When I was still a young and very impressionable guitarists, once in a while I’d hear of a collection of musicians, from different bands, that would get together to form this new thing called a Super Group. I could only imagine great tunes coming from these musically gifted artists. My first exposure to this new phenomenon was a Super Group called Asia.
I was not playing with Pylis at this point and I was just starting to pick up my axe again, finally! It was at this point in my journey that my renewal of love for playing and performing live came to a head. At this point I proceeded practicing like a mad man! I just needed an outlet to let go of all my pent up musical energy, so I got together this band.
These guys, Pinhead(keyboards), Domenic (drums), and this other guy that I can’t remember his name right now (bass player) wanted to play a show at Brantford’s BCI talent night, way back in the mid 80’s. Now this is where the Super Group Asia comes in.
Asia came at us with tons of hype. A line up that included guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, keyboardist Geoff Downes and bassist/vocalist John Wetton was a real eye catcher. Their first big hit, the one we actually played at the show, was called Heat of the moment.
In hind site, the band and their material were ok at best. Not overly imaginative, but for the average listener at the time, it was fine. Most people were not fully aware of each of the bands members past works. They just recalled hearing the names of the bands and not what they, the guys in Asia as individuals, could bring to their musical tapestry.
Asia did in fact have several Top 10 singles and sales exceeding 7 million copies. Not bad for a so, so band. Why are these guys such a big seller … I’m not really sure. The only thing that comes to mind is ADVERTISING! So what about Super Groups from the past?
In the 1960s there was Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Cream and Blind Faith. Not too bad at all I’d say. During the 1970s groups like Bad Company and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (these guys were just unreal). The 80s & 90s had super groups like The Firm, Power Station, A Perfect Circle and last but not least The Traveling Wilburys (I really wasn’t all that impressed with these guys in particular).
In today’s musical time line we have Velvet Revolver and Audioslave and just recently had Chicken Foot and Tinted Windows join the fold.
The question I have for all of you is, what do you think of the idea of The Super Group concept? Love them or hate them?
Keep on Jammin’
Hey Stick! The bass player was Paul Stewart. He was a few grades above us at SJC. I think he only played that one gig with us.
Dom
Thanx Domenic! Now I remember him. He played the bass for a church choir come to think of it!
Keep on Jammin’ Dom!
I remember most of those bands…but I wonder why there doesn’t seem to be too many super groups these days. Some bands will break up and a member will go into another band, but they’re not really forming what we define as super groups.
I think that they, Super Groups, are making a bit of a comeback Liggy Blough.
As for the idea itself, I’m still sitting on the fence about them in general.
Thanx for the great comment and BTW, you’ve got a nice site!
How about Rainbow?
I’m talking about the first lineup with Dio from Elf.. Blackmore from Deep Purple.. and Cozy Powell from the Jeff Beck group
They were crazy good!
Now that is a name that I haven’t heard of in years! These guys are in the Love them category for sure!