When is a band not a band?

[Gearjammer]

Here is a question that has been on my mind lately, inspired by the Plant and Zep thread, and the recent deluge of "Lynyrd Skynyrd" on numerous media outlets.

When is a band not a band? How many origianl members have to leave? Can one key member make a band no longer a band?

Discuss.........

 

[Magic]

Good question GJ!

It all depends on a lot of different factors, one being the original chemistry of the band. Some bands have such good chemistry that any replacement wont work. Like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, or Journey. Journey was never the same after Steve Perry and dislike him or not, Van Halen was better with Roth than Hagar. *although i dispised Roth*

But some bands can make a line-up change and really change for the better....for instance Creed. I like Creed, but I like Alter Bridge a lot more. They had a chemistry that Stapp didn't have with the band, but Creed is reunited....

I would say the chemistry is the most important.

 

[Foxhound]

Hmmmm. I really think it depends upon whether the band is any good with the replacements.

For example, I saw the Yardbirds without Jeff Beck, Keith Relf and Paul Samwell-Smith. The only two original Yardbirds they had were Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty. But they were great! They nailed all their hits and sounded fantastic!

I've seen Eric Burdon & the Animals four times in the past six or seven years. The first and last times they were great despite the fact that Eric's voice continues to lose the power it once had. The other two times they were disappointing. It all hinged around whether his instrumental backing did justice to the original songs.

The Scorpions, Deep Purple and Genesis sounded just fine to me despite the lack of some members.

So long as the fellows in Zep can replicate the thundering instrumental work that I liked about the band, all I think they need to reform is a singer that can hit the highs with power. I'm not in any way wedded to Robert Plant out front.

 

[Mr. Shadow]

When the leader of the band becomes the sole focus of the group.
For example when The Supremes became Diana Ross & the Supremes.

A band is a unified group of musicians with a common goal.
The supergroups of the past also had equality among them.

As far as bands splitting, it depends on who owns the name.
The Beatles could not used the same name after John legally disbanded the group.
The others would have had to form a new band.

 

[Hepcat]

The Doors are still very good without Jim Morrison - but somehow they're not quite "right". I guess an alcohol abusing frontman was integral to their sound....

 

[Mr. Shadow]

The Doors are still very good without Jim Morrison - but somehow they're not quite "right". I guess an alcohol abusing frontman was integral to their sound....

The Doors without Jim Morrison is what they shold be called now.
Jim was the Doors for the most part. He was lucky to find musicians
willing to put up with his crap.

 

[Hepcat]

And they were very good musicians too.

 

[Flower]

We saw The Zombies in July 2009 .. the only original members were Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent.

They've picked up ~

Keith Airey on guitar
Rod Argent's cousin Jim Rodford on bass
Jim's son Steve Rodford on drums

They were fantastic .. you would not know the difference if you were unaware of the changes.

Would I go see them again?

YES INDEED I WOULD

 

[Mr. Shadow]

And they were very good musicians too.

No doubt, but not the same.

Well variety is the spice of life
Thats what the judge is gonna tell my wife
She said why did you have to do it?, why you such a fool?
I can't resist to try something new

Well the judge said guilty in the first degree
I said can I help it if I take all the publicity
All these pretty women, with nothing to do
C'mon and help me try to find something new

You gotta try everything once
You better take out some insurance
You gotta try everything once
You better build up your endurance

Well variety is the spice of life
Thats what the judge is gonna tell my wife
She said why did you have to do it?, why you such a fool?
I can't resist to try something new

You got a full house babe, I got four of a kind
I'm watching six different televisions all at one time
You know I love you baby, sad but it's true

You gotta try everything once
You better take out some insurance
You gotta try everything once
You better build up your endurance

Well variety is the spice of life
Thats what the judge is gonna tell my wife
She said why did you have to do it?, why you such a fool?
I can't resist to try something new

 

[gregjohnson1229]

it seems like new replacement or members leaving Nu-metal bands makes them irrelevant. Korn has never recovered from Head leaving. Same thing happened when Wes Borland left Limp Bizkit. Althouh Wes went and played in a band called Big Dumb Face with a name like that u aren't going anywhere. P.O.D. is kinda nu-metal with a christian rock message. I don't even recall their lead guitarist's name, but when he left thier music started to suck.