Bands where no one can be replaced

[Sunshine_and_Smiles]

I’m not sure if duos are allowed. Obviously, they are much more likely to appear irreplaceable. If you lose one of the members of Sonny & Cher, how could you replace that? Nevertheless here’s a few more recent rock groups, mostly duos, where I believe the band would cease to function if a member was lost. In the case of the duos I tried to pick ones that at least appear a bit more bandlike than say - Rodrigo y Gabriela or Simon and Garfunkel.

The Kills - a sort of slick bluesy sex rock duo, both are completely irreplaceable. U R a Fever

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - art rock trio comprised of vocals, guitar, and drums. Each respected in their own right, each with a unique sound and take on the instrument. Maps

Two Gallants - a sort of americana indie southern rock duo, the vocalist/guitarist has a unique voice and fingerpicking style while the drummer is very start/stop (I’ve heard it described as melodic rather than rhythmic drumming, take that with six grains of salt) - neither could be replaced without creating a totally different sound. You Losin’ Out

The Dodos - Indie rock band where the singer/guitarist fingerpicks over a variety of tunings, complemented by a drummer who studied both metal patterns and african hand drumming. Red and Purple

You can’t replace anyone from The Police. The case has already been made for Andy and Stewart, so I’ll speak for Sting. By playing reggae style bass lines, he allowed sonic room for the other gents to go crazy. They had to fill the space between Sting’s bass notes. I think I’m remembering this line of logic from an interview with one of the guys, but I can’t be sure. I believe it, anyway. Walking on the Moon

[Robot_Arm]

@Mister_Rik

In the event that they continue with a replacement, that replacement is considered to be a “side member”, never a “full member”. Making them a “full” member of the band would be considered disrespectful to the departed original member. This also applied to ZONE - the rhythm guitarist they had at the end was a replacement member, and though she was probably just as talented as the girl she replaced, it was pretty clear watching the group perform that she wasn’t truly “one of the band”.

Shonen Knife has changed personnel over the years, but I’m not enough of a fan to know if the replacements are considered full members or not.

[President_Johnny_Gentle]

I’ll argue for the classic incarnation of Van Halen. Sure, they did change parts, multiple times, but they turned into a completely different band.

[Lobot]

Anyone doubting that The Police and Sting are two different entities need only listen to Stewart Copeland’s solo output (e.g. “Tulsa Tango” from the Rumble Fish soundtrack) and then compare it with, say, “Fields of Gold” from Sting–one sounds like The Police while the other sounds like Sting.

[Nunzio_Tavulari]

@Mister_Rik

In the event that they continue with a replacement, that replacement is considered to be a “side member”, never a “full member”. Making them a “full” member of the band would be considered disrespectful to the departed original member.

I believe that the Rolling Stones have that same policy. Ron Wood has been in the band for more than 35 years. He replaced Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones.

If I recall correctly, he is not a Rolling Stone. He is an employee of the band, and doesn’t get the same royalty rate and benefits that Jagger & Richards have. For certain, the keyboard player and bassist that replaced the original members are not Rolling Stones, although they’ve been in the band 30 and 20 years respectively. Nor was the original keyboard player, Ian Stewart, even though he was in the band from the beginning.

To their credit, Jagger & Richards included Stewart, Taylor and Wood in the band for the purposes of the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

[pulykamell]

@Sunshine_and_Smiles

You can’t replace anyone from The Police. The case has already been made for Andy and Stewart, so I’ll speak for Sting. By playing reggae style bass lines, he allowed sonic room for the other gents to go crazy. They had to fill the space between Sting’s bass notes. I think I’m remembering this line of logic from an interview with one of the guys, but I can’t be sure. I believe it, anyway. Walking on the Moon

I actually do agree with you here. Sting is a solid bassist, and the Police wouldn’t quite be the Police without him. He does play reggae style bass lines, but the whole band has a reggae-punk feel to it, so I’m not sure how much of that is Sting, and how much of that was driven by Stewart Copeland’s Carribean-influenced rhythms. I don’t think the Police would be the Police with any of the three members gone, but my view is that Sting is the most expendable of the bunch.

