Supergruppo (musica)

Nella musica rock e pop in genere, il termine supergruppo o superband si riferisce a un gruppo musicale composto da musicisti particolarmente celebrati per il loro talento tecnico e in genere già divenuti famosi in altri gruppi. Un'ipotesi sull'origine del nome è che esso derivi dal titolo Super Session dell'album del 1968 di Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield e Stephen Stills. Crosby, Stills & Nash sono uno dei primi esempi di supergruppo.

Il fenomeno dei supergruppi ebbe una particolare rilevanza nella musica rock degli anni settanta, in cui il virtuosismo tecnico era particolarmente celebrato. In particolare, moltissimi supergruppi nacquero verso la fine del decennio, raccogliendo membri provenienti da grandi complessi ormai prossimi allo scioglimento. Molte band composte unicamente di virtuosi ebbero vita breve, o addirittura furono create per portare a termine un singolo, specifico progetto.

I supergruppi tendono infatti ad avere vita breve, spesso solo per un album o due, non a caso vengono spesso creati come progetti paralleli di altre band, nati senza l'intenzione di formare una band duratura.

Supergruppi celebri

Anni sessanta

• Cream, (1966-1968), con Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers), Jack Bruce (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann, Graham Bond Organisation) e Ginger Baker (Graham Bond Organisation).
• Crosby, Stills & Nash (formati nel 1968), con David Crosby (The Byrds), Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield), Graham Nash (The Hollies) e Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, dal 1969).
• The Dirty Mac (1968), con John Lennon (The Beatles), Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream), Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) e Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience).
• Blind Faith (1969), con Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, The Dirty Mac), Ginger Baker (Graham Bond Organisation, Cream), Steve Winwood (Traffic, The Spencer Davis Group) e Rick Grech (Family).
• Plastic Ono Band (1969-1975), con John Lennon (The Beatles), Yoko Ono, Klaus Voormann, Alan White e Eric Clapton

Anni settanta

• Il Supergruppo (1970), con Ricky Gianco, Victor Sogliani (Equipe 84), Giacomo di Martino (I Giganti), Gianni dall'Aglio (I Ribelli), Pietro Montalbetti (Dik Dik).
• Derek and the Dominos (1970-1971), con Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Cream, The Dirty Mac, Blind Faith), Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band), Bobby Whitlock (Delaney & Bonnie and Friends), Carl Radle (Gary Lewis & the Playboys) e Jim Gordon (Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, Gene Clark, The Byrds).
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970-1978), con Keith Emerson (The Nice), Greg Lake (King Crimson) e Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster).
• Beck, Bogert & Appice (1972-1974), con Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group), Tim Bogert e Carmine Appice (entrambi Vanilla Fudge e Cactus).
• West, Bruce and Laing (1972-1974), con Jack Bruce (Cream), Leslie West (Mountain) e Corky Laing (Mountain).
• Journey (1973-1987), con Gregg Rolie e Neal Schon (Santana), Ross Valory (Steve Miller Band) e Prairie Prince (The Tubes).
• Bad Company (1973-1982), con Paul Rodgers (Free), Mick Ralphs (Mott the Hoople), Boz Burrell (King Crimson) e Simon Kirke (Free).
• UK (1977-1980), con Eddie Jobson (Roxy Music), John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep), Allan Holdsworth (Gong, Soft Machine) e Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson).
• Rockestra (1978), con Paul McCartney (Wings, ex Beatles), Denny Laine e Laurence Juber (Wings), Pete Townshend e Kenney Jones (Who), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Hank Marvin (Shadows), Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), John Paul Jones e John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Ronnie Lane (Faces), Bruce Thomas (Attractions), Ray Cooper. Avrebbero dovuto essere presenti, inoltre, Keith Moon, che morì un mese prima, e Eric Clapton, che a causa dell'influenza non riuscì a recarsi a Londra.

