Wasn't there talk of the Wilburys recording a new backing track for an Elvis vocal (I believe they were going to call him Aaron Wilbury). In the end, Harrison decided it was a bad idea. Of course, a few years later he'd have a rethink on the subject.
In terms of a who's who of popular music, dont think anything comes close to Travelling Wilburys. I mean come on, an ex Beatle George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. Maybe not the greatest music ever BUT in terms of members, certainly number 1 Personal favorite of mine was BBM, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Gary Moore, only did 1 album but it is bloody fantastic
Is Cream really a super group? I've often seen them described that way, but were Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker famous enough pre-Cream to qualify?
Anyway, I think Velvet Revolver is probably the most super of the super groups. Guns n' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots were two of the very biggest bands of their time and given the musical landscape at the time for hard rock, Velvet Revolver had a high profile. Bad Company, Asia, despite their pedigree, really were just one more band playing in a genre with bigger, younger, more notable bands. Travelling Willburys seemed more like a side-project than a bona fide band.
These are my two favorite supergroups. NEW RACE: Rob Younger (Radio Birdman; vocals) Deniz Tek (Radio Birdman; guitar) Ron Asheton (The Stooges; guitar) Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson (The MC5; drums) Warwick Gilbert (Radio Birdman; bass) SONIC'S RENDEZVOUS BAND: Fred "Sonic" Smith (The MC5; guitar, vocals) Scott Morgan (The Rationals; guitar, vocals) Scott Asheton (The Stooges; drums) Gary Rasmussen (The Up; bass)
Heard a story on local FM station that (susoecting that sometime during the 90's?) Billy Joel put out feelers for a one-off with himself, Don Henley, Sting and maybe someone else.
My vote goes to "Cream". They were not considered a supergroup to most US music listeners as we were not exposed to their fame like they were in the UK. However, during the late 1960's there was nobody equal to them than perhaps the Jimi Hendrix Experience. They were very influential.
Transatlantic? Flying Colors? Supergroups? More like Big Fish in Small Pond Groups.. PS Don't forget Rod Stewart's idea for the ultimate Supergroup featuring Elton John, him and Freddie Mercury - Hair, Nose and Teeth.
Most of these groups under discussion are true supergroups.... big names with high visibility resumes filling each position. Wilburys don't count. Five big names sure.... but all filling the same position. You could put the top twenty singer/guitarists of all time in there and it still wouldn't be a real supergroup. Is the bassist a big name? Who's the drummer? Wilburys not a supergroup.
I think I remember something about the Wilburys happening because of something that George Harrison did for one of his solo albums. Not quite sure if my memory serves me correct here but could it be related to his «Cloud Nine» album?
Was not both Hatfield & The North and National Health some kind of Canterbury scene «supergroups»? With people from Caravan, Soft Machine and whatnot?