Project in which music is developed / played
In
popular music , a side project is a project undertaken by one or more people already known for their involvement in another
band . It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style.
Usually these projects emphasize a different aspect of that person's or that band's musical interests that they feel they cannot explore within the boundaries established by their main project. Side projects can later become full-time endeavours, but should not be confused with quitting a band for a solo career or another band. Peter Hartlaub of
San Francisco Chronicle called the solo side project "the biggest longshot bet in mainstream music".
[1]
The New York Times described the side project as "a break from the other band members, a chance to toy with different genres and recording methods, a fling with no long-term commitment".
[2] There can be
aesthetic reasons to pursue side projects,
[3] and side projects can have the benefit of protecting
indie credibility.
[3]
Overview
One of the earliest examples of a side project in the rock era was that of
The Four Seasons , who established
The Wonder Who? as a brand for experimental and novelty covers that could not be released under their own name; more enduringly, lead singer
Frankie Valli 's solo career began as a side project. Such was the rarity of such arrangements at the time that
Philips Records , the Four Seasons' record label at the time of Valli's early solo work, was initially afraid that it was a sign the band was soon to dissolve or that Valli was leaving, which Valli assured he had no intention of doing.
[4]
One example of
musical side projects is
Kiss 's decision in 1978 to have each member of the band,
Gene Simmons ,
Paul Stanley ,
Ace Frehley and
Peter Criss , simultaneously release solo albums. In 1992, The
Melvins released solo
EPs in a similar fashion.
"Side project" may also refer to pursuits of famous individuals outside of their primary fields. For instance,
Wicked Wisdom is a "side project" of actress
Jada Pinkett Smith . Side projects often occur at a crossroads of a
celebrity 's career.
A side project can also be a band that takes on an "
alter ego ", usually in order to play a different style of music that their fans are not used to. An example of this type of side project would be the band
Weezer , who is also the
Nirvana
cover band Goat Punishment.
Another example of a side project is when in 1990,
Jesper Strömblad of
Ceremonial Oath decided to start a side project known as
In Flames because he wanted to start a new project that combined
Iron Maiden and
death metal all together which he said he had never heard of before, the side project then grew into a band in 1995 and is now one of the most influential
metal bands of all time, and still together without Jesper.
A joint side project consisting of members of multiple known bands is known as a
supergroup .
Famous or notable side projects
58 , a side project of
Nikki Sixx from
Mötley Crüe .
(+44) , a side project of
Mark Hoppus and
Travis Barker of
Blink-182 .
(a+) machines , a side project of
Matt Noveskey of
Blue October .
The Almost , a side project of
Aaron Gillespie of
underOATH .
The Amps , a side project of
The Breeders
[3]
Anchor & Braille , a side project of
Stephen Christian of
Anberlin ,
Aaron Marsh and
Copeland .
Angels & Airwaves , a side project of
Tom DeLonge of
Blink-182
[5]
A Perfect Circle , a side project of
Maynard James Keenan of
Tool .
The Art Goblins , a side project of
Eddie Argos and Jasper Future of
Art Brut .
Bad Meets Evil , a side project of rappers
Eminem and
Royce da 5'9"
Blaqk Audio , a side project of
Davey Havok and
Jade Puget of
AFI .
Bleachers , a side project of
Jack Antonoff of
Fun .
[6]
Box Car Racer , a side project of
Travis Barker and
Tom Delonge (then of
Blink-182 ), and David Kennedy of
Hazen Street .
Brad , a side project of
Pearl Jam and
Satchel .
Brand X , a jazz fusion side project of
Phil Collins of
Genesis .
The Breeders , a side project of
Pixies
[3] and
Throwing Muses .
Cobra Starship , a side project of Gabe Saporta of
Midtown .
City and Colour , a side project of
Dallas Green of
Alexisonfire .
The Cross , a side project of
Roger Taylor of
Queen .
Cross Country , a side project of
The Tokens .
Dashboard Confessional , a side project of
Chris Carrabba of
Further Seems Forever .
Dead by Sunrise , a side project of
Chester Bennington of
Linkin Park and all members of
Julien-K .
Dee Gees , a side project of
Foo Fighters .
Demons and Wizards , a side project of
Hansi Kürsch of
Blind Guardian and
Jon Schaffer of
Iced Earth .
