10 Legendary Bands That Were Actually Side Projects

There’s always a 50/50 chance as to whether or not a supergroup is really going to work out. For as many times as legends sit in on each other’s projects, it’s all about chemistry, and sometimes the best players don’t always equate to playing the best music. Then again, the success of the Traveling Wilburys almost happened purely by accident.

Beginning in the mind of George Harrison, the Quiet Beatle was looking to make a B-side for one of his singles and asked if Bob Dylan and Tom Petty would come down to help him write it. By the time they actually booked the studio, they also brought in ELO mastermind Jeff Lynne, who had just come off of working with Roy Orbison. After having such a good time putting this song together, the label felt that it was too good to just be considered a B-side, so the guys figured that they’d just make a handful of these tunes.

For every massive personality in this band though, every one of the Traveling Wilburys’ songs seems to balance them perfectly, giving everyone just the right amount of time behind the mic and also flexing their musician chops, whether that means writing a story song on Tweeter and the Monkey Man or George writing the perfect slide guitar solo at the right time. Every album is brought together with blood, sweat, and tears, but listening to the Wilburys music just feels like you’re sitting in on a bunch of legends kicking back and having a good time.