SOLE SURVIVORS OR TIME WARP BANDITS

[Willie G. Moseley]

Kiz's Who brouhaha begs the philosophical consideration of the viability (commercially and musically) of bands that may have "legendary" names, but one or less original members. Consider the following, which were in such a category, last I heard:

PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS: Paul Revere

SAVOY BROWN: Kim Simmonds

QUICKSILVER: Gary Duncan

WHITESNAKE: David Coverdale (are they still around?)

JOHN KAY & STEPPENWOLF: Name changed for legal reasons

MOTORHEAD: Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister

MOLLY HATCHET: No original members; somebody apparently bought the franchise

SANTANA: Carlos Santana

ZZ TOP: Billy F Gibbons

BLACK OAK ARKANSAS: Jim Dandy Mangrum (who?)

WISHBONE ASH: Andy Powell

Many of the above would probably be considered to be in "journeyman" status (and that's being polite, in some situations). Actually, Wishbone Ash is still putting out some pretty good new material, IMO.

I'd opine that the Raiders, Santana, and Savoy Brown have probably had the biggest turnover.

Others?

[hamerhead]

Isn't ZZ Top the same 3 guys since the beginning of time? It's always been Billy, Dusty and Frank as long as I can remember.

I saw Head East with the bass player being the only original - many years ago. Does that count?

[hamerboy_]

MEGADETH: Dave Mustaine

-Bobby

[Willie G. Moseley]

I never was into Head East; presumably that would indeed count, as they'd presumably be in the same status as Wishbone Ash, IMO.

The original lineup of ZZ TOP was Gibbons, drummer Dan Mitchell, and keyboardist Lanier Greig (who played bass pedals). Billy Ethridge on bass replaced Greig, then Frank Beard replaced Mitchell, then Dusty Hill replaced Ethridge. Sources + Rev. Gibbons hisself as well as David Blayney, ZZ's former lighting director and author of SHARP-DRESSED MEN.

[BCR Greg]

I guess I had better cnage the name of my band, since I am the only original member(along with Skeez, the world's best roadie). Maybe the Grumpy Old Men Revue?

[hamerhead]

Willie G. -I've been a ZZ Top fan since - well, forever - and I didn't know that.

You may be splitting hairs (or whiskers, as the case may be) since their 'ZZ Top's 1st Album' release features the same tres hombres.

[Steve Haynie]

Bobby Ingram was in the Danny Joe Brown Band before joining Molly Hatchet. He joined at a time when there were a majority of original members in the band. He is now the leader of the group, and has at least 20 years of Molly Hatchet history under his belt.

As for ZZ Top, generally we consider the band that appears on a first album to be the original band. That was the band that made the first impression. As far as I am concerned, ZZ Top has not changed.

[Scottcrud]

Yea, give me a break, ZZTop are the original memebers who have recorded on all ZZTOP albums, it's not like they're Credence Clearwater Revisited, or the other bands you mentioned. How about the Stones? Keith and Mick are the only ones left.

[Jack C]

Slightly off-topic, but I just learned that a Night Ranger album was released in the mid-90s with just Gillis, Keagy and some other bass-playing singer. That's only 2 of 5 original members for a band that has otherwise stayed in its original form. I wonder what it sounds like? Night Ranger as a 3 piece is a weird concept.

[Willie G. Moseley]

Further hair-splitting (no big deal): The pre-Gibbons/Beard/Hill lineup of ZZ TOP released a single, "Salt Lick"; that 45 is probably highly collectible. As I understand it, all of those personnel changes included the ultimate (and still viable) lineup occurred in 1969. The point is, you can always win a trivia debate about the Lil Ol' Band for Texas' original threesome.

[MCChris]

How about the Stones? Keith and Mick are the only ones left.

Charlie Watts?

[Steve Haynie]

How do we view bands with name changes? Alice Cooper started off with John Speer on drums and John Tatum on guitar. They were The Nazz and The Spiders before changing the name to Alice Cooper with the classic line-up. The pre-Alice Cooper material (a couple of singles) shows up in the box set because it was essentially the same group.

Alice Cooper also has two opportunities to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He qualifies as a member of a group going back to 1969 and as a solo performer going back to 1975.

[hardheartedbill]

was the single under the ZZ Top name?

[DavidE]

"Bobby Ingram was in the Danny Joe Brown Band before joining Molly Hatchet. He joined at a time when there were a majority of original members in the band. He is now the leader of the group, and has at least 20 years of Molly Hatchet history under his belt."

But he joined after they had their "hits." I saw the "new" Molly Hatchet here in Columbus a year or two ago. They did a good job on the songs and sounded very much like the original, albeit with PRS guitars and PV 5150 amps.... Two young guys on drums and bass. Some older guy on vocals that did a good job of emulating the originals. But it ain't Molly Hatchet by any stretch. None of the guys responsible for the good stuff are in the band.

As for Creedence Clearwater Revisited, who the fuck cares if John ain't up front singing? He WAS CCR. Just ask him. ;-)

[Willie G. Moseley]

Yep, "Salt Lick" was under the ZZ TOP moniker and I think it also showed up on the CHROME/SMOKE/BBQ whatever that anthology was called.

[hardheartedbill]

your right, a great trivia "ace in the hole"

[Scottcrud]

Oh yea, I forgot about ol' Charlie Watts.

[MCChris]

Oh yea, I forgot about ol' Charlie Watts.

I was half expecting you to tell me that John Rutsey played on the first Stones album, then Charlie came in and the rest was history LOL!

[marcnorth]

There's a new twist on Wishbone Ash, Andy Powell is still touring under the WA name and now the bass player who is the original founder of WA has a band called Wishbone featuring Martin Turner.

I've seen Andy's version a few times and although it's not all of the originals it's still kick ass Wishbone Ash music.

I would love to see Martin Turners band because as we all know he has Hamer #0001.(which is a bass for those who don't know)

Somebody sent me some nice shot's of him playing it at a gig a few weeks ago. He made me promise not to post them anywhere until after he put's them on Martin's site.

[Travis]

This brings up a question about groups centered around a frontman. Take Ozzy or Yngwie. The band is constantly changing but the group is named after the frontman. Does this count? And with Megadeth, Dave Mustaine is the only remaining original member. Would the band be on the list if it was originally called the Dave Mustaine Band instead of Megadeth?

[LordOfTheThighs]

QUOTE (Scottcrud @ Dec 30 2005, 10:34 AM)

Oh yea, I forgot about ol' Charlie Watts.

I was half expecting you to tell me that John Rutsey played on the first Stones album, then Charlie came in and the rest was history LOL!

I thought Charlie Watts replaced Pete Best.

[Steve Haynie]

Ian Paice is the only original guy left from Deep Purple's debut.

[Guest galejt]

I guess I had better cnage the name of my band, since I am the only original member(along with Skeez, the world's best roadie). Maybe the Grumpy Old Men Revue?

Grumpy Old Accountants!

Starring NFG and his majik riser!

[Willie G. Moseley]

STYX: James 'J.Y." Young

[princeofdarkness56]

Alice Cooper also has two opportunities to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  He qualifies as a member of a group going back to 1969 and as a solo performer going back to 1975.

Is it not mind boggling that Alice Cooper is not in the Hall of Fame?? He must have pissed someone off big time. Guess that is why most people refer to it as the Hall of Shame.