When supergroups aren't so super

Chickenfoot

Made up of former Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony, plus Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and guitar ace (and Coldplay lawsuit filer) Joe Satriani, Chickenfoot started, like so many supergroups before them, as a semi-impromptu jam session among friends before evolving into a full-fledged project with original material. Their self-titled debut album comes out this month and features what could best be described as “5150”-era Van Halen pop-metal mixed with touches of Smith’s RHCP funk rhythms and Satriani’s technical riffage—minus any of the pop hooks that made Van Halen’s best material so memorable.