Everybody Is a Star: The ideal supergroup

(Ray Brandes holds auditions beyond this veil of tears.)

sidviciousIn their 1974 comeback hit, the Righteous Brothers speculated on the existence of a rock-‘n’-roll heaven, which of course had a “hell of a band.” The song expressed the sentimental hope that somewhere in the universe Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Bobby Darrin and Jim Morrison were singing together in a celestial choir.

This notion is, of course, patently absurd. One can only imagine the drunken, chaotic jam session which would occur if these egomaniacs found themselves sharing a microphone onstage in a celestial amphitheater. It is fun, however, to speculate on this supergroup idea.

In an earlier post, readers proposed their ultimate dinner party, composed of six guests, living or dead. Let’s extend this idea to create the ultimate band. Choose a player at each position, living or dead, and a six-song set list. If you are a musician, include yourself! Bonus points for naming the band.

— Ray Brandes

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16 thoughts on “Everybody Is a Star: The ideal supergroup

  1. I’ve been mulling over the possibilities of a band that puts Jimi Hendrix on guitar and Charles Mingus on bass … Who’d drum? I want someone who’s freaky but kind of punk … I don’t want it just to be Hendrix-plays-jazz; Mingus is going to have to adapt a little, too, or it’ll just be twee.

    (And I think the drummer should be dead. I’m gonna stick with dead to make it a challenge.) Any ideas?

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  2. Before I was driving age, a fun weekend afternoon was to go up to the UCSD libraries and read old (meaning, late 60s/early-mid 70s) copies of Rolling Stone, and, when feeling risqué, National Lampoon. I remember a mock letter to the editor from a current resident of Heaven stating that that song got it all wrong, the band in Heaven sucked, because all the really great musicians were naturally in Hell.

    With John Entwistle and Keith Moon as the ultimate non-living rhythm section, you can envision multiple unmissable combinations with different front men. Hendrix- can you imagine the version of Summertime Blues that trio would put out? Steve Marriott would also use them to full advantage for some soulful RnB.

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  3. piano -floyd cramer

    bass- rick gretch

    guitars- toy caldwell, jerry garcia, danny gatton

    drums- dan mclain

    trumpet -louis armstrong, art farmer (also tuba)

    sax- boots randolph

    back up vocals female: sister rosetta tharp, mia zapata, mahalia jackson

    back up vocals male: george scott, marvin gaye, ricky nelson

    well the most important thing for me in a band is that they get along, and are good enough players that they push each other not only in playing great, but also in inspiration of making great songs and force me to become a better writer as well…and well i don’t know about the rest of you but i am constantly looking for new inspiration, and constantly writing…some of these choices are also selfish I would love to play with dan again…and mia got taken just as she was taking her and her band the gits to another level i would have loved to see where she would have gone…and who wouldn’t love to play with louis? damn…this took a long time…and you will see i tried (except for garcia) to keep drug users out of the picture….okay, you kids be good! heff

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  4. James Jamerson.

    He can trade-off with Larry Graham.

    Jimmy? Man. If he were allowed a few more years to get to the Jazz he was starting to check himself on, just before checking out… He would be doin’ fine leading this thing, along with John Coletrane.

    I know we can have them make a little room in the shack, for Steve Marriott and Arthur Lee.

    I want brother Jack McDuff on Hammond, and Ray on Rhodes.

    The last 24 months, we lost Barry White, Lou Rawls, and now Teddy Pendergrass. I don’t know how to pick. I guess, as a Chicago man, It’s Lou -- also the most versatile of the bunch. Of course, I got Jackie Wilson on the brain -- so what do you do? The wealth of paradise is the impoverishment of living souls.

    The women singers I most honor are still with us. The day Chaka Khan goes? I finally give up hope -- til’ then, I’m waitin’ for you, Lady! (Beverley Knight, that doesn’t mean you don’t call me -- OK?)

    OK. Let’s give Dinah Washington, Betty Carter and Margie Hendricks their due. Sorry -- no Dusty Springfield.

    Nina Simone would top a list. I don’t know how well she works with others!

    I’ll leave you all with a blast outta’ Mr. Hank Ballard. James Brown may be the Godfather of Soul and the Papa of Funk, but Hank was James’ own Godfather:

    “If you’re looking for youth, you’re looking for longevity, just take a dose of rock ‘n’ roll—it keeps you going. Just like the caffeine in your coffee, rock ‘n’ roll is good for the soul, for the well being, for the psyche, for your everything. I love it. I can’t even picture being without rock ‘n’roll.”
    — Brother Hank Ballard

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  5. OK…I have my own peculiar taste.

    Drums -- Clem Burke

    Guitar -- Mick Ronson

    Vocals -- Russell Mael

    Keys -- V2 Schneider

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  6. San Diego only. Living or dead:

    Drums -- Mark Trombino
    Bass -- Hector Penalosa
    Guitar -- Gar Wood
    Guitar -- Chris Smith
    Singer -- Jackie Starr

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  7. drums: Jaki Liebezeit (Can) or Damon Che (Don Caballero)
    guitar: Nels Cline (now in Wilco) or Phil Manzanera
    bass: Naomi Yang (Galaxie 500) or Will Heggie (Cocteau Twins)
    synthesizer/organ: Eno or Klaus Schultze

    vocals: maybe no vocals. or have people sit in Hector Zazou style:
    Cheb Khaled. Chaka Khan (good idea Jerry). David Thomas. Elizabeth Fraser. HR. Lætitia Sadier. Roky Erickson. Allison Goldfrapp.

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  8. Kirsten, you briefly freaked me out and sent me off to frantically confirm that Eno and David Thomas are indeed still living 🙂

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  9. Sticking strictly post-mortem, we could just watch the Jimi Hendrix Experience. 🙁

    The Ramones with Keith Moon would be pretty cool. Joey and Johnny would sit on opposite ends of the cloud, though.

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  10. megan… bahaha!!!

    duino to music? perfection. absolute.

    zazou style, all the way. too many proud, beautiful voices to contribute to limit it to one or two. but gary hit the nail for me with mia zapata. she’s so missed. so much.

    meantime, i’m going over to the fillmore with matthew to watch jimi.

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  11. My feeling on this whole thing is that supergroups often fail to achieve cohesion. I can’t picture my favorite guitarist playing in a band with my favorite bass player, yet they’re both fantastic players. I keep trying to think of a supergroup, but I always end up simply putting most of an existing band together. Locally, maybe, but there are so many truly great musicians here, it’s still difficult.

    I can name a drummer, though. Morgan Young. He continues to be an amazing drummer. Always a total pleasure to work with and right on the groove. Tasty fills, lots of power, and can play as simple as hell when it’s called for.

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  12. Wanya and Shawn from Boys 2 Men
    Kenny G
    John Tesh
    Starland Vocal Band
    Chris Martin

    to be called “Ass-Kicking Titan Kings of the Awesomest Music”

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