Five astoundingly successful supergroups formed in the 1970s

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As a child of the ’70s, I was fortunate enough to witness some truly legendary supergroups grace our stages and airwaves. Among these giants, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass band stands out as an absolute gem. With Dave Mason, Duane Allman, and Eric Clapton (though they could have been Eric Clapton & Friends), this ensemble delivered a masterpiece that still resonates today with classics like “Layla.”

Discussing some outstanding supergroups often stirs up disagreement due to the abundance of talented musicians who joined them. Even before delving into debating which one was the finest among the numerous groups created throughout history, a more fundamental question needs resolution: precisely what do we mean by a supergroup?

Essentially, a supergroup refers to a musical collaboration between well-known musicians who’ve achieved significant success individually. The key point of agreement is that they form a new band. This new band has typically produced an album and often embarked on tours as well.

In simpler terms, when a musical event features multiple renowned artists coming together to perform, such as Eric Clapton inviting fellow guitarists on stage for a few songs, it can be referred to as a supergroup. Similarly, a collective of artists formed for a specific project like “We Are The World” by USA For Africa can also be considered a supergroup. This term is used to describe new groups that aren’t temporary or created for a single purpose, but rather exist primarily as musical entities.

Five great 1970s supergroups

I would rephrase the given text as follows: I will also consider cases where one or two musicians depart from a band and are substituted with highly skilled musicians who continue under the same band name as not being a supergroup. If this is not the case, then The Rolling Stones can be considered a supergroup due to their numerous albums, enduring success, and ongoing touring. However, adding Ronnie Wood to an already established band does not automatically qualify them as a supergroup.

To excel, supergroups had to produce chart-topping hits and achieve a significant level of success, which is crucial for their recognition and fits with the groups I have mentioned. Let me share five supergroups established in the 1970s; there might be others that did not meet these criteria or formed earlier.

Journey

Established in 1973, Journey experienced several personnel shifts throughout its existence, similar to many other bands. The founding members consisted of two musicians originally from Santana: the lead vocalist and keyboard player Gregg Rollie, as well as guitarist Neal Schon. They were subsequently joined by Ross Valory, who was a bass player for the Steve Miller Band, and George Tickner from the California psychedelic rock group Frumious Bandersnatch. It’s worth noting that Ross Valory had been a member of both Journey and Frumious Bandersnatch as well.

For the initial phase of their trip, the Tubes’ drummer, Prairie Prince, was part of the group. However, he was swiftly replaced by Aynsley Dunbar, who had previously worked with Frank Zappa’s Mothers Of Invention and David Bowie. Both have impressive resumes in the music industry. Notably, they were managed by Herbie Herbert, who also managed Santana.

As a dedicated gamer reminiscing about my favorite band’s journey, let me share some insights. Originally, the plan was for them to tour with a versatile backing group, but things took an unexpected turn, and they hit the road as Journey instead. Initially, their music leaned more towards jazz-rock, but after releasing their first three albums, they shifted gears and moved towards a harder rock sound.

Reflecting on that pivotal moment, it ignited an avalanche of success in the ensuing years. In the United States alone, we’re talking over 50 million albums sold! The year 1998 saw their “Greatest Hits” album claiming a staggering 25 million units – a significant chunk indeed. It’s safe to say that from the initial concept of a traveling backing band, they transcended into major stars and powerhouse performers.

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Little River Band

A less well-known supergroup might be the Little River Band, especially for those outside Australia. This is because their founding members gained more recognition for their earlier work within Australia rather than globally. The band was formed in 1975 with Glenn Shorrock, Beeb Birtles, Graeham Goble, Ric Formosa, Roger McLachlan, and Derek Pellicci as its original members.

Despite Formosa and McLachlan departing shortly after and being replaced by George McArdle and David Briggs, the band experienced further changes over time, as is common among many groups. John Farnham joined the band for a five-year stint in the 1980s. Remarkably, Little River Band continues to exist and they are currently touring in the US, albeit without any of the original members present.

Let’s journey back to the ’70s, specifically the year 1976. That was when McArdle, Briggs, Shorrock, Pellicci, Birtles, and Goble were part of the band. Interestingly, they reunited in 2004 for a live performance at their ARIA Hall of Fame induction. Notably, Goble, Pellicci, and Birtles had previously played together in different bands, eventually forming Mississippi, which achieved a top-ten single and successful album in Australia. Meanwhile, Shorrock was a member of Australian bands Twilight and Axiom, both of which also enjoyed a series of top singles.

Initially, they contemplated naming their band after the Mississippi River, but eventually settled on Little River Band instead. During the ’70s, they produced five studio albums that garnered numerous gold and platinum awards due to their impressive sales figures. Their success skyrocketed when they began targeting audiences in both the UK and US for album releases and tours. The band’s soft rock sound, pop influences, harmonious vocals, and catchy songs from those albums contributed significantly to their popularity beyond their home country.

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Eagles

Among the five, it was the country rock group, the Eagles, who first came together, initially serving as a backing band for Linda Ronstadt. Initially formed, the original lineup consisted of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner from Poco, and Bernie Leadon from The Flying Burrito Brothers. This union eventually allowed the Eagles to soar independently, achieving impressive levels of success in their own right.

