Top side projects and bands born from other bands

With Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, how can this not be special? The group, which also includes drummer Joey Waronker (Beck) and producer Nigel Godrich, was formed by Yorke in 2009 to perform his solo effort "The Eraser" live. Combining alternative rock and electronica, the band released a full-length album "Amok" in 2013, which included its highlight "Default."

Formed in 2001, Audioslave included late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk. The mix of Cornell's one-of-a-kind voice and the alternative-metal sound of Rage defined the band's self-titled first album. But the supergroup eventually developed its own identity, as evidenced by the Grammy-nominated "Doesn't Remind Me" from its sophomore effort "Out of Exile."

Established in the late 1980s when Pixies bassist Kim Deal was looking for a new creative outlet. Along with Throwing Muses guitarist Tanya Donelly, the two enlisted the services of Boston-based musician Carrie Bradley and The Breeders were born. Despite several lineup changes, including Deal's sister Kelley joining up, the band is still performing. Its 1993 effort "Last Splash," featuring the hit "Cannonball," remains the group's gem.

James Mercer was a fan for Brian Burton as Danger Mouse, and Burton felt the same about Mercer's work with The Shins. So, it only made sense the two would come together to form their own project at the end of the last decade. Steeped in melodic, indie rock, Broken Bells has recorded two albums. The celestial "Holding On for Life" from 2014's "After the Disco" might be its signature offering.

Four of music's most notable singer-songwriters — David Crosby (The Byrds), Stephen Stills and Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield) and Graham Nash (The Hollies) — CSNY played its second-ever gig at Woodstock. The group was already established as CSN, before recording it first studio album, "Déjà Vu," with Young in 1970. The Nash-penned "Teach Your Children," remains its most notable hit together.

From the aftermath of 1970s-'80s pop band Split Enz, came Crowded House. Created by vocalist Neil Finn and late drummer Paul Hester, plus bassist Nick Seymour, the group enjoyed pop success during the mid-'80s and into the '90s. Hits "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong" were MTV staples. Following Hester's death in 2005, Finn re-formed the group, which still remains active.

Had it not been for Jack White losing his voice while playing with another of his projects, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather might not exist. Formed in 2009, White joined The Kills singer Alison Mosshart, fellow Raconteur Jack Lawrence and guitarist Dean Fertita from Queens of the Stone Age. Armed with an alternative and punk feel, plus some blues thrown in, White's band has put out three studio albums, the most recent in 2015. "Hang You from the Heavens" is a must-listen.

The story goes, Spoon's Britt Daniel and Canadian guitarist Dan Boeckner (Handsome Furs) decided to start a band in 2011. A year later, "A Thing Called Divine Fits" was released. While still remaining true to its alternative roots, the indie rockers carved themselves a distinctive sound as exemplified in the album's fourth track "Would That Not Be Nice."

The virtual brainchild of Blur frontman Damon Albarn, complete with animated characters and some humans, too. Festival favorites, Gorillaz's conceptual story-telling through its music (alternative, electronica, hip-hop, pop) and cartoons takes creativity and originality to stratospheric heights. The Grammy winners' self-titled 2001 debut remains its benchmark.

The epitome of a side project, Hindu Love Gods included members of R.E.M., the legendary Warren Zevon and local Athens, Georgia, musician Bryan Cook. The group played mostly covers, including an exceptional version of Prince's "Raspberry Beret, during the 1980s and released a self-title record in 1990.

Part alternative, part pop, part goth and even some punk sprinkled in. That's what rose from the ashes of British 1980s goth heroes Bauhaus. When that band broke up and frontman Peter Murphy pursued a solo career, the remaining members — Daniel Ash, Keith Haskins and David J — eventually found success with this new venture. They recorded seven studio albums and earned a top-five single with 1989 MTV favorite "So Alive."

In the early 1990s, Heart sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson decided to form an acoustic side project. Never intending to be anything long term, the group's most well-known performance came on a version of the Led Zeppelin classic "The Battle of Evermore." That version appeared on the soundtrack for the 1992 film "Singles," written and directed by Cameron Crowe, Nancy's husband at the time.

Mad Season never enjoyed the notoriety like fellow grunge supergroup Temple of the Dog, but the work created in its short time together should not be forgotten. The lineup included late Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, drummer Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees and late bassist John Baker Saunders. The band released only one record, 1995's "Above," which went gold and spawned the hit "River of Deceit."