Anni ottanta

• Asia (dal 1981), con Geoff Downes (Yes, Buggles), John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep, UK), Steve Howe (Yes) e Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Atomic Rooster).
• New Race (1981), con Rob Younger, Deniz Tek, Warwick Gilbert (tutti e tre Radio Birdman), Ron Asheton (The Stooges) e Dennis Thompson (MC5).
• The Glove (1983), con Robert Smith (The Cure) e Steven Severin (Siouxsie and the Banshees).
• This Mortal Coil (1984-1991), fondato da Ivo Watts Russell con i membri dei Buzzcocks, Cindytalk, Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Breathless, Pixies, Shelleyan Orphan e Throwing Muses.
• The Firm (1984-1986), con Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Tony Franklin (Roy Harper) e Chris Slade (Uriah Heep).
• Power Station (1984-1985), con John Taylor (Duran Duran), Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Tony Thompson (Chic) e Robert Palmer.
• The Highwaymen (1985-2002), con Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson e Kris Kristofferson.
• Mike & the Mechanics (dal 1985), con Mike Rutherford (Genesis), Paul Carrack (Ace, Squeeze), Paul Young (Sad Café), Adrian Lee (Cliff Richard, Toyah) e Peter Van Hooke
• Emerson, Lake & Powell (1986), con Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Nice), Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Asia) e Cozy Powell (Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Whitesnake)
• GTR (1986), con Steve Hackett (Genesis), Steve Howe (Yes, Asia), Max Bacon (Bronz), Phil Spalding (Bernie Torme, Toyah, Mike Oldfield) e Jonathan Mover (Steve Vai).
• Rapeman (1987-1989), con Steve Albini (Big Black), David Wm. Sims (Scratch Acid) e Rey Washam (Scratch Acid, Big Boys).
• Bad English (1988-1991), con John Waite (The Babys), Neal Schon (Santana, Journey), Jonathan Cain (The Babys, Journey), Ricky Phillips (The Babys, Styx) e Deen Castronovo (Ozzy Osbourne, Journey).
• Alias (1988-1990), con Freddy Curci (Sheriff), Steve DeMarchi (Sheriff), Roger Fisher (Heart), Steve Fossen (Heart) e Mike DeRosier (Heart).
• Traveling Wilburys (1988-1990), con George Harrison (The Beatles), Bob Dylan, Tom Petty (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra) e Roy Orbison.
• Ro.Bo.T. (1985-1988), con Rosanna Fratello, Bobby Solo e Little Tony

Anni novanta

• Contraband(1990) con Richard Black (Shark Island), Michael Schenker(Scorpions, M.S.G., UFO), Tracii Guns (Guns N'Roses, L.A. Guns), Share Pedersen (Vixen), Bobby Blotzer (Ratt).
• ASS (1993), con Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart e Sting
• Fourplay (1990), con Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East e Harvey Mason.
• Temple of the Dog (1991), con Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), Matt Cameron, Stone Gossard (Mother Love Bone), Jeff Ament (Mother Love Bone), Mike McCready e Eddie Vedder (questi ultimi quattro futuri Pearl Jam).
• Mad Season (1994-1999), con Layne Staley (Alice in Chains), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age), Barrett Martin (Skin Yard, Screaming Trees), John Baker Saunders (The Walkabouts) e Skerik (Les Claypool).
• Neurotic Outsiders (1995-1996), con Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses), Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses), John Taylor (Duran Duran) e Steve Jones (Sex Pistols).
• Liquid Tension Experiment (1997-1999), con John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Jordan Rudess (Dixie Dregs, Dream Theater), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) e Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel).
• Fantômas (dal 1998), con Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle), Buzz Osborne (Melvins), Dave Lombardo (Slayer) e Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3).
• A Perfect Circle (1999-2006), con Billy Howerdel, Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Josh Freese (The Vandals), Paz Lenchantin e Troy Van Leeuwen (Failure).
• Transatlantic (1999-2003), con Neal Morse (Spock's Beard), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) e Pete Trewavas (Marillion).
• Down (dal 1991), con Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Superjoint Ritual), Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity), Kirk Windstein (Crowbar), Rex Brown (Pantera) e Jimmy Bower (Crowbar).