Eagles of Death Metal , a side project of
Josh Homme of
Queens of the Stone Age .
Electric Light Orchestra , a side project of
Jeff Lynne ,
Roy Wood , and
Bev Bevan of
The Move
Fever Ray , a side project of Karin Dreijer Andersson of
The Knife .
Fight the Sky , a side project of
Jacoby Shaddix of
Papa Roach .
The Fireman , a side project of
Paul McCartney .
Flo and Eddie , a side project of
Howard Kaylan and
Mark Volman of
The Turtles , created in response to the duo's dispute with
White Whale Records .
FM Static , a side project of
Trevor McNevan and
Steve Augustine of
Thousand Foot Krutch .
Fort Minor , a side project of
Mike Shinoda of
Linkin Park .
Foxboro Hot Tubs , a side project of
Green Day .
The Glove , a side project of
Robert Smith and
Siouxsie and the Banshees '
Steven Severin of
The Cure .
Goon Moon , a side project of
Jeordie White of
Marilyn Manson .
Gorillaz , a virtual band composed of four fictional
animated band members, created by
Damon Albarn from
Blur , and
Jamie Hewlett , the co-creator of the comic book
Tank Girl .
Gov't Mule , a side project of
Warren Haynes and
Allen Woody of the
Allman Brothers Band .
Hindu Love Gods , a side project of
R.E.M. in collaboration with
Warren Zevon
Hot Tuna began as a side project of
Jack Casady and
Jorma Kaukonen of
Jefferson Airplane .
How to Destroy Angels , a side project of
Trent Reznor of
Nine Inch Nails
[7]
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business and
Ace Enders and a Million Different People fronted by
Ace Enders , formerly of
The Early November
Jack's Mannequin began as a side project of
Andrew McMahon of
Something Corporate
Jerry Garcia Band , a side project of
Jerry Garcia of
Grateful Dead
[8]
Jonathan Davis and the SFA , a side project of
Jonathan Davis of
Korn .
Liquid Tension Experiment , a side project of
Dream Theater featuring
John Petrucci ,
Mike Portnoy ,
Jordan Rudess , and progressive rock icon bassist
Tony Levin .
Lingua Mortis Orchestra , a side project of
Rage .
Little Feat , a side project of
Lowell George ,
Bill Payne , and
Roy Estrada of
The Mothers of Invention
Maximum Balloon , a side project of
Dave Sitek of
TV on the Radio
[9]
MD.45 , a side project of
Dave Mustaine and
Jimmy DeGrasso from
Megadeth with
Lee Ving from
Fear
Mike + The Mechanics , a side project of
Mike Rutherford of
Genesis .
Mrs. Scabtree, a side project between
Marilyn Manson ,
Jeordie White and
Jessicka from
Jack Off Jill .
The Network , supposedly a side project of all the members of
Green Day .
The New Amsterdams began as a side project of
Matthew Pryor of
The Get Up Kids
New Build , a side project of
Hot Chip
[10]
Nick Jonas & the Administration , a side project of
Nick Jonas of the
Jonas Brothers
The Nightwatchman , the
alter ego of
Rage Against the Machine and
Audioslave guitarist
Tom Morello .
The Operation M.D. , a side project of
Juliette and the Licks guitarist
Todd Morse and
Sum 41 bassist
Cone McCaslin .
Knife Party , a side project of
Rob Swire and
Gareth McGrillen of
Pendulum .
Pinhead Gunpowder , a side project of
Billie Joe Armstrong .
The Postal Service , a side project featuring
Ben Gibbard of
Death Cab for Cutie and
Jimmy Tamborello of
Dntel .
Probot , a
Dave Grohl side project featuring various 1970s and 1980s
heavy metal vocalists.
ProjeKct X , the side project of
King Crimson .
Prozzäk , a side project with James McCollum and Jason Levine who are two members of
The Philosopher Kings .
Puscifer , another side project consisting and organized by
Maynard James Keenan of
Tool .
The Raconteurs , consisting of
Jack White (from
the White Stripes ),
Brendan Benson ,
Patrick Keeler (from
The Greenhornes ), and
Jack Lawrence (from The Greenhornes and
Blanche ).
Refuge , a side project of
Rage .
