First ‘Supergroup’ of 2010 Includes Jason Bonham

2009 gave us Chickenfoot, featuring Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony – both Van Halen alumni.

More recently, John Paul Jones (I think we are all familiar with his claim to fame!) teamed up with Dave Grohl – who is well known for his work as part of Nirvana and Foo Fighters – and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, deciding to call themselves Them Crooked Vultures. Seems that 2009 was a good year for bird-inspired supergroup band names.

Breaking from the bird theme, this year’s first supergroup announcement comes to us from Jason Bonham, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Sherinian, and Glenn Hughes. Black Country is born.

For those wondering where such a name would come from, it is a reference to an area of the United Kingdom that was once well-known for the pollution that resulted from coal mining and steel manufacturing.

Bonham, who has followed faithfully in his father’s footsteps as a rock drummer, may be best known for his time spent as part of Foreigner, and for his performance with his father’s former band mates at the much-celebrated Led Zeppelin reunion show at London’s O2 Arena in 2007.

The other names, although they may not be as recognizable as Bonham’s, represent some pretty serious musical talent. Bonamassa, who was said to have been playing Stevie Ray Vaughan songs note-for-note on guitar at the age of seven (wow!), has since worked with the likes of Foreigner, Stephen Stills, Joe Cocker, Gregg Allman, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton.

Sherinian’s skill behind the keyboards has earned him credits alongside Alice Cooper, KISS, Billy Idol and Slash.

Hughes, the bona fide classic (another word for ‘old guy’) in the line up, is a bass player who goes back to some of the earliest classic rock in my memory – groups like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Like so many of his peers from that era, Hughes battled drug and alcohol addictions, but emerged clean and healthy in 1991, and has kept busy touring and recording.

Black Country are currently at work in the studio, hoping to have their debut album ready for release late this year or in early 2011. So far they have reportedly completed six tracks, but their work will be interrupted at various times to allow band members to honor other commitments.