Astonishingly brilliant supergroups formed in the 1960s

As a child of the ’60s, I can vividly remember the magical harmonies and powerful messages that Crosby, Stills, Nash (CSN), and Young (CSNY) brought to our generation. Being a part of that era, their music was more than just tunes; it was an anthem for peace, love, and understanding that resonated deeply within us all.

Alright, let’s delve back into the world of iconic musical collaborations again. I’ve been reading up on supergroups that emerged in the swinging ’70s, giving a detailed analysis of groups like Cream and their contemporaries from the groovy ’60s. Now, let’s not forget about the other legendary acts that sprang up during those same vibrant years!

For uniformity, I’ll stick with the same standards as earlier. This implies we require a band where individual members are well-known in their respective spheres. They should have produced an album collectively, not just a single performance, and completed a tour together, rather than a one-time show.

It’s worth noting that some bands occasionally labeled as “supergroups” don’t quite fit the bill. Mott The Hoople is one of those instances. Although their lineup did feature Mick Ralphs, who later played with Bad Company, a renowned 1970s supergroup, neither Ralphs, lead vocalist Ian Hunter, nor the other members of Mott The Hoople garnered enough individual fame to be classified as a supergroup.

Why Led Zeppelin aren’t a 1960s supergroup

In essence, it’s debatable that Led Zeppilina is truly a supergroup, as often claimed, due to a lack of substantial evidence. While Jimmy Page, known for his prowess as a session guitarist in the ’60s and a member of The Yardbirds, did contribute significantly to its formation through The New Yardbirds, it’s not entirely accurate to attribute that status to the entire band.

Before Led Zeppelin became famous, its members – Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones – were relatively unknown. They had formed the band “Band Of Joy,” but it disbanded in 1968 without securing a record deal. At that point, John Paul Jones didn’t have any significant success to his name yet. So, if you thought Led Zeppelin was hailed as a top supergroup due to their previous achievements, that’s not the case because they hadn’t made a name for themselves before forming the band.

Instead of focusing on those who barely make the cut, let’s shift our attention to bands that clearly meet the criteria. In addition to the many bands linked to Cream and their successors, I’d like to introduce you to two more outstanding supergroups that were formed in the 1960s.

Humble Pie – a top supergroup formed in the 1960s

Initially, we have the British rock band Humble Pie, which was established in 1969 and consisted of Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton, Greg Ridley, and Jerry Shirley. Prior to this collaboration, Peter Frampton had already achieved success at a young age with The Herd, but he departed from them in 1968. Frampton almost joined Marriott’s band Small Faces, but the other members there were unwilling to accommodate him.

Previously, Marriott had been assisting Frampton in forming a fresh band, and had already arranged Ridley from Spooky Tooth for the bass role and Shirley from Apolisitic Intervention on drums. However, Marriott’s growing annoyance with his current group escalated, leading him to angrily leave during a Small Faces New Year’s Eve performance. Backstage that night, he declared his departure, which then paved the way for him joining Frampton and the rest of the band members in this new musical venture.

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Humble Pie and that amazing live album

Regardless of their varying degrees of fame, this group boasts enough renowned artists to make it an unquestionable supergroup in the eyes of many. The media dubbed them as such when they formed, sparking a wave of enthusiasm and speculation. However, the band preferred a more modest image, hence their name, Humble Pie, intended to counteract this grand label and steer clear of unwanted attention.

Over time, much like numerous other music groups, their name has persisted through different members joining and leaving, along with occasional get-togethers. The initial team stayed together until 1971, producing four fantastic studio albums, an exceptional live album, and their debut album, As Safe As Yesterday, which was released in 1969 – one of the pioneering heavy metal records. Nowadays, it might be perceived less as heavy metal and more as simply outstanding, hard-hitting rock and roll.

With the album and its singles achieving notable chart success, subsequent releases from the original lineup didn’t fare as well. However, a standout was a live album – “Rockin’ The Fillmore,” released in 1971. This is arguably their most celebrated and successful work, featuring an exceptional live performance captured at the height of their talent on stage at the Fillmore East in New York.

Back in 1971, I decided to step out on my own after being part of the incredible Humble Pie. The band took a break following our eighth studio album, “Street Rats,” and the Goodbye Pie Tour concerts in 1975. Over the years, various iterations of the band emerged. However, it was truly special when Shirley, Ridley, Frampton, and Clem Clempson reunited in 2021 for a Marriott tribute gig in London. As it stands now, Humble Pie is under Shirley’s ownership, and a modern version of the band continues to bring that classic rock sound to life.

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Crosby, Stills, Nash (CSN), and Young (CSNY)

There’s no question about the qualifications of these musicians for being considered a supergroup. However, there’s some uncertainty as to whether they are CSN or CSNY, with Neil Young sometimes joining in less frequently. It makes the most sense and is accurate to include him in both cases. Young performed with the band during Woodstock in August 1969, meaning that both variations of the group were active in the 1960s.

In 1968, David Crosby (formerly of The Byrds), Stephen Stills (from Buffalo Springfield), and Graham Nash (previously with The Hollies) came together. This happened after they had played together casually, enjoyed the result, and decided to pursue bigger things. Their separations from their previous bands were less than smooth and comfortable. Consequently, they opted for a straightforward name, Crosby, Stills & Nash, for their new collaborative band.

As a die-hard fan, I can understand why they opted to stick with their last names for clarity’s sake. The band simply couldn’t keep going under our shared name if any member had to step down for whatever reason. This was indeed a touchy subject for Stills and Nash, considering the complexities surrounding The Byrds and The Hollies post-departure. Looking back, this decision turned out to be quite beneficial in the long run, as it made Young’s later addition to the group seamless.

Crosby, Stills & Nash get underway

The debut album, known as Crosby, Stills & Nash, was their first release in 1969, brimming with their distinctive close harmonies and catchy tunes. One of its popular tracks, “Marrakesh Express,” showcases their unique style and songwriting prowess effectively. This track rightfully achieved quadruple platinum certification.

When mapping out their tour, the three-piece group decided to incorporate a keyboard player and reached out to Steve Winwood. However, at that moment, Winwood was immersed in his new supergroup, Blind Faith, which left them unable to recruit him. Next in line was Young, who is more renowned as a guitarist, but he also demonstrated proficiency on keyboards. With his approval, Young joined the group, but they permitted him to continue with his Crazy Horse band and simultaneous commitments with CSNY.

Initially, their opening performances stood out significantly. The inaugural show took place in August 1969, Chicago, with Joni Mitchell gracing the stage as the opener. This was preceded by their performance at the iconic Woodstock festival. Remarkably, due to the chaos of that event, they performed on stage between 3 and 4 a.m., early hours of Monday morning. They initially played an acoustic set and were later joined by Young for an electrifying segment. Thus, at Woodstock, it was both CSN and CSNY making an appearance.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s first album

Back in 1970, I was part of the CSNY family when we dropped our debut album, “Deja Vu”. It was packed with timeless hits like “Teach Your Children”, “Our House”, and “Woodstock” that made it a smashing success, now rated a whopping seven times platinum. But then things took a wild turn. Our second tour saw some heated disagreements between Young and the rest of us. We had to call it quits, at least for a while.

The history that followed was complicated yet rich with fantastic songs. Some were from incarnations of the band, some from solo endeavors. At various points, it was simply the trio CSN, while at others it included Young as part of a CSNY project. Controversies, splits, and reunions marked this cycle that happened quite often. Regrettably, Crosby’s passing in 2023 signaled the end of these iterations and the supergroup after producing eight studio and five live albums, which collectively sold nearly 40 million copies worldwide.

2024-08-14 13:01