Top 20 Greatest Supergroups Ever

#20: The Dirty Mac

If you've never heard of this supergroup, you’re at least familiar with some of its members. The Dirty Mac was composed of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell. The group was fronted by a little-known musician named John Lennon who brought them together in 1968 for a one-night TV special, “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.” This marked Lennon's first public performance without the rest of the Fab Four. The band played Beatles’ song “Yer Blues” as well as “Whole Lotta Yoko,” a collaboration with Lennon’s future wife, Yoko Ono and violinist Ivry Gitlis. The special was set to air on the BBC, but didn’t see the light of day until 1996, when it was released on VHS.

#19: Humble Pie

Formed in 1969, Humble Pie is a hard rock supergroup whose initial line-up was a veritable who’s-who of prominent English musicians. It started with the friendship between Small Faces guitarist Steve Marriott and Herd frontman Peter Frampton. From there, they added Greg Ridley from Spooky Tooth on bass and Apostolic Intervention's Jerry Shirley on drums. Their name was chosen to not oversell their impressive pedigree, but these guys had plenty of reason to brag, especially with their acclaimed live performances. The band's line-up - as well as their sound - has changed over the years, with Frampton leaving in 1971 and Marriott passing away in 1991. Today, Humble Pie consists of a different set of musicians, still held together by founding member Jerry Shirley.

#18: Chickenfoot

A supergroup that's two parts Van Halen, one part Red Hot Chili Peppers, and one part Joe Satriani is guaranteed to do one thing: rock. Established in 2008, Chickenfoot brought together Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and guitar legend Satriani. So far, the group has put out two albums of satisfying rock music crafted by absolute pros of the genre. However, after the 2011 release of their sophomore album “Chickenfoot III,” things seemed to fizzle out due to their conflicting schedules and disappointing album sales. The group did get back together for a pair of shows in 2016 and from the look of things, a third album may still be on the table.

#17: Beck, Bogert & Appice

We always appreciate supergroups that tell you exactly who's in it. This one was composed of the eponymous frontman of the Jeff Beck Group, as well as bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, both of Cactus and Vanilla Fudge. Beck had first wanted to work with Bogert and Appice in the late ‘60s, but this collaboration didn't come together until 1972. The power trio’s self-titled album was released the following year and included covers of songs by Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield, as well as plenty of irresistible riffs. Though the group saw immense success on the touring circuit, they abruptly ended things before their second album was completed. In 1974, it was "bye, bye, bye" for BB&A.

#16: Damn Yankees

How many Broadway fans do you think bought a ticket to see Damn Yankees, not realizing it wasn’t the classic musical? This rock group, consisting of Styx's Tommy Shaw, Night Ranger's Jack Blades, future Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Michael Cartellone, and Ted Nugent found success right out of the gate. Their 1990 self-titled debut album reached double-platinum status, producing the Billboard Top 10 power ballad “High Enough.” Two years later, they followed that up with “Don’t Tread” which, although not quite as successful as its predecessor, spawned the top 20 hit “Where You Goin' Now.” Although they haven’t released any new material since, the group has reunited intermittently for performances over the years. In other words, these Yankees are still up to bat.

#15: Blind Faith

British psychedelic rock band Cream broke up in 1968, but its members Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker clearly weren’t through with each other. The following year, they formed Blind Faith, a new group with Traffic frontman Steve Winwood and Family bassist Ric Grech. But as it often goes in show business, things ended as quickly as they started. While their live shows attracted huge crowds, the relative lack of Blind Faith originals meant they padded out their setlist with songs from Cream and Traffic, which the audience tended to prefer. They released a single album in 1969 and broke up following a U.S. tour. In 2020, Clapton and Winwood, the two surviving members, reunited for a concert in honor of Baker.