[Hippy_Hollow]

@Snowboarder_Bo

I don’t think you understand the premise of the thread.

The OP had Irreplaceable and Replaceable bands listed, so I slotted Pretenders as replaceable, even though that wasn’t supposed to be the case. Jimmy Honeyman-Scott was such an iconic guitarist and foil for Chrissy that you might suspect his departure would have ended the band or changed it significantly. Of course it did, but Learning to Crawl sounds like a Pretenders album, even with 50 percent of the lineup changed.

Glad to see The Police correctly defended as Irreplaceable. It was Stew’s band, and that classic polyrhythmic Police sound is evident in Copeland’s side project Klark Kent. Songs like “Love Lessons” are unmistakeably Police sounding; it wasn’t just Sting. That’s why I favor the first three Police albums. More shared songwriting and collaboration. The underlying tension in the band was Sting’s writing and arranging. Initially Stew and Andy were fairly savage about his songs and only relented when the songs were tough and Police-like. For the fourth album, however, Sting brought fully fleshed out demos with guitar, drum machine, keys, and backing vocals. They were both brilliant and diminishing of the others’ musical talents.

I agree on your Clash comments. Topper wrote and recorded virtually all of Rock the Casbah, my favorite Clash song. But they were the Clash before Topper and he was fired at their commercial peak when they toured the US with Chimes. I agree Topper gave this entire dimension to the band regarding their ability to branch out into jazz and reggae; Chimes (and most rock drummers) couldn’t do that. But the most obvious missing link on Cut the Crap is Mick Jones. I would argue that Simonon was the least musically talented member but his creative input (costuming, attitude, and love for West Indian music) is undeniable.

I’ve noticed with the Irreplaceables there is usually a strong link with a producer and/or manager. Peter Grant, Paul McGuiness/Steve Lillywhite, Brian Epstein/George Martin…

[tellyworth]

@Astroboy14

But The Final Cut? Oh no you di’nt!! That’s arguably the best Floyd album.

I didn’t say it was bad. But it’s a Roger Waters solo album. It even says so on the back.

[BubbaDog]

@njtt

So they were a good Who cover band. It does not mean that they could have created The Who’s music in the first place.

True, but that’s not what the OP asked for.

Op’s instructions were "if any of them** left** the band and were replaced which implies that the previous catalog of music is still valid.

The new incarnation works due to Daltry’s signature vocals and Simon Townsend’s similar style of playing. The backing vocals may be a tad off but you would have to really try to pick it out in a live performance. And Daltry was known to cover in concert (Who concerts) songs where Pete was front vocalist on recording so you really can’t claim that the lack of Pete’s voice is an issue in a live performance. Add the fact Simon Townsend on backing vocals pretty much covers Pete’s vocal style too.

[Mister_Rik]

@Nunzio_Tavulari

I believe that the Rolling Stones have that same policy. Ron Wood has been in the band for more than 35 years. He replaced Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones.

Belatedly, I thought of Brian Johnson of AC/DC. I don’t know how the band feels about it, but I’ve heard of fans who still consider Johnson to be “the new singer”, despite the fact that he’s been with the band for 32 years and was the singer on their most successful albums, while Bon Scott was with them, what, six years?

@BubbaDog

The new incarnation works due to Daltry’s signature vocals and Simon Townsend’s similar style of playing.

Okay, wait, I’m not really a The Who fan so this is probably just my ignorance showing, but who is Simon? Never heard of the guy.

ETA: Nevermind, Pete’s Wikipedia page reveals that Simon is his brother. Didn’t know he appeared on any Who albums, though.

Also, Townshend.

