What happens when you take the biggest talents from multiple bands and put them together? You get a supergroup—a musical force so electrifying that their combined star power creates something truly special. From rock legends to genre-bending collaborations, these supergroups didn’t just push boundaries; they shattered them. Here are 10 of the greatest music supergroups that redefined what it means to make music together.
1. Cream
Cream set the blueprint for supergroups with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce joining forces in 1966. Known for their blues-infused rock and extended jams, tracks like “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room” showcased their unparalleled musicianship and chemistry.
2. Traveling Wilburys
When George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne formed the Traveling Wilburys in the late ’80s, it was a dream team of songwriting legends. Their debut album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was a masterclass in timeless, feel-good rock.
3. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young blended their folk and rock sensibilities into harmonies that defined a generation. Albums like Déjà Vu and performances at Woodstock turned them into the voice of the late ‘60s counterculture.
4. Audioslave
When members of Rage Against the Machine teamed up with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell in 2001, Audioslave was born. Their mix of politically charged instrumentation and Cornell’s powerhouse vocals gave us hits like “Like a Stone” and “Cochise.”
5. The Highwaymen
Country legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson came together in the ‘80s to form The Highwaymen. Their blend of outlaw country storytelling made tracks like “Highwayman” enduring classics.
6. Them Crooked Vultures
This powerhouse trio of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) created one of the most dynamic supergroups of the 2000s. Their self-titled album is packed with gritty riffs and mesmerizing grooves.
7. The Postal Service
Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel), and Jenny Lewis created indie magic with Give Up in 2003. Songs like “Such Great Heights” blended electronica with heartfelt lyricism, cementing their place in indie music history.
8. Velvet Revolver
Formed by members of Guns N’ Roses and Stone Temple Pilots’ Scott Weiland, Velvet Revolver brought hard rock swagger back to the early 2000s. Their debut album Contraband gave us hits like “Slither” and “Fall to Pieces.”
9. The Raconteurs
Jack White joined forces with Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler to form The Raconteurs. Their mix of bluesy rock and sharp storytelling, especially on tracks like “Steady, As She Goes,” turned them into modern rock heroes.
10. Asia
With members from Yes, King Crimson, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Asia created arena-ready progressive rock in the ‘80s. Their debut album, featuring hits like “Heat of the Moment,” was a commercial juggernaut that proved prog rock could dominate the charts.
