The Honeydrippers, the English rock and roll band, were named among the best supergroups despite having a short-lived music career.
Composed of members from highly influential bands, the lineup consisted of vocalist Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin, guitarist Jeff Beck from The Yardbirds, guitarist Nile Rodgers from Chic and pianist Paul Shaffer. The five-piece group proved its star power, leaving an unforgettable mark on the industry.
In a list revealed by WatchMojo, while Cream, Traveling Wilburys, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Asia and Led Zeppelin made the top five spots, The Honeydrippers secured the No. 14 spot on the list of the 20 Greatest Supergroups Ever.
The band’s music focuses on a powerful blend of ’50s-style rhythm and blues-infused melodies and heavy rock and roll sounds that would later produce a series of impressive hit tracks.
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Formed in 1981 by Robert Plant, the supergroup was launched after Led Zeppelin formally disbanded following the death of drummer John Bonham.
Making The Honeydrippers his place of comfort, he invited fellow musicians whom he had known for years.
With their all-star lineup, the supergroup officially debuted with a five-track EP, The Honeydrippers: Volume One, in 1985.
Making this their first and only release, the EP featured covers of songs by iconic musicians including “I Get a Thrill” by Wynonie Harris, “Sea of Love” by Phil Phillips, “I Got a Woman” by Ray Charles, “Young Boy Blues” by Ben E. King and the 1947 track “Rockin’ at Midnight” by rhythm and blues artist Roy Brown.
The EP became a commercial success, even reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. The Honeydrippers reportedly adopted what Paul McCartney’s then-new group, Wings, planned for its tours.
Instead of highly publicized shows, the five-member band opted for guerrilla-style performances, often showing up for unannounced shows, making the experience more intimate for fans, as cited by Ultimate Classic Rock.
Unfortunately, despite its huge success, the supergroup lasted only four years before disbanding in 1985.
This major move prompted Plant to start his solo music career. The same goes for Beck, who released his solo album Flash, earning him his first Grammy Award as a solo artist in 1985 for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Escape.”
As for Page, he co-founded The Firm with Paul Rodgers, successfully releasing two studio albums, while Nile Rodgers revived his band Chic and also became one of the most sought-after producers in the late 1980s and 1990s.
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