11 Notable Supergroups of the 21st Century

The term “supergroup” was coined in the 1960s to describe bands made up of members that were previously well-known for their work as solo artists or with other groups. The word, possibly inspired by the 1968 album Super Sessions (Al Kooper, Stephen Stills, Michael Bloomfield), has been used to describe such acts as Cream, Humble Pie and The Travelling Wilburys. In music today, supergroups are a dime a dozen, but we’ve selected a few of the best acts to form in the 21st century.
1. Middle Brother
Members: J. McCauley III (Deer Tick), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) and Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit)
Formed: 2011
Middle Brother came together last year, playing their first set at SXSW as “MG&V.” Made up of members from some of today’s best folk-rock/Americana music, Middle Brother is one of the best bands of the genre. Their self-titled debut was released earlier this month.
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Fans of Middle Brother should check out Paste’s Middle Brother Album Giveaway.
2. Monsters of Folk
Members: Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, The Mystic Valley Band), M. Ward (She & Him) and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes)
Formed: 2004
The stellar guitar work of My Morning Jacket combined with the lyrical content and multi-instrumentalism of Bright Eyes, not to mention contributions from M. Ward, what could be better?
3. The Dead Weather
Members: Alison Mosshart (The Kills, Discount), Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes)
Formed: 2009
Jack White must be a glutton for punishment because The Dead Weather was initially formed after he lost his voice and brought on The Kills’ Alison Mosshart to filll in on vocals for The Raconteurs. The result is one of the dirtiest, grittiest hard rock bands around. Despite having formed in 2009, the band has already released two albums.
Members:Jack White (The White Stripes, The Dead Weather), Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence (The Greenhornes, Blanche, The Dead Weather) and Patrick Keeler (The Greenhornes).
Formed: 2005
Serving as Jack White’s first adventure away from candy-coated duo The White Stripes, The Raconteurs showed everyone that they weren’t just a side project to be taken lightly with the release of their debut album Broken Boy Soldiers. However, their second album Consolers of the Lonely and 2008 Bonnaroo performance was what solidified them as one the best powerhouse groups in music today.
5. Them Crooked Vultures
Members: John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss)
Formed:2009
A member of Led Zeppelin back in action with a new band? Need we say more?