Supergroups often fail to add up to more than the sum of their parts. Egos can get in the way of the music. But now and again, these collections of players who have scored success elsewhere can create some magic.
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These five 80s supergroups rose to the occasion. Some of them didn’t last all that long, while others have become longstanding concerns. All five are remembered fondly by fans of that era.
Asia
Yes was always splintering off into one faction or another, but usually with little consequence until they came back to the main band (and brand). Asia was different. When Geoff Downes and Steve Howe of Yes hooked up with lead singer John Wetton and drummer Carl Palmer, they started churning out hits like “Heat Of The Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell” immediately. Although that initial success dwindled, they became a long-running outfit, with many members coming and going over the years.
The Firm
Jimmy Page dawdled for a few years, looking for direction in the wake of Led Zeppelin calling it quits. He decided that he needed to start getting back to making crunching rock and roll again. Paul Rodgers, who operated for Led Zep’s record label for many years as lead singer of Bad Company, gave the outfit blues rock legitimacy. Drummer Chris Slade and bassist Tony Franklin rounded out the quartet. The supergroup known as The Firm delivered two solid albums and a handful of radio hits before Page decided to fold the band’s tents almost as suddenly as he erected them.
The Power Station
Duran Duran made the somewhat odd decision to splinter off into two different factions at the height of their popularity. Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor went the sophisti-pop route with Arcadia. John Taylor and Andy Taylor hooked up solo star Robert Palmer and Chic drummer Tony Thompson to make a decidedly heavier racket as The Power Station. Palmer skedaddled after the first album (he’d return for a forgotten 90s reunion album). But their self-titled debut packs an undeniable wallop that you might not expect considering the source band.
The Highwaymen
The Highwaymen made two albums together before finally adopting their group name. When they made their 1985 debut LP, it was credited to the names of the four group members. But that’s just a technicality. How do you collect a group more super than a foursome comprised of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson? They wrote some of the material while also digging up some country chestnuts. Their theme song, “Highwayman”, came courtesy of Jimmy Webb, and it’s every bit as momentous as you might hope.
Mike + The Mechanics
Mike Rutherford wanted to do something with his mid-80s hiatus from Genesis. But he had gone the solo route before and didn’t feel comfortable as a lead singer. To solve that problem, he hired not one, but two top vocalists. Paul Carrack, known for his solo work and with Ace and Squeeze, grabbed the lead single “Silent Running” in 1985. Paul Young of The Sad Café stepped to the fore on follow-up “All I Need Is A Miracle”. Both were Top 10 US hits. A few years down the road, Mike + The Mechanics would conquer the Grammys with the stirring single “The Living Years”.
Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images
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