooled.
Temple of the Dog
Temple of the Dog is an interesting supergroup because when they formed, four of its most famous members weren’t famous. Also, Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron were touring to support their major-label debut Louder than Love, and their commercial breakthrough was still ahead of them.
Cornell began the project in 1990 after his close friend and roommate, singer Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone, died of a heroin overdose at age 24. Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were also members of Mother Love Bone and Cornell’s project gave them something to focus on creatively while they came to terms with their friend’s death. Gossard’s childhood friend and future Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready completed the lineup.
Meanwhile, Eddie Vedder had flown from San Diego to Seattle to audition for Gossard and Ament’s new group (Mookie Blaylock). While at a Temple of the Dog rehearsal, he began singing along to and adding a crucial part on “Hunger Strike.” After recording the song, Vedder said it was the first time he’d heard himself on a “real record.” The album arrived in 1991—the same year as Nirvana’s Nevermind, Pearl Jam’s Ten, and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger.
The Highwomen
Formed in 2019, The Highwomen did their own kind of outlawing by working to change some of country music’s outdated norms. Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires released their self-titled debut the same year, produced by Dave Cobb.
Hopefully, it won’t be their last. The album features modern country anthems like “Crowded Table” and “Redesigning Women.” With Jimmy Webb’s blessing, the group, accompanied by Yola, reworked his classic song “Highwayman” into a tale of female sacrifice as a freedom rider, an immigrant, a preacher, and a doctor (“Highwomen”). The track’s most poignant line is: We are the daughters of the silent generations. Absolute goose bumps.
The Highwaymen
In 1985, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson formed The Highwaymen. They’d already pioneered outlaw country, and their group was something like the outlaw Beatles. Their defining song is “Highwayman,” written by Jimmy Webb. Webb first included “The Highwayman” on his album El Mirage in 1977. In 1979, Glen Campbell dropped the article and recorded “Highwayman” on his album of the same name.
Webb’s song provided a name for the outlaw supergroup, and the song became a No. 1 hit for Cash, Jennings, Nelson, and Kristofferson. Sadly, only two outlaws remain. Nelson, 91, is still on the road (again), and Kristofferson, now retired, is 88.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash came together in 1968 by way of splintering groups. The Byrds wanted no more of Crosby and Buffalo Springfield had broken up, leaving Stills without a gig. Nash left The Hollies and the Los Angeles trio formed as Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Following the success of their debut album, they needed a touring band. Looking for someone to play guitar and keyboards, Neil Young’s name was mentioned. He’d played with Stills in Buffalo Springfield but Young had no intentions of being a sideman. He was instead added as a permanent member.
Déjà Vu arrived in 1970, the first to feature Young. The album features folk classics from Young (“Helpless”), and Nash (“Our House” and “Teach Your Children”). Young’s protest song “Ohio” appeared on the 1974 compilation album So Far, written in reaction to the 1970 Kent State shootings.
Traveling Wilburys
George Harrison floated the idea of forming a new band to Jeff Lynne. Lynne asked who else would be in the band and Harrison said Bob Dylan. Since the former Beatle seemed in the mood to form a dream team, Lynne suggested Roy Orbison.
After retrieving a guitar from Tom Petty’s house, Harrison invited him to join too. They recorded “Handle with Care” in Dylan’s Malibu garage, the track’s name taken from a box in the makeshift studio. The song was meant to back Harrison’s single “This Is Love,” but the record label thought it was too good for a B-side. Petty recalled it was then Harrison and Lynne decided to form the “perfect little band.” Traveling Wilburys released two self-titled albums, Vol. 1 and Vol. 3—misnumbered by Harrison to “confuse the buggers.”
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