# Bands that booted an original member before hitting it big. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666 "2013-12-06T13:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/61 "2013-12-07T05:43:31Z")
No one should speak of the young man who damaged CS&N. He never trained as well nor was able to transform into a bigger star. His heart was just not into it. Sure, CS&N harvested many gold records. But an old man just has to keep marking time until it fades away and spend time on the beach. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/62 "2013-12-07T05:51:08Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > They had already hit it big by then. Goo Goo Dolls had never had an album in the top 200, and only had some minor alternative radio play when their drummer was fired. Guess it depends on when “hit it big” happens, but I would go with when the 5th album sells way more than the previous 4 albums combined and has 6 singles on the airplay charts, including pop hits. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/63 "2013-12-07T07:08:41Z")
Duuuuuuuuude. Do NOT attempt to argue, posit, or even MENTION whether the Goo Goo Dolls were a better band pre- or post- “Jed.” It’s like declawing cats or babies and frozen waffles or shots of milk. It will not end well. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/64 "2013-12-07T08:32:06Z")
> [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](#): > > Duuuuuuuuude. > > Do NOT attempt to argue, posit, or even MENTION whether the Goo Goo Dolls were a better band pre- or post- “Jed.” > > It’s like declawing cats or babies and frozen waffles or shots of milk. It will not end well. Who declaws babies? Rosemary Woodhouse maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/65 "2013-12-07T09:19:28Z")
I was going to say Jefferson Airplane, but got beaten to it. OK, then: Todd Rundgren ditched the _entire_ original personnel of Utopia and replaced them with a completely different band (but still named Utopia), which then started to chart a few hits. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/66 "2013-12-07T09:29:50Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Jethro Tull’s original guitarist, Mick Abrahams, was replaced for a short while by Tony Iommi (later of Black Sabbath) before they settled on Martin Lancelot Barre. Before their big album Aqualung, they also shed drummer Clive Bunker and bassist Glenn Cornick. By the time they hit their stride, Roland Kirk was the only original member. [Roland Kirk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahsaan_Roland_Kirk)? I think you mean [Ian Anderson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Anderson). ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/67 "2013-12-07T14:02:14Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Henry Padovani was a member of The Police, but was kicked out before their first album. Damn, that was my answer! He played on their first single, “Fall Out,” I believe. He’s on the original 45 sleeve. They were a four piece for a few weeks/months. Best I can come up with is XTC. They in fact did make it big with their early singles in the UK, at least, with keyboardist Barry Andrews. At least two LPs and a raft of singles, but then they sacked him and hired Dave Gregory, primarily a guitarist with keyboard skills. The more famous line up recorded “Making Plans for Nigel,” “Generals and Majors,” “Senses Working Overtime,” and “Dear God.” ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/68 "2013-12-07T14:17:43Z")
Oh, here’s one: Britfunk band Level 42 (who had a US Top Ten hit with “Something About You” in 1985) originally had Dominic Miller (Sting’s guitarist) as their guitar player. He was a massive pothead at the time and just stopped showing up to rehearsals, so they drafted in the drummer’s brother, Boon Gould. Boon actually was reliable and became the band’s guitar player until 1986. Miller played with World Party and did session work - sort of a hard luck story until he teamed up with Sting in the late 80s, who he’s been playing with for 20 plus years. He even co-wrote “Shape of My Heart” with our Gordon. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/69 "2013-12-07T14:58:04Z")
Faith No More went through a half-dozen vocalists before getting signed with Chuck Mosley fronting the band, then hitting it big with Mike Patton. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/70 "2013-12-07T16:28:19Z")
I forget his name but there is a guitarist who was kicked out of both Nirvana and Soundgarden before either band made it big. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/71 "2013-12-07T16:46:17Z")
