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Some musicians just have far too much creativity to be contained to just one band, so they branch out and start new projects. Sometimes it's due to their original band taking a hiatus and sometimes it's because their art leads them to collaborate with other musicians and the outcome is just too great not to release.
In any case, there have been some incredible bands formed and songs written when artists develop their side projects. Let's look at some of the best...
Porno For Pyros
Following a time of personal turmoil for Jane's Addiction with their guitarist Dave Navarro and bassist Eric Avery battling substance abuse issues, they left the band in 1991 in an attempt to stay clean. The other half of the band wished to continue creating music together so Perry Farrell and Stephen Perkins joined by guitarist Peter DiStefano and future Jane's Addiction bassist Martyn LeNoble formed under the new band name Porno for Pyros. The band and album name is a reference to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which are mentioned throughout the songs as a recurring theme. Read our interview with Perry Farrell here.
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle was originally conceived by Billy Howerdel, a former guitar technician for Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Fishbone and Tool. Howerdel met singer Maynard James Keenan in 1992, when Tool was opening for Fishbone, and the two became friends. Three years later, Keenan heard the demo's and wanted to be the singer! Oh, and they just put a new album out, you can check out an interview with Maynard here.
Mr. Bungle
Mike Patton from Faith No More could actually be given his entire own section based on the number of his musical side projects (we covered some of them here).
Known for a highly eclectic style, the band often cycled through several musical genres within the course of a single song, including heavy metal, avant-garde jazz, ska and disco. Many Mr. Bungle songs had an unconventional structure and utilized a wide array of instruments and samples. Live shows often featured members dressing up (even hiding their identities with masks earlier in the band's career) and an array of cover songs. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid-to-late 1980s before signing to Warner Bros. Records and releasing three full-length studio albums between 1991 and 1999, touring up to 2000 to support their last album before going on hiatus; ultimately revealing that they split in 2004.
Them Crooked Vultures
Perhaps more of a rock supergroup that side project! Formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones (former member of Led Zeppelin) on bass and keyboards, Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters and formerly of Nirvana) on drums and backing vocals, and Josh Homme (of Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal and formerly of Kyuss) on guitar and vocals. Can't argue with that, really!
Grinderman
Formed in London, by Nick Cave (vocals, guitar, organ, piano), Warren Ellis (tenor guitar, electric mandolin, violin, viola, guitar, backing vocals), Martyn P. Casey (bass, guitar, backing vocals) and Jim Sclavunos (drums, percussion, backing vocals).Originally known as Mini Seeds they were formed by Cave as "a way to escape the weight of The Bad Seeds." The Grinderman name was inspired by a Memphis Slim song, "Grinder Man Blues," which Cave is noted to have sung during one of the band's early rehearsal sessions. The debut album, Grinderman, was released in 2007 to extremely positive reviews and the band's second and final studio album, Grinderman 2, was released in 2010 to a similar reception.