In the band’s history, Don Felder, Joe Walsh (previously of Brainstorm and a renowned solo artist), Timothy B Schmidt (also from Poco), and others joined, only to leave shortly after. The group experienced more lineup shifts in later years as well. Currently, only two original members are still alive, and Henley remains the sole active member of the band. Sadly, Frey and Meisner have passed away, while Leadon left for good and made brief appearances only for special events like award shows and their “History Of The Eagles” tour between 2013 and 2015.

Among the band’s seven studio albums, six were produced during the 1970s. Their first live album, “Eagles Live,” came out in 1980; however, it included five songs that were originally recorded in 1976. Notably, this album was assembled when the band was mostly disbanded due to significant conflicts among its members.

In later years, Eagles regrouped and embarked on their “The Long Goodbye Tour” towards the end of last year. This tour concludes with a series of performances at the LA Sphere, wrapping up in January 2025. Although the lineup may not be the original one, the presence of Henley, Welsh, and Schmidt from the 1970s era is still quite strong. Remaining a top act for such an extended period is remarkable, making them quite a legendary group!

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Derek and the Dominoes

The question of whether this is really a supergroup is easily answered. It’s a definite yes, they were. Eric Clapton was the biggest star and had a solo career plus several bands to his name. Clapton has several supergroups to his name with Cream and Blind Faith, both formed in the previous decade, on his C.V. Alongside him were several members of the Delaney & Bonnie And Friends group, including bass player Carl Radle. 

Among other members of that band, Bobby Whitlock played keyboards and had a history with soul groups like Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Prior to his time in this band, Jim Gordon was recognized primarily as a session musician, having worked on albums such as The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and numerous others. Clapton, Gordon, Whitlock, and Radle had been playing together before Derek And The Dominos were officially formed. They often served as the backing band for many songs on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album.

To the ensemble, we included Dave Mason, formerly of Traffic, and Duane Allman’s exceptional slide guitar playing. Mason participated in some studio sessions, while Allman contributed to all but three tracks on Derek And The Dominos’ album “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs.” Both musicians also joined the band for a few concerts during touring.

If Eric Clapton had chosen to go with their initial band name idea, “Eric Clapton & Friends,” our perception might have been different. However, there’s no denying that they formed a strong ensemble, even if it was brief and only produced one album. Remarkably, that single album, titled the same as its hit track “Layla,” remains an enduring classic with the title song still being highly regarded today.

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Bad Company

As a lifelong music enthusiast who grew up in the golden age of rock and roll, I can confidently say that Bad Company was one of the most impressive supergroups to emerge from that era. Although they may not immediately come to mind as an obvious powerhouse, their lineup speaks volumes about their pedigree.

Established in 1973, Bad Company released six studio albums during their original lineup’s tenure. They disbanded in 1982 but different iterations of the band resurfaced at times. Remarkably, the original members reunited again for another album and tour in 1998 and 1999. Interestingly, their management during those early years was handled by none other than Led Zeppelin’s manager, Peter Grant.

Among their albums, their initial three releases – “Bad Company,” “Straight Shooter,” and “Run With The Pack” – were their most successful. Hits like “Can’t Get Enough” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” earned them chart success. Known for their amazing live performances that filled large arenas with their raw rock and roll sound, they became one of the UK’s leading rock bands in the 1970s, cementing Bad Company’s status as a top act during that decade.

As someone who has been a lifelong music fan, I find it truly remarkable that Bad Company, with their multitude of hits, vast array of musical styles, and decades-long career, has managed to maintain harmony and cohesion as a supergroup for so many years. With my own experiences witnessing the fallout of numerous bands due to ego clashes and creative differences, I can’t help but be in awe of Bad Company’s ability to keep it together and continue producing quality music. They certainly have earned their supergroup status and I eagerly await their future collaborations.

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Emerson, Lake and Palmer – ELP

In the ’70s, I found myself utterly captivated by one of the most iconic supergroups – Emerson, Lake and Palmer, or simply ELP. The trio, comprising Keith Emerson (previously with The Nice), Greg Lake (from King Crimson) and Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster), united in 1970 to create this musical powerhouse. They were pioneers in the progressive rock scene, marking the emergence of the first prog rock supergroup.

Emerson, Lake, and Carl Palmer were considering forming a group, and they were searching for a third member. At one point, there was talk of Jimi Hendrix joining too, but plans for a HELP supergroup never materialized. As a trio, they made a significant impact on the music scene instead.

Multiple albums like “Tarkus” and “Brain Salad Surgery” achieved significant sales success, exposing their intricate music to a broad audience. However, as the three musicians evolved separately in terms of style and composition, it became increasingly challenging for them to create music suitable for joint performance. This tension culminated in their 1977 album “Works Vol.1.”

On this double album release, each member of the trio showcased their individual work with a separate disc, while there was only one disc for the group’s work as Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). This marked the beginning of the band’s decline, even though the album wasn’t popularly acclaimed. However, it did feature their most renowned piece, “Fanfare For The Common Man,” a track frequently used in sports broadcasts over the years and expected to be played during the Paris Olympics 2024 coverage.

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2024-08-02 13:01