Anni 2000

• The Damning Well (2003) con Richard Patrick (Filter), Josh Freese (The Vandals), Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails) e Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit).
• Bloodbath (dal 2000), con Dan Swanö, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström, Jonas Renkse, Martin "Axe" Axenrot, Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson e Peter Tägtgren.
• Oysterhead (2000-2001), con Stewart Copeland (The Police), Trey Anastasio (Phish) e Les Claypool (Primus).
• Tomahawk (dal 2000), con Mike Patton (Fantômas, Mr. Bungle, ex-Faith No More), Jon Stainer (Helmet), Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard) e Kevin Rutmanis (The Melvins, The Cows).
• Zwan (2001-2003), con Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins, The Last Hard Men, Starchildren), Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle), David Pajo (Slint, Tortoise, The For Carnation, Papa M) e Matt Sweeney (Skunk, Chavez)
• Audioslave (2001-2007), con Chris Cornell (ex-Soundgarden) e Tom Morello, Tim Commerford e Brad Wilk (tutti e tre ex-Rage Against the Machine)
• Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains (2002-2004), con Les Claypool (Primus), Buckethead (Buckethead, Guns N' Roses), Bernie Worrell (Funkadelic, Praxis) e Bryan Mantia (Primus, Praxis, Tom Waits)
• Velvet Revolver (dal 2002) con Slash (Guns N' Roses), Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses), Duff Rose McKagan (Guns N' Roses), Dave Kushner (Wasted Youth) e Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots)
• Ataxia (dal 2004), con John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Joe Lally (Fugazzi) e Josh Klinghoffer.
• The Raconteurs (dal 2005), con Jack White (The White Stripes), Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence (The Greenhornes, Blanche) e Patrick Keeler (The Greenhornes).
• Ardecore (dal 2005), con Giampaolo Felici, Geoff Farina (Karate), Massimo Pupillo, Luca T. Mai, Massimo Battaglia (membri del trio Zu), e dal 2007 con Marco Di Gasbarro, Manlio Maresca e Fabiano Marcucci (membri degli Squartet) e altri musicisti occasionali.
• Angels & Airwaves (dal 2005), con Tom Delonge (ex-Blink-182 e Box Car Racer), David James Kennedy (ex-Box Car Racer e Built To Last), Matt Wachter (ex-Thirty Seconds to Mars) et Atom Willard (ex-The Offspring, The Special Goodness, Rocket from the Crypt, American Hi-Fi, e Melissa Auf Der Maur).
• +44 (dal 2005), con Mark Hoppus (Blink-182), Shane Gallagher (Mercy Killers et The Nervous Return), Craig Fairbaugh (Mercy Killers, The Forgotten e Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards), Travis Barker (The Aquabats, Blink-182, Box Car Racer, The Transplants e Expensive Taste).
• Battle of Mice (dal 2006), con Julie Christmas (Made Out of Babies), Josh Graham (Neurosis), Tony Maiome (Pere Ubu), Joe Tomino (Fugees).
• I (dal 2006), con Abbath (Immortal), Armagedda (Immortal), TC King (Gorgoroth) e Ice Dale (Enslaved).
• Osaka Popstar (dal 2006), con John Cafiero, Jerry Only (The Misfits), Dez Cadena (Black Flag, The Misfits), Ivan Julian (The Voidoids) e Marky Ramone (Ramones, The Voidoids, The Misfits).
• S.K.I.N (dal 2007), con Yoshiki (X Japan), Gackt (Malice Mizer), Sugizo (Luna Sea) e miyavi (Dué le quartz).
• The Good, the Bad and the Queen (dal 2007), con Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Simon Tong (The Verve), Paul Simonon (The Clash) e Tony Allen (Fela Kuti).
• Child Rebel Soldier (dal 2007) con Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, e Pharrell Williams.
• The Last Shadow Puppets (dal 2008), con Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), e Miles Kane (The Rascals).
• SMV (dal 2008), con Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller e Victor Wooten.
• The Soultronics (2000), con James Poyser, Pino Palladino, ?uestlove, F.Knuckles, Jeff Lee Johnson, Chalmers 'Spanky' Alford, Roy Hargrove, Russell Gunn, Franck Lacy, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Anthony Hamilton e Shelby Johnson.
• "Empire of the Sun"(2007), con Luke Steele ((The Sleepy Jackson)), Nick Littlemore ((Pnau))
• Chickenfoot (dal 2008) con Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Joe Satriani e Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers).
• Mongrel (dal 2008) con Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers), Lowkey (Poisonous Poets), Andy Nicholson (ex-Arctic Monkeys), Joe Moskow (Reverend and the Makers), Drew McConnell (Babyshambles), Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys).
• Monsters Of Folk (dal 2009) con Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) e M.Ward.
• Them Crooked Vultures (dal 2009) con John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) e Josh Homme (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age).
• The Almighty Defenders (2009) con Mark Sultan (Alias BBQ), King Khan (King Kahn & BBQ Band) e i Black Lips.

Anni 2010

• SuperHeavy (dal 2011) con Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones), Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Joss Stone, Damian Marley e A. R. Rahman.
• Vicky Cryer (dal 2011) con Jason Hill (Louis XIV), Dominic Howard (Muse), Alex Carapetis (Nine Inche Nails), Nick Fyffe (Jamiroquai), Jeff Kite e David Johansen (New York Dolls).
• Kill Devil Hill (dal 2011) con Rex Brown (Pantera e Down), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Dio), Jason Bragg (Ratt, W.A.S.P.) e Mark Zavon (Pissing Razors).