# Chimaera bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299 "2004-11-30T07:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/1 "2004-11-30T07:28:49Z")
For the purposes of this thread, a “chimaera” band is formed when two (or more) musical groups break apart, and members of the separate groups band together to form a new group. So Van Halen doesn’t really count, since they kept the name, just not the lead singer. But A Perfect Circle does, because it’s a melding of members from several different bands, under a new name, etc. There’s several prominent chimaera bands on the music scene today, at least in the rock/heavy metal genres I follow. I’m really enjoying Audioslave (Soundgarden + Rage Against the Machine) and Velvet Revolver (Stone Temple Pilots + Guns N Roses). Of course Chris Cornell is still spectacular, and who knew he even had a face until he joined Audioslave? VR’s new video “Fall To Pieces” is all over VH1 and FUSE, and I think it’s great. I was too young to be into GNR when they were huge, so that doesn’t really color my appreciation of this band. Does anyone else have any chimaera bands they’re really enjoying? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/2 "2004-11-30T08:39:34Z")
The Breeders – whose initial membership included soon-to-be-former Pixie Kim Deal, post-Throwing Muses member Tanya Donnelly, Josephine Wiggs from a band I never heard of called Perfect Disaster, and former Slint drummer Britt Walford – had a couple of nice tunes … “Cannonball,” “Divine Hammer,” a couple of others. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/3 "2004-11-30T14:25:04Z")
We used to call them “supergroups”: Groups made up of musicians who had already come to prominance with other groups. Cream (member of the Yardbirds/John Mayall Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann, and Graham Bond Organization) Blind Faith (members of Cream, Traffic, and Family) Ginger Baker’s Air Force (Cream, Blind Faith, Traffic, Moody Blues) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (The Byrds, the Hollies, and Buffalo Springfield) Rhinoceros (Buffalo Springfield, Iron Butterfly, the Mothers, Jon & Lee & the Checkmates) Travelling Wilburys (Beatles, ELO, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, plus solo artists Roy Orbison and some folksinger from Minnesota 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/4 "2004-11-30T14:28:46Z")
Cannonball and Divine Hammer (which, I agree, are great songs) were on the Breeders’ second album ( **Last Splash** , by which time Donnelly had left to form Belly and the Breeders was a showcase for the Deal sisters, not really a chimera at all any more. Cripes, but music was so much more interesting then. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/5 "2004-11-30T15:14:42Z")
I’m sure I’ll get shouted down here, but wasn’t there a pre-chimera band in London in the late 60’s that broke up and eventually spun off Cream, the Who, and Zeppelin? Something like J Page, E Clapton, K Moon? I have in my head some idea that they never recorded together, but two of them were in the band and one of them sat in for a show… anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/6 "2004-11-30T16:43:35Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > I’m sure I’ll get shouted down here, but wasn’t there a pre-chimera band in London in the late 60’s that broke up and eventually spun off Cream, the Who, and Zeppelin? Something like J Page, E Clapton, K Moon? I have in my head some idea that they never recorded together, but two of them were in the band and one of them sat in for a show… anyone? Are you thinking of the Yardbirds? Clapton, Page and Jeff Beck all played guitar in the Yardbirds (though there’s no Who connection that I know of). ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/7 "2004-11-30T16:50:28Z")
Asia (with members of ELP, Yes, King Crimson, Buggles) “Heat of the Moment” being their most famous song (1982). ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/8 "2004-11-30T17:24:35Z")
This is from Jon Tiven’s liner notes on _A Compleat Collection, White Boy Blues–Classic Guitars of Clapton, Beck, and Page_ on Compleat Records 672005-1. “The incestuous situation which existed in the UK in the late Sixties has made an indelible stamp on the music of today. Groups would swap members for recordings, the looseness of the day permitted collaboration, and the prevailing atmosphere owed more to the music than to the music business. This was best typified in the recordings of Immediate Records, a company led by then Rolling Stones manager/ producer Andrew Oldham. Oldham encouraged his charges to write songs for one another, guest on each other’s recordings, and bring their talented friends in to make records.” Tiven goes on to say that Page had ghosted for the Stones and the Kinks, and played in the later stages of the Yardbirds. Page recorded one-off sessions with Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. The Clapton/Page tracks included Bill Wyman on bass, Ian Stewart on piano, Mick Jagger on mouth harp, and Chris Winters (perhaps a Charlie Watts pseudonym) on drums. The John Mayall Group was a revolving door for the stars of the day. At one time Eric Clapton played guitar, John McVie played bass, and Hughie Flint played drums. Page and Jeff Beck did some sessions with the rhythm section of Cyril Davies’s All Stars band, including Nicky Hopkins on piano. Santa Barbara Machine Head was an early group whose members later starred in famous groups. Ronnie Wood is now a Stone, but he passed through Rod Stewart’s Faces and The Jeff Beck Group. Keyboardist John Lord later shined in Deep Purple. Drummer Twink later was in Tomorrow and Pretty Things. Note: Jeff Beck is not to be confused with today’s Beck, who had a hit with _Modelawn,_ or something. Jeff Beck is a guitar wizard with a very long list of his own albums. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/9 "2004-11-30T17:25:13Z")