Progressive, conceptional, bombastic and definitely original, The Mars Volta was formed in 2001 following the break-up of Texas' At the Drive-In by Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López. At its best playing live, the band earned a Grammy for the 2007 cut "Wax Simulacra." The group broke up earlier this decade, but rumors of a reunion have surfaced. 

Following the death of singer Ian Curtis in 1980, the surviving members of British post-punk band Joy Division needed to move on. Guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris, plus keyboardist Gillian Gilbert, did so by creating a band that ultimately became a staple among the techno dance-pop/alternative scene. Hits like "Blue Monday," Bizarre Love Triangle" and "True Faith" were in heavy rotation on MTV during the mid-to-late 1980s. 

An early-2000s side project of Death Cab for Cutie leader Ben Gibbard, The Postal Service also featured DJ and producer Jimmy Tamborello and child actress-turned-musician Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley). A mix of electronica and indie rock, the band released only one studio album, 2003's "Give Up," which produced three singles, highlighted by "Such Great Heights."

No longer Johnny Rotten, John Lydon traded his anti-establishment, punk attitude from the Sex Pistols for a more innovated sound that combined rock, pop, dance, dub and even folk with the creation of PIL. Its second offering, the 1979 release "Metal Box," is perhaps the quintessential post-punk album of its time. "Death Disco," re-recorded and renamed "Swan Lake" for the album, is a PIL classic.

One of the originators of the lo-fi music movement, Sebadoh is the follow-up project of Lou Barlow, former bassist from Dinosaur Jr. Barlow and Massachusetts' multi-instrumentalist Eric Gaffney, who started the group in the late 1980s. The indie rockers are still active, minus, Gaffney. "The Freed Pig," from the band's third album, deals with Barlow's dismissal from Dinosaur Jr.

Post-Hüsker Dü and mired in a failing solo career, Bob Mould kept writing and recording material that ultimately would become the works of his next project. The three-piece band, featuring bass player David Barbe (Mercyland) and drummer Malcolm Travis (Human Sexual Response), released three studio albums in three years. Its first, "Copper Blue" in 1992, is perhaps one of the best alternative records of the '90s.

Another venture by the late Chris Cornell, created with current members of Pearl Jam as a tribute to his friend and roommate Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose in 1990. Wood fronted Seattle's Mother Love Bone, which included Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam. Its self-titled 1991 release is hailed as a grunge classic thanks to such gems like "Hunger Strike" — with Eddie Vedder sharing vocals with Cornell — and "Say Hello to Heaven." 

What do you get when you bring together the bass player from perhaps the greatest hard-rock band of all-time (Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones), the drummer from arguably the most popular grunge band ever (Nirvana's Dave Grohl) and a singer/guitarist (Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme) who everybody seems eager to share the stage? Its self-titled 2009 album highlights each musician's talent perhaps better than any supergroup had done before or since. Oh yeah, the single "New Fang" won a Grammy in 2011. 

"Supergroup" might not be enough to describe this collection of music royalty . Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne. Really, enough said. Saddled with pseudonyms, each with the surname Wilbury, the quintet released its iconic, Grammy-winning debut "The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1" in 1988. The first of its two albums included the hit "Handle with Care," which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Album Rock chart.

It's tough to find a hard-rock supergroup with more star power than this one. Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses, late Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland and veteran guitarist Dave Kushner. From 2002 to 2008, these giants made two albums, with its 2004 debut "Contraband" producing the hits "Fall to Pieces" and Grammy-winner "Slither." The combination of Slash's iconic guitar sound and Weiland's unforgettable voice remains a special combo.

When singer Jay Farrar left the southern Illinois alternative rock/country band Uncle Tupelo, the remaining members weren't done. Since 1994, Jeff Tweedy and Co., have become one of music's most popular and influential groups, thanks to keeping that alternative rock and country sound alive. The two-time Grammy winners have released 10 albums. For those just back from living in seclusion, "I Must Be High" from its 1995 debut "A.M.," is still the right choice for an introduction into the world of Wilco. 

It's hard to find a more accomplished group of women coming together to form one impressive supergroup. Sleater-Kinney vets Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss teamed with guitarist/vocalist Mary Timony (Helium) and keyboardist Rebecca Cole (The Minders). They were only together for a few years at the beginning of the decade, but the band's lone self-titled 2011 release, highlighted by the stellar "Romance," is pop-alt-punk genius.