Formed in the mid-1990s (officially in 1996), Niacin is a high-energy jazz-fusion/progressive rock trio. The band was conceived when rock bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan teamed up with keyboard master John Novello to create a project that blended jazz-funk with intense rock sensibility. They immediately recruited renowned drummer Dennis Chambers to complete the lineup, creating a "supergroup" focused on instrumental virtuosity.
The band's nameNiacin (Vitamin B3), is a direct nod to the Hammond B3 organ, which serves as the melodic and timbral foundation of their sound. Unlike many fusion projects, Niacin is known for its "dirty," high-octane, and often aggressive sound, frequently described as a modern, hard-rocking take on 1970s fusion giants like Return to Forever or Mahavishnu Orchestra.
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