#14: The Honeydrippers

Robert Plant’s love for the blues didn’t end with Led Zeppelin. After the group disbanded following the death of drummer John Bonham, Plant set to work on creating a new band rooted in rhythm and blues. Their only release, an EP titled “The Honeydrippers: Volume One,” featured a very impressive line-up of gifted musicians. In addition to Plant, the group included Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers, Jeff Beck, and “David Letterman” bandleader, Paul Shaffer. Despite the EP performing well commercially, a full-length album by the group never came to fruition. If you’re a Zeppelin devotee who’s worn out your old records, you should definitely give The Honeydrippers a listen.

#13: Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Progressive rock fans look for music that bucks convention and takes them to a new realm of listening. In the 1970s, Emerson, Lake & Palmer gave them just that. The Nice keyboardist Keith Emerson, King Crimson bassist and vocalist Greg Lake, and drummer Carl Palmer formed arguably one of the best rock acts of that decade. Their commercial success showed that prog rock could be enjoyed even by casual listeners, although there were still plenty of songs with super-sized lengths. At the end of the decade, the band called it quits before reuniting for a few years in the ‘90s, and again in 2010 for a 40th anniversary show. Sadly, Emerson and Lake both passed away in 2016.

#12: Temple of the Dog

You might not recognize the name Andrew Wood, but he was one of the most important figures in Seattle’s alternative rock scene. The frontman of Mother Love Bone, Wood passed away in 1990 but left behind an extraordinary legacy. Part of this was inspiring his friend, Soundgarden lead Chris Cornell, to create a supergroup in his honor. Temple of the Dog also featured Wood’s bandmates Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, and even guest vocals from Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, shortly before his band hit it big. Aside from some reunions, this supergroup ended in 1992, a year after releasing their first and only album. However, they still made an impact as a great band and a touching tribute.

#11: The Power Station

A supergroup featuring two members of Duran Duran and led by Robert Palmer sounds like an ‘80s music fan’s dream. When Duran Duran took a hiatus, two of their members, guitarist Andy Taylor and bassist John Taylor, created a new band. With Palmer’s vocals and drumming from Tony Thompson, previously of Chic, The Power Station was powered by a variety of sounds, including rock and funk. The album performed well, but Palmer's abrupt departure before their first tour meant they had to look for a replacement lead singer. Although they eventually found one in Michael Des Barres, just one year after their formation, The Power Station was switched off. They reunited in the mid-90s with Palmer and split for good in 1997.

#10: Them Crooked Vultures

Josh Homme and Dave Grohl had already collaborated with Queens of the Stone Age, but add Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones to the mix? It's no wonder Them Crooked Vultures’ debut album was one of 2009's anticipated rock releases. Things had been cooking since at least 2005, and before the album dropped, the band was playing around the world, stoking further excitement. While the record might not have reached the heights of its members’ best work, their undeniable chemistry and technique still made it a great listen. Although they’ve consistently hinted at a second album, with no concrete information yet, the Vultures have left us circling dead meat.

#9: Velvet Revolver

The ‘90s and 2000s were a tumultuous time for Guns N’ Roses. But 2002 saw the formation of a new group with members of the legendary hard rock band. Velvet Revolver featured Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, plus Wasted Youth’s Dave Kushner on guitar and Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland on vocals. This amazing pedigree helped their debut album, “Contraband” land at number one on the charts and earned them a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. But tensions between Weiland and the other members mounted while on tour for their sophomore album "Libertad," resulting in his departure. With Weiland's untimely passing in 2015, and Slash and McKagan rejoining Guns N' Roses, it seems Velvet Revolver has stopped turning for good.

#8: Audioslave

Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach De La Rocha left the band in 2000, leaving the other members to form a new project with Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. Audioslave distinguished itself from its members’ previous bands and showed how good Rage could sound even without a rapper on the mic. The band also earned great reviews for their live shows, particularly on the Lollapalooza tour. After releasing three well-received albums, Cornell announced he was leaving the group, citing personal and creative differences, which effectively ended Audioslave. The band reunited for a one-off performance in 2017 and hinted at the possibility of more reunions in the future. However, Cornell sadly passed away later that year.