Streetlight Manifesto has been touted as the “ska dream team” with members of Catch 22, and members of One Cool Guy. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/10 "2004-11-30T17:39:19Z")
Crosby Stills Nash & Young Fleetwood Mac - Pick an incarnation Jamming With Edward (Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Steve Winwood, Ry Cooder & Nicky Hopkins) Little Village (Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, Jim Keltner, Nick Lowe) - Oh the possibilites. Phantom Rock & Slick (Stray Cats sans Brian Setzer) Sweet Thursday (John Mark, Johnny Almond, Nicky Hopkins, Alaun Davies) Velvet Revolver (Buckcherry + GnR + Neurotica) ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/11 "2004-11-30T17:52:25Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Are you thinking of the Yardbirds? Clapton, Page and Jeff Beck all played guitar in the Yardbirds (though there’s no Who connection that I know of). Well either John Entwistle or Keith Moon _did_ inspire the group’s new name. One of them told Jimmy Page that his New Yardbirds lineup would “go over like a lead balloon”. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/12 "2004-11-30T18:02:29Z")
The 21st Century Doors two original bandmembers of _The Doors_- Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek. and Ian Astbury on vocals originally of _The Cult_. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/13 "2004-11-30T18:19:31Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > I’m sure I’ll get shouted down here, but wasn’t there a pre-chimera band in London in the late 60’s that broke up and eventually spun off Cream, the Who, and Zeppelin? Something like J Page, E Clapton, K Moon? I have in my head some idea that they never recorded together, but two of them were in the band and one of them sat in for a show… anyone? You’re probably thinking of the “Beck’s Bolero” session, with Keith Moon, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones. This lineup never got any farther than recording the one tune, mostly because Moon was “moonlighting” from the Who, but it sowed the seed for Led Zeppelin. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/14 "2004-11-30T18:21:44Z")
I thought the story went that they recorded a handful of tunes and that’s the only one that’s ever seen the light of day. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/15 "2004-11-30T18:22:59Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Asia (with members of ELP, Yes, King Crimson, Buggles) > “Heat of the Moment” being their most famous song (1982). ELP were themselves a supergroup, formed from members of the Nice, King Crimson, and Atomic Rooster. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/16 "2004-11-30T18:28:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I thought the story went that they recorded a handful of tunes and that’s the only one that’s ever seen the light of day. It’s hard to say for sure–misinformation and contradictory stories about this session are rampant! One story is that this **was** the band that was going to be called Led Zeppelin. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/17 "2004-11-30T18:29:22Z")
Electronic- Bernard Sumner from New Order and Johnny Marr from the Smiths (with guest vocals by Neil Tennant from Pet Shop Boys). Cry Cry Cry-Dar Williams, Richard Buckner, and Lucy Kaplansky. Then again, they were all just solo artists before…so I’m not sure that really counts. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/18 "2004-11-30T18:46:48Z")
Golden Smog has featured (thought not all at the same time) members of The Jayhawks, Wilco, Soul Asylum, Run Westy Run, Iffy, The Honeydogs, The Replacements and Big Star. They are cool. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/19 "2004-11-30T18:57:57Z")
I always liked Damn Yankees, with Ted Nugent, one of the guys from Night Ranger and some other guys. The Brides of Destruction has Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue and Tracy Guns, of L.A. Guns (and Guns-n-Roses at their inception). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299/20 "2004-11-30T19:19:26Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > It’s hard to say for sure–misinformation and contradictory stories about this session are rampant! One story is that this **was** the band that was going to be called Led Zeppelin. The usual explanation was that Moon and Entwistle were thinking of forming their own group and leave the Who. Moon used the “Lead Zeppelin” comment. Jimmy Page used the comment, and changed the name to “Led Zeppelin” so everyone would pronounce it right. Add: Delaney and Bonnie and Friends – included Eric Claption, Dave Mason (Traffic), Rita Coolidge (solo), Jim Gordon (Traffic plus hundreds of backup gigs). Derek and the Dominoes – Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon (from D&B&Friends), and Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band) Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” backing band had many of the D&B&Friends, plus Leon Russell (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) The Concert for Bangla Desh boasted an all-star band, but that’s different, since it was a one-time thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chimaera-bands/277299.md?page=2)