[woodstockbirdybird]

@bucketybuck

Eta: That just addresses the statement that Queen continued without Freddie. I agree they don’t fit the OP, in that Roger Taylor or John Deacon could be seen as replaceable.

I’m not so sure about that. Considering Deacon or Taylor wrote some of their big hits (“You’re My Best Friend”, “Another One Bites The Dust”, “Radio Ga Ga”, “I Want To Break Free”, “A Kind Of Magic”) and Roger Taylor’s vocals were integral to their sound (He did the high “For meeeee” in “Bohemian Rhapsody”), I don’t think they were as replaceable as you might think if you considered them “just a rhythm section”.

[BubbaDog]

@Mister_Rik

Belatedly, I thought of Brian Johnson of AC/DC. I don’t know how the band feels about it, but I’ve heard of fans who still consider Johnson to be “the new singer”, despite the fact that he’s been with the band for 32 years and was the singer on their most successful albums, while Bon Scott was with them, what, six years?
Okay, wait, I’m not really a The Who fan so this is probably just my ignorance showing, but who is Simon? Never heard of the guy.

ETA: Nevermind, Pete’s Wikipedia page reveals that Simon is his brother. Didn’t know he appeared on any Who albums, though.

I don’t know if he did. My statements were made based on seeing a live act.

Also, Townshend.

Well, it’s British. So I went with the American pronunciation and removed the “h”. Otherwise we might have that situation similar to schedule being pronounced “Shed-jewel”.

[WreckingCrew]

@tellyworth

I didn’t say it was bad. But it’s a Roger Waters solo album. It even says so on the back.

Interesting argument, but based on the OP a moot one thanks to the departure of Mr. Syd Barrett.

[Saint_Cad]

@Hippy_Hollow

Come on, OP. I’m an early U2 fan, and I think it’s quite obvious that Adam Clayton is replaceable. In fact, I recall he got so shitfaced a few years back that they played a show with his bass tech in his spot. No one asked for their money back. Wonderful bloke, adequate bassist, but you could bring along a decent garage band bass player and U2 would probably sound the same. Now, the creative process and vibe of the band would change, but I don’t think you would pick up a U2 album and say “something’s missing!”

I’m not sure how you come up with Sting + 2 players = The Police. Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland are world class, recognizable talents. Sting played with Andy Summers on “Be Still My Beating Heart” and “The Lazarus Heart” - those songs do not sound like The Police. Sting sounds like Sting, whether he’s singing with Dire Straits or on his own. He does not sound like The Police.

When the Mrs and I were discussing it, I came up with U2 but even then questioned myself whether Adam could be replaced or not.

As for The Police, I agree that none of them can be replaced, I was just giving her a hard time about it hence the “You’re not funny.” I got from her in response.

Here’s one I forgot on the replacable list - Van Halen. Did it really make a difference when Diamond Dave got replaced by Van Hagar?

@Mister_Rik

Rutsey was a competent, solid drummer, but Peart’s addition completely changed the sound and direction of the band. And since Peart replaced Rutsey in between the release of the first album and the band going on tour to support that same album, Rutsey may as well have been a hired studio musician.

And that doesnt even account for the songwriting aspect.

[Hippy_Hollow]

@Saint_Cad

When the Mrs and I were discussing it, I came up with U2 but even then questioned myself whether Adam could be replaced or not.

As for The Police, I agree that none of them can be replaced, I was just giving her a hard time about it hence the “You’re not funny.” I got from her in response.

Here’s one I forgot on the replacable list - Van Halen. Did it really make a difference when Diamond Dave got replaced by Van Hagar?

And that doesnt even account for the songwriting aspect.

Heh. I had to rethink U2 as well. They were all mates at school and equally novice when they started. Clayton was the Simonon of the band - not musical necessarily, but a ne’er-do-well attitudinal addition. I don’t know U2’s canon well enough to parse what Clayton’s contributions are generally, but he does have some killer basslines in their early stuff - “Two Hearts Beat As One,” “Gloria” - he wasn’t half-arsing it there. But they worked with Steve Lillywhite, who’s a deft hand on the four-string himself. So did Clayton come up with these lines, or were they written, or otherwise embellished by Messrs. Hewson/Evans/Lillywhite? I don’t know. But I do believe that the band would suffer - what they do just works with the four of them, and they’ve never had someone leave the band. So he may in fact be irreplaceable.

No harm no foul on The Police, there. You must work to educate your missus. When I saw them on the reunion tour in 2007, I barely watched Sting. Way too interested in how Stew and Andy held up. (Quite well, in fact.)

I think you could (hell, they have) swap out all members of Van Halen sans the Van Halens. (I do prefer Diamond Dave’s version though.)

There was a mention of The Smiths upthread. I think Morrissey and Marr are irreplaceable, obviously, but Mike Joyce drummed with power and finesse and always fit the songs. You don’t notice him half the time on their songs, which I think is a real credit to his playing. Andy Rourke was the touchstone for Johnny Marr - they’d been in bands together since their early teens - and he is one of my favorite bassists - melodic, funky, and when necessary, rocking. He was out of the band for a time, though. He was on all the albums; his drug-addled hiatus was between albums when they toured.

New nomination for irreplaceable: The Jam. Weller with the voice, lyrics, and angular guitar; Foxton with the Motown-Stax-punky basslines, and Buckler with the attacking backbeat. You couldn’t change any of them out creatively or musically (though Buckler/Foxton play in a tribute band called “From The Jam.”

I would have placed Big Country on this list as well - but now I’m sort of in the middle. The twin guitarists Watson and Adamson and their bagpipe sound, Butler with the groove-laden basslines and harmonies, and Brzezicki being one of the greatest drummers of Britain in the 1980s. Adamson sadly committed suicide, but Watson’s son plays second guitar and they have Mike Peters from The Alarm on vocals. It’s not the same but it’s exciting nevertheless.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Saint_Cad

Here’s one I forgot on the replacable list - Van Halen. Did it really make a difference when Diamond Dave got replaced by Van Hagar?

It did to me. And to a helluva lot of fans. The difference in sound and attitude from Roth to Hagar was tremendous. Do you mean you’ve never seen Van Halen 2.0 referred to (derisively) as “Van Hagar”?

For me, Van Halen ended with Dave’s departure.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Hippy_Hollow

I would have placed Big Country on this list as well - but now I’m sort of in the middle. The twin guitarists Watson and Adamson and their bagpipe sound, Butler with the groove-laden basslines and harmonies, and Brzezicki being one of the greatest drummers of Britain in the 1980s. Adamson sadly committed suicide, but Watson’s son plays second guitar and they have Mike Peters from The Alarm on vocals. It’s not the same but it’s exciting nevertheless.

Dear Og, I thought I was the only Big Country fan left on the planet!

[Hippy_Hollow]

@Snowboarder_Bo

Dear Og, I thought I was the only Big Country fan left on the planet!

Greatest 7" of all time is “In a Big Country.” I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

[Fiddle_Peghead]

@Saint_Cad

Here’s one I forgot on the replacable list - Van Halen. Did it really make a difference when Diamond Dave got replaced by Van Hagar?

Only if the fact that the fun was gone doesn’t matter, not really.

[Chicagojeff]

@StusBlues

It’s certainly arguable that George Harrison could have been replaced. Switch George with Pete Townsend or Jeff Beck or somebody, for example, and tell me that doesn’t get you at least as good a band. It changes the complexion of the group, certainly, but the Beatles changed so radically during their relatively brief tenure that this would have been par for the course.

John did threaten to replace George with Eric Clapton.. they were pissed George didn’t turn up at a recording session.. George was of course pissed his songs were gettng ignored..

It’s one of those great trading Dimaggio for Williams legends.. lol