Steve Took was sacked from hippy dippy duo/band Tyrannosaurus Rex not long before the name change to T. Rex and glam stardom for Marc Bolan… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/72 "2013-12-07T17:07:33Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Crosby, Stills & Nash originally had a fourth member. Once they shit-canned him they they had great hits like Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Marrakesh Express, and the other guy was never heard from again. Huh? Even as a joke this doesn’t work. Neil Young didn’t join until _after_ CSN had recorded those hits as a trio. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/73 "2013-12-07T19:21:13Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I forget his name but there is a guitarist who was kicked out of both Nirvana and Soundgarden before either band made it big. Jason Everman. Badass Ranger now. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/74 "2013-12-07T19:56:38Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Henry Padovani was a member of The Police, but was kicked out before their first album. I never knew that. When I first got into the Police, I always thought they could use another member - their early stuff sounded so sparse. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/75 "2013-12-07T20:09:16Z")
[quote=“Little\_Nemo, post:11, topic:675666”] > [@astorian](#): > > Well, Ian Stewart may qualify- he was an original member of the Rolling Stones. But while he continued to perform with them regularly, he was removed as an official member of the band by manager Andrew Loog Oldham before they hit it big… ostensibly because he didn’t look mean or tough enough to fit the image Oldham was trying to sell. He counts, and IIRC it’s even worse than you wrote- He was THE original member. The Stones were born when Brian Jones joined up with Ian, followed by the various others. It was Ian’s band. (I’m not too proud to welcome correction if I’m wrong about this.) ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/76 "2013-12-07T20:44:22Z")
Clarence Walker, the Fifth Beatle. [SEE HERE](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+5th+beatle+eddie+murphy&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=_oajUqiiNrTMsQSl6oCICg&ved=0CEoQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=665#q=the+5th+beatle+clarence+walker&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=R1LvNdKwkQzq2M%3A%3Bgzq1t00MbpgUGM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimg220.imageshack.us%252Fimg220%252F5715%252Fem5thfm7.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fforums.stevehoffman.tv%252Fthreads%252Fbeatles-biography-by-mark-lewisohn.188085%252Fpage-8%3B350%3B253) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/77 "2013-12-07T20:46:08Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > [Roland Kirk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahsaan_Roland_Kirk)? > > I think you mean [Ian Anderson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Anderson). Aww, damn, you are correct, I always mix those two up, the way I have a hard time distinguishing Ann Wilson from Robert Plant. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/78 "2013-12-07T21:19:44Z")
> [@Jamicat](#): > > Clarence Walker, the Fifth Beatle. > > [SEE HERE](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+5th+beatle+eddie+murphy&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=_oajUqiiNrTMsQSl6oCICg&ved=0CEoQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=665#q=the+5th+beatle+clarence+walker&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=R1LvNdKwkQzq2M%3A%3Bgzq1t00MbpgUGM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimg220.imageshack.us%252Fimg220%252F5715%252Fem5thfm7.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fforums.stevehoffman.tv%252Fthreads%252Fbeatles-biography-by-mark-lewisohn.188085%252Fpage-8%3B350%3B253) > > 😃 Well, not him, but Stewart Sutcliffe might count for _The Beatles_, even more than Pete Best. I have argued before on these boards that there was probably a significant change and improvement to the band’s sound when Sutcliffe, who was with them for most of their Hamburg period, left, and was replaced on bass by Paul, who up to then had been a third, superfluous guitarist. It as this line-up (Paul on bass and Pete Best still on drums) that then started to get really popular in Liverpool, and that snagged Brian Epstein for them as a manager. I think it can also be argued (I have seen it argued, and I think it wsa at the time) that Paul’s bass lines and the strong pulse they provided were the most distinctive features of _The Beatles’_ early hits. Although I don’t doubt that Ringo was better, they _might_ still have made it with Pete Best on drums. They almost certainly would _not_ have made it with Stewart still on bass and Paul wasting his talents on third guitar. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/79 "2013-12-07T21:31:18Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Although I don’t doubt that Ringo was better, they _might_ still have made it with Pete Best on drums. From what I can tell, chemistry is on a par with talent. If a member clashes rather than clicks with the others, that person’s amazing talent will not be enough to make the group better. Pete Best simply did not belong in the Beatles, Ringo Starr did, because they functioned better with him, dubious as his talent might have been. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666/80 "2013-12-07T22:35:47Z")
Is a drummer generally a “member” or an “employee”? Jettisoning the drummer seems to be routine for a plurality of newly-signed bands. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-booted-an-original-member-before-hitting-it-big/675666.md?page=5)