MusicRadar

Cream - the first supergroup?

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BBM

Blues-rock axe grimacer Gary Moore had something of an identity crisis in the mid-'90s. He made an album of faithful but artless Peter Green covers, tried to go "drum 'n' bass" on Dark Days In Paradise and here formed Bruce-Baker-Moore - aka 'curdled Cream' - with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. One album, Around The Next Dream, was the only fruit of Moore 'being' Eric Clapton. Rumour has it their debut showcase gig ended in an almighty backstage punch-up before they could even encore. Hey, who says copies don't match the originals?
MusicRadar rating 1/5

The Good The Bad And The Queen

Blur's Damon Albarn has long-tinkered with 'outre' art projects, but for getting The Clash's Paul Simonon out of retirement, this project stands out. Fela Kuti's legendary drummer Tony Allen, guitarist Simon Tong (The Verve/Blur journeyman) and Danger Mouse join the ride. The self-titled album is impressively murky rock-noir that reeks of post-Millennial London gloom.
MusicRadar rating 4/5

Electronic

In which ex-Smith Johnny Marr and Joy Division/New Order's Bernard Sumner (plus a Pet Shop Boy and a Kraftwerker) have a dads' day at the disco that somehow lasts for 10 years. Sumner took Prozac to try and make his lyrics better. Fail! Marr occasionally dials in some decent tunes but appears to be on auto-pilot throughout. Collaborator Neil Tennant (of The Pet Shop Boys) illuminates Electronic's less than-conquering attempt of a US tour: "Bernard was lying on the bed with a sign on his chest: 'Don't wake me up until it's time to go on stage'. He used to have to drink Pernod to fire him up. And a bucket beside him to be sick into." Ironically, one of their better recordings was a cover of Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way Home…
MusicRadar rating 2/5

The Raconteurs

Jack White clearly lives by the ethos: I'll sleep when I'm dead. After making his name with The White Stripes, he worked with Loretta Lynn, then came as a Raconteur with lauded solo artist Brendan Benson, plus Jack Lawrence (of The Greenhornes and Blanche) and Patrick Keeler (also of The Greenhornes). Result? More pop-friendly hits, some Grammys, an astounding performance at Glastonbury 2008 and a Raconteurs career only on hiatus because White has now started yet another group, The Dead Weather (with members of The Kills and Queens Of The Stone Age).
Musicradar rating 4/5

Any other 'great' supergroups we've missed?

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