#7: The Highwaymen

If you’re in search of the ultimate country supergroup, look no further than The Highwaymen. Outlaw country legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings released three albums together in the ‘80s and ‘90s, each highlighting their individual talents. Especially popular was their cover of Jimmy Webb’s “Highwayman,” which inspired the group’s name and reached number one on the Billboard Country Charts. But health troubles for Cash and Jennings made touring difficult, and the Highwaymen took the exit in 1995. It’s still great to know four incredible country artists could come together and form a band that lived up to their immense shared talent.

#6: Bad Company

If a band name starts with “bad,” you just know the music has to be good. At least that's true with this supergroup, which featured Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke from Free, Mick Ralphs from Mott the Hoople, and Boz Burrell from King Crimson. Bad Company proved to be excellent company, with their self-titled debut going quintuple platinum. However, multiple behind-the-scenes factors contributed to the original lineup breaking up in 1982. The band was then fronted by Brian Howe and later Robert Hart before Rodgers rejoined in 1998. Since then, a new lineup, featuring Rodgers and Kirke, has stayed fairly active, although the band has not released any new studio albums since 1996.

#5: Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was a band so technically skilled, there was no way its members were relying on mere beginner’s luck. After the Yardbirds broke up, guitarist Jimmy Page set out to form a new band. He hired Band of Joy members Robert Plant and John Bonham, as well as bassist John Paul Jones. Initially called "the New Yardbirds," Led Zeppelin released their first album in 1969. Their heavy, blues-infused sound was instrumental in establishing hard rock and heavy metal as the future of the genre. The band thrived on each member’s extraordinary talent, and so, when Bonham sadly passed away in 1980, they made the decision to end things. To date, Led Zeppelin is still regarded as one of the greatest bands of all time.

#4: Asia

Despite their name, the members of this band all hailed from London, England. As with Emerson, Lake & Palmer, it featured members of other famous prog rock bands, including Carl Palmer himself. Also in the original lineup were King Crimson's John Wetton and Yes members Steve Howe and Geoff Downes. They also saw great commercial success with their self-titled debut and its lead single, "Heat of the Moment,” which showed their skill at crafting commercially-friendly songs. Like many supergroups, Asia's lineup has morphed over the years, including with Greg Lake of King Crimson as frontman. The original members reunited in 2006, although with Wetton passing away in 2017, the reins of Asia have been left in the hands of Downes and Palmer.

#3: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

This folk-rock supergroup initially started as a trio, with The Byrds’ David Crosby, Buffalo Springfield’s Stephen Stills, and The Hollies’ Graham Nash. But after adding Stills' former bandmate Neil Young to the mix in 1969, they became a true powerhouse. Their album "Déjà Vu" was a huge success, but intra-band friction led to the group breaking up in 1970. The members branched out on solo careers afterwards, but reunited in 1973, only to find that their conflict had returned as well. The line-up later shifted between one featuring just the original trio and one that also included Young. With no studio albums since 1999 and the unfortunate death of Crosby in 2023, any activity in the group has most likely ceased to carry on.

#2: Traveling Wilburys

It’s hard to think of a supergroup with a more exciting lineup than the Traveling Wilburys. Made up of the Beatles’ George Harrison, Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison, the Traveling Wilburys started with just one song before turning into something exceptional. The band's democratic style helped to give each member equal say, and their first album was a roaring success. Sadly, Orbison passed away just two months after its release. The surviving members dedicated their sophomore project, "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3," to Orbison before breaking up in 1991. This supergroup may have been composed of superstars, but it was clear they hadn’t lost their love for making music.

#1: Cream

Three members, three years, four albums, and one legendary band. Those numbers describe Cream, considered the first-ever supergroup. But it’s not just being first that earns Cream the top spot, it’s how well their sound has held up. With Yardbirds guitarist Eric Clapton, and Graham Bond Organisation members Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, Cream was driven by talent. But the strain of touring, as well as the prickly relationship between Baker and Bruce, curdled the group in 1968. Cream reunited in 1993 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, as well as for seven concerts in 2005. Since then, Bruce and Baker have sadly passed away, but when it comes to supergroups, this one arguably remains the cream of the crop.