RNDM , a side project of
Pearl Jam
[11]
Singers Unlimited , a side project of
The Hi-Los
Sixx:A.M. , a side project of
Nikki Sixx of
Mötley Crüe .
The Smile , a side project of
Thom Yorke and
Jonny Greenwood from
Radiohead , and former
Sons of Kemet drummer
Tom Skinner .
Sol Invicto , a side project of
Stephen Carpenter from
Deftones led by
Richie Londres .
Some Devil , a side project of
Dave Matthews from the
Dave Matthews Band .
Some Girls , a supergroup/side project consisting of current members of
The Locust and
The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower , and ex-members of
Give Up the Ghost (formerly American Nightmare).
The Superions , a side project of
Fred Schneider from
The B-52s .
The Tear Garden , a project consisting primarily of
Edward Ka-Spel from
The Legendary Pink Dots and
Cevin Key from
Skinny Puppy .
The Sound of Animals Fighting , a side project consisting of
Rich Balling , Matt Embree, and
Christopher Tsagakis of
Rx Bandits ,
Anthony Green of
Circa Survive , Derek Dougherty and
Randy Strohmeyer of
Finch ,
Marc McKnight of
Atreyu , Rich Zahniser of
Never Heard of It , Matthew Kelly of
The Autumns , Craig Owens of
Chiodos , and Keith Goodwin of
Days Away .
Temple of the Dog , featuring members of
Soundgarden with
Pearl Jam and the start of that band.
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra , originally a side project of
Montreal
post-rock band
Godspeed You! Black Emperor .
Them Crooked Vultures , a side project featuring
Dave Grohl (
Foo Fighters and
Nirvana ),
Josh Homme (
Queens of the Stone Age ) and
John Paul Jones (
Led Zeppelin ).
Three Fish , featuring
Jeff Ament of
Pearl Jam .
Tired Pony , a side project that consists of
Gary Lightbody of
Snow Patrol ,
Peter Buck of
R.E.M. ,
Richard Colburn of
Belle & Sebastian , and
Zooey Deschanel of
She & Him , as well as other members of Snow Patrol.
Tom Tom Club , a side project of
Tina Weymouth and
Chris Frantz of
Talking Heads .
Trans-Siberian Orchestra , a side project of
Savatage ; TSO has largely overshadowed the band that spawned it
Ugly Casanova , a side project of
Isaac Brock of
Modest Mouse .
Velvet Revolver , a grunge rock side project featuring
Scott Weiland of
Stone Temple Pilots and
Slash of
Guns N' Roses .
White Hot Odyssey , a hard rock side project featuring vocalist
Steve Perry and guitarist
Jason Moss of the
Cherry Poppin' Daddies .
The Whitest Boy Alive , a side project of
Erlend Øye of
Kings of Convenience .
X-Cops and the
Dave Brockie Experience were both side projects of
GWAR .
See also
References
^ Hartlaub, Peter (6 April 2010).
"When band guys go solo on side, it rarely works" .
San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^
Pareles, Jon (22 February 2013).
"Postal Service and Breeders on Spring Tours" .
The New York Times . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^
a
b
c
d Moon, Tom (21 January 1996).
"Rockers' Menu: A Main Band, With A Project On The Side" . Philly.com .
Philadelphia Media Network . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^ Willman, Chris (June 6, 2024).
"Frankie Valli on Jersey Boys and His Unlikely Success: 'The Way I Grew Up, It Was Basically Against All Odds' " .
Parade . Retrieved May 31, 2023 .
^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (27 January 2015).
"Tom DeLonge responds to Blink-182 fallout with letter" .
Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (19 February 2014).
"Jack Antonoff announces Bleachers solo project, debuts single" .
Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^ Caramanica, Jon (13 April 2013).
"Coachella: When the Band Is a Second Gig" .
The New York Times . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^ Greenberg, Rudi (25 September 2014).
"John Kadlecik loves playing Dead; is recreating Jerry Garcia Band concerts at Gypsy Sally's" .
The Washington Post . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^ Houston, Rita (16 December 2010).
"The 5 Best Side Projects Of 2010" .
NPR . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^ Kaplan, Ilana (8 January 2015).
"An Artistic Video from the Hot Chip Spinoff New Build" .
The New York Times . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .
^ Wood, Mikael (21 November 2012).
"Pearl Jam side project RNDM headed for Troubadour" .
Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 3 February 2015 .