A supergroup is a musical group formed by musicians who have already established themselves individually as successful artists or as members of other successful groups. A supergroup can sometimes form just as a side project for a single recording, while in other instances, the group may become the primary career focus of its members.
As the first supergroup, usually Cream is mentioned. They formed in 1966, by guitarist Eric Clapton, formerly of The Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, bassist Jack Bruce, formerly of the Graham Bond Organisation and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and drummer Ginger Baker, formerly of the Graham Bond Organisation. They disbanded in 1968, after recording four albums. Guitarist Clapton and drummer Baker then formed another supergroup, Blind Faith, with former Spencer Davis Group and Traffic singer, keyboardist, and guitarist Steve Winwood and former Family bassist Ric Grech. This group recorded a single studio album before disbanding less than a year after its formation.
The problem concerning the term might arise from the “successful” part of its definition. Success is a subjective term, only numerical and countable criteria might be taken into consideration, as career earnings, records sold, number of commercial hit songs written and musician longevity, ignoring completely an artistically much more important condition, that of influencing other, younger artists.
However, there could be another type of supergroups, supergroups in hindsight, bands whose members established themselves individually as successful artists after leaving the group or after the group disbanded.
Two mid-sixties Los Angeles bands could be labelled as such.
The Byrds gave rise to five great and important names in the history of rock:
Gene Clark, the Byrds’ principal songwriter until he left the band in 1966, authoring most of the group’s best-known originals from this period. He continued as a solo singer-songwriter. He is credited to have participating developing the subgenres of psychedelic rock, baroque pop, newgrass, country rock, and alternative country.
David Crosby, after helping pioneer the genres of folk rock and psychedelia in the mid-sixties with the Byrds, he became of the supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash, sometimes Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, helping popularising the California sound of the seventies.
Jim/Roger McGuinn, who continued to lead the Byrds with his signature twanging 12-string Rickenbacker until 1973, when he dissolved the group. He also led a successful solo career.
Chris Hillman was a key figure in the development of country rock, defining the genre through his work with the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas and the country-rock group the Desert Rose Band.
Gram Parsons was the father of country rock, as defined in the six albums that he released during his short life: “Safe at Home” with the International Submarine Band, “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” with the Byrds, “The Gilded Palace of Sin” and “Burrito Deluxe” with the Flying Burrito Brothers, and two solo albums: “GP” and “Grievous Angel”.
Then there is Buffalo Springfield, from which four important and great musicians arose:
Richie Furay, who formed the country rock band Poco[1] with Jim Messina after Buffalo Sprimgfield ceased to exist.
Jim Messina, who formed the country rock band Poco with Richie Furay after Buffalo Sprimgfield ceased to exist, later to join Kenny Loggins as half of the soft rock duo Loggins and Messina.
Steven Stills followed the disbandment of Buffalo Springfield with forming Crosby, Stills & Nash, sometimes Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, with the aforementioned David Crosby, and then the band Manassas, a bona fide supergroup that included the aforementioned Chris Hillman.
Neil Young lead a successful solo career, often backed by Crazy Horse, but was also a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
So we have two bands with nine successful members in total. Were they supergroups?
[1] Originally named Pogo, after the comic strip character, but the name was devoiced when the comic strip’s creator, Walt Kelly, objected and threatened to sue.
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