how many "supergroups" have actually turned out to be super?

i can't think of any but that doesn't mean anything.

The label "supergroup" implies that the group will somehow be far better than all other groups, when instead it tends to turn out just a good group.

Considering that most groups suck, a so-called "supergroup" at least ensures that the result will be signable and listenable most of the time, but "super"?

Off the top of my head, supergroups I thought were super. OSI, Hagar, Schon, Aaronson & Shrieve, Bad English, Iron Saviour, BBM and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. For the most part, these groupings can be a bit ponderous. The next one I am looking forward to is the Hagar, Schon, Michael Anthony band.

It has to be said that these sort of groups seem to work better in the prog-rock and symphonic metal scenes.

A bit o' trivia: can anyone name the group which first was given the term "supergroup"?

Cream?

Yep.

I've heard a few MP3's from these guys. I'm really feeling the Nu Metal Vibe! I'm a bit put off by the Satanic content though, what with Kansas being the pro-God sort. But I guess that's what you get with Trey Azagoth producing.

I've heard this mentioned in the Uriah Heep mailing list.

I'm assuming this is a side-project, and Steve Morse isn't leaving Purple, or Kerslake leaving Heep. (For those that haven't been paying attention, Jon Lord left Deep Purple last year, to be replaced by Don Airey)

I was under the impression the first super group was when Socrates and Plato teamed up on the first boy band.

Um, Eric? Given the, er, predelictions and proclivities of society around Socrates and Plato's time, my mind came up with an, um, interesting definition for "teamed up on," especially with regard to boy bands.

As Jerry would say, "not that there's anything wrong with that..."

Gotta agree with Mr. Winn . . . I got a whole different meaning out of "teamed up on" there. Whew. At least I'm not the only one!

I can't believe no one has mentioned the best of all the supergroups, ever - CONTRABAND! How could it not be super with the power from members behind bands like Shark Island, Vixen, Ratt, along with Michael Schenker and Tracii Guns?! (Okay, I admit, I had to look it up - but I remembered the band in the first place, so that counts for something, doesn't it?)

On a serious note, I have to agree with Marty that OSI and Baker/Bruce/Moore were quite good (even if BBM were just aping Cream's high-points with a different guitarist.) "Where In The World" has haunted me since I first heard it.

Actually I have Contraband and it was not that bad. Of course, I got it as a review copy. There are far worse ""Super"-groups... Worst ever supergroup?