'90s Rock Band, Pigface, Ranked Among 'Greatest Supergroups' of All Time
Pigface not only redefined what a traditional band could be but also added a major milestone to its legacy after being recognized as one of the greatest supergroups in rock history.
Revolver magazine highlighted 12 bands that embody the true concept of a supergroup. Composed of highly influential musicians and acclaimed solo artists, these acts have left an undeniable mark on the world of rock and metal.
With Pigface making the rankings, the band became known for its intense live performances and ever-changing lineup.
Introduced as a "revolving door collective," meaning the band had no fixed lineup and musicians could join or leave the project, the band was formed in 1990 by founders Martin Atkins of post punk legend Public Image Ltd (PiL) and William Rieflin of The Blackouts, both of whom were members of Ministry."
Created to break away from traditional band structures during The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, the duo wanted to unite experimental musicians in a collaborative project free from the limitations of a conventional band.
Throughout the band's career, Pigface released six main studio albums along with several live and remix albums.
For its debut studio album, Gub, released in 1991, the lineup featured founders Atkins and Rieflin alongside fellow Ministry member Paul Barker. Additional contributors included William Tucker of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Steve Albini, who served as the album's recording engineer.
As for the vocalists, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor joined for the song "Suck," Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy appeared on the opening track "Tapeworm," En Esch of KMFDM performed on the German language track "War Ich Nicht," David Yow of The Jesus Lizard appeared on "The Bushmaster," while Chris Connelly contributed to multiple tracks.
For its subsequent albums and collaborative recordings, Pigface brought together more than 10 musicians at a time, ultimately featuring over 100 contributing artists such as Trent Reznor, Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys, Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Danny Carey of Tool and many more.
According to Atkins, the band's unconventional setup wasn't driven by a secret formula. Instead, everyone embraced improvisation and unpredictability because they believed spontaneity made the project more creative and enjoyable.
"I think we're pretty good at this now," he told Now Toronto, adding, "In early Pigface we questioned everything, and one of the things we questioned was rehearsing. The formula at first was that there was no formula, so we just got on a bus and the first 10 shows we did, opening for the Butthole Surfers, we didn't know what we were doing, and we thought that was fun."
After a series of on-again and off-again activities, the supergroup launched its first full-scale U.S. tour in 2019 for its first full-scale U.S. tour in 14 years.
Related: Beloved Rock Band, Once Split for 10 Years, Ranked Among 'Best Supergroups' of All Time
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM.