# Bands with just three members. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028 "2018-02-02T14:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/21 "2018-02-02T16:29:55Z")
Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/22 "2018-02-02T16:29:56Z")
Sick Puppies have only three. They’re a metal-ish band out of (I believe) Australia. One of them is a chick too. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/23 "2018-02-02T16:35:32Z")
Minutemen Shonen Knife Beastie Boys Föllakzoid Zeke UFOmammut ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/24 "2018-02-02T17:03:25Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > **And then there were three…** > > Genesis started attaining its greatest success after Peter Gabriel left, leaving the band with three members (Rutherford, Banks and Collins). When Gabriel left, the band opted to continue on with the remaining **four** members. After two more albums, Steve Hackett left, _…And Then There Were Three…_ ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/25 "2018-02-02T17:46:17Z")
The Three Degrees Fun boy three Thompson twins - from around 1982 onward Rory Gallagher - his band was a 3 piece outfit ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/26 "2018-02-02T17:46:45Z")
The Nice (Keith Emerson, Brian Davison and Lee Jackson) Refugee (Patrick Moraz, Brian Davison and Lee Jackson) Tin Machine (David Bowie and the Sales Brothers) Zebra America The mid Seventies edition of King Crimson (John Wetton, Robert Fripp and Bill Bruford) Dixie Chicks UK (John Wetton, Terry Bozzio and Eddie Jobson) Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds ---
**Author:** ![Egnu\_Cledge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@Egnu\_Cledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Egnu_Cledge)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/27 "2018-02-02T18:10:02Z")
[Guitar Wolf](https://youtu.be/enmjKOEIqlU)! [100 Flowers](https://youtu.be/wRLw5vajupk) (Much better known as The Urinals, but I think there was a fourth member by then) [Add N to (X)](https://youtu.be/ZO1mLmgDW4A) (although this particular song features Alison Goldfrapp guesting on vocals) [Oneida](https://youtu.be/Wj9y8Tt8TJ4) (originally a quartet, but one of them quit) [Yo La Tengo](https://youtu.be/zDgpQBaziy0) [Oblivians](https://youtu.be/f4idt-fmmyI) [Bad Sports](https://youtu.be/m0uDcgaTfw8) [Mean Jeans](https://youtu.be/L9M1fY7HQ78) [The Trashwomen](https://youtu.be/9Rpvr4OqlhE) [Beat Happening](https://youtu.be/gDJrrcx8Nbs) [Best Friends Forever](https://youtu.be/RsnLI1XOT5Y) [Le Tigre](https://youtu.be/u9z0bUK-gQk) [Black Panties](https://youtu.be/gDlPUjv7QRo) [Black Time](https://youtu.be/Bu27hMkRcX0) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/28 "2018-02-02T18:13:30Z")
> [@Egnu\_Cledge](#): > > [100 Flowers](https://youtu.be/wRLw5vajupk) (Much better known as The Urinals, but I think there was a fourth member by then) You are the first person I have ever encountered IRL in any way that had ever heard of this/these bands besides me. That totally fucking rocks! ---
**Author:** ![Egnu\_Cledge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@Egnu\_Cledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Egnu_Cledge)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/29 "2018-02-02T18:27:51Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > You are the first person I have ever encountered IRL in any way that had ever heard of this/these bands besides me. That totally fucking rocks! Cool! Instead of paying off my college loans, I bought records. Lots and lots of them. I’ve been flipping through my collection looking for more three-pieces, and there are way more than I would have thought. I’m only up to the end of the “B’s”, and I should probably stop, or I’ll be here all day. [The Blind Shake](https://youtu.be/dP-BqArrEDY) [Blonde Redhead](https://youtu.be/gP07_iaUwb4) [Boris](https://youtu.be/bREC4gvH5Gw) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/30 "2018-02-02T19:59:33Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > Stray Cats. It was pretty obvious that they were going to stay together as long as Brian Setzer wanted to be in the band. Ben Folds Five was the same way. They were a really tight band for a minute, and managed to put out 3 albums with more than just Ben doing the stuff (still he was doing the bulk of the stuff). But once the band broke up it turns out he didn’t need those guys at all. On his first solo album he played all the instruments and it really just sounded like a BFF album. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/31 "2018-02-02T20:11:49Z")
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, before they hired W. S. Holland to play drums. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/32 "2018-02-02T20:34:37Z")
The Jam, Weller, Buckler, Foxton Not sure how well known they are in the states but in the UK they were massive from 1976-82, right up there with such as The Clash. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/33 "2018-02-02T20:52:49Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds “Aren’t they a quartet? Hamilton, Joe, Frank, and Reynolds?” “I always thought they were a duo. Hamilton Joe Frank, and Reynolds.” “No, they were a trio. Hamilton Joe, Frank, and Reynolds.” “Wait! They were a quintet! Hamilton, Joe, Frank, Ann, Reynolds.” ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/34 "2018-02-02T21:21:22Z")
Beck, Bogert & Appice ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/35 "2018-02-02T21:25:14Z")
Medeski, Martin, and Wood Animal Logic (though they had side support) Throwing Muses became a trio after Tanya Donnelly left to form Belly Giles, Giles, and Fripp Peter, Paul, and Mary the Kingston Trio Hot Tuna are usually a duo but occasionally add a third member. They usually include said short-term member as a full member, not a side musician. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/36 "2018-02-02T22:07:54Z")
[Trio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trio_(band))- a German band. They had three members, presumably because Germans don’t do irony. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/37 "2018-02-02T22:11:52Z")
Tangerine Dream ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/38 "2018-02-02T22:26:39Z")
Oh, and … Dirty Three Tex, Don and Charlie Los Trios Ringbarkus ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/39 "2018-02-02T23:03:28Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > The Bee Gees – Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb. Another brother act: Los Lonely Boys: Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028/40 "2018-02-03T00:48:25Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Grand Funk Railroad started as a trio before hiring Craig Frost on keyboards three years later. Was going to mention them. They rock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-just-three-members/808028.md?page=3)