# Bands with NO original members? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404 "2015-06-13T02:04:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/1 "2015-06-13T02:04:22Z")
Inspired by the [Bands touring that really aren’t the original band anymore](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758853) thread. Are there any bands out there where everyone in the band has been replaced? I am not talking about symphonies, orchestras, etc, or bands that have the same name but aren’t otherwise the same band. Also out are “manufactured bands”, like boy bands, etc., that are created and controlled by someone who is not and never was a member of the band. Just a band that at some point had no original members left. Are there any? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/2 "2015-06-13T02:07:26Z")
[The Ink Spots](http://www.inkspots.ca/) As a often point out, the version of Renaissance that everyone has heard of was not the original group. By the time their second album (often considered their first), the band members in the original had all moved on (except for the drummer, who only played on a couple of tracks and left). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/3 "2015-06-13T02:55:47Z")
[Paul Revere’s Raiders.](http://paulreveresraiders.com/) Up until last October, it was still Paul Revere and The Raiders. Paul was the last original member, and the last of any members from the band’s 1960s lineups. He died, but the band is still performing. There are no original members from [Blood Sweat and Tears,](http://www.bloodsweatandtears.com/) either. Bobby Colomby still owns the name and is active in management, but no longer performs with them. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/4 "2015-06-13T03:36:09Z")
The Little River Band. Indeed, the founding members can no longer tour under that name. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/5 "2015-06-13T04:39:01Z")
Renaissance. The original line-up completely disappeared by the time they hit it small. ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/6 "2015-06-13T05:02:04Z")
OP of the original, inspirational OP here… I wonder who actually IS on those TransSiberian Orchestra CDs? Some studio guys that might have toured on it once or twice but now otherwise have no hand in the yearly tour of TSO? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/7 "2015-06-13T12:58:39Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > The Little River Band. Indeed, the founding members can no longer tour under that name. Not so cool a change, then… ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/8 "2015-06-13T13:52:09Z")
> [@Oedipus](#): > > OP of the original, inspirational OP here… > > I wonder who actually IS on those TransSiberian Orchestra CDs? Some studio guys that might have toured on it once or twice but now otherwise have no hand in the yearly tour of TSO? There are a LOT of musicians and vocalists on their cds! Pretty sure all the studio albums have musicians formerly from the band Savatage, and they all go on the tours. I know there is a West Coast TSO and an East Coast TSO when they tour. I think founder Paul O’neil does the West Coast shows, but I recognize Chris Caffery and one or two other cd guys from Pittsburgh shows. I think at least some of the others on the tour are from bands Savatage has toured with. The last show in Pittsburgh, I recognized Russel Allen from Symphony X (vocals) as soon as he stepped on stage. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/9 "2015-06-13T19:15:15Z")
It looks like the Christian pop/rock band [Newsboys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsboys) has undergone a complete turnover of personnel while maintaining a significant degree of popularity among their target audience. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/10 "2015-06-13T22:22:57Z")
There are quite a few “legacy bands” from the big band era still around. Glenn Miller’s orchestra has been in existence, even though Miller disappeared and presumably died in 1944. Tex Beneke and Ray Anthony both led the band at various points, I believe, before it became strictly a legacy orchestra playing only Glenn Miller’s hits. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/11 "2015-06-13T23:20:52Z")
**Asia** went through numerous lineup changes until the only original member left was Geoff Downes, with some guy named John Payne on vocals. When the original lineup decided to reform in 2006, the remaining guys carried on under the name “Asia Featuring John Payne”. Mick Jones is the sole original member of **Foreigner** , but has missed several live shows due to poor health, so the band often performs with no original members. **Yes** is in a similar situation with Chris Squire stepping aside for cancer treatment, leaving no original members in the band (Steve Howe didn’t join until their 3rd album.) ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/12 "2015-06-13T23:53:45Z")
One of my favourite bands - Sugababes: > **[Sugababes | Members](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugababes#Members)** > > 1.Keisha Buchanan (1998–2009, 2011–present) | > 2.Mutya Buena (1998–2005, 2011–present) | > 3.Siobhán Donaghy (1998–2001, 2011–present) ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/13 "2015-06-15T17:56:29Z")
The Drifters. There have been at least 3 incarnations: [ol] [li]The one head-lined by Clive McPhatter. When he went off for a solo career, the manager, George Treadwell, selected Johnny Moore as the replacement lead. Then Moore got drafted.[/li][li]Treadwell got rid of the rest of the original members and replaced them with a group who had been performing as The Five Crowns. The lead singer of this group was Ben E. King, who did “There Goes My Baby.” Then King went solo, and Moore came back to do “Under The Boardwalk” and others.[/li][li]This third incarnation in the early seventies recut some of the old tunes in Europe to surprising success. They toured well into the eighties managed by Fay Treadwell, George’s widow. Ironically, Johnny Moore was for a long time the oldest surviving member.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/14 "2015-06-15T18:21:57Z")
Quiet Riot contained none of its founding members by the time “Cum On Feel the Noize” was recorded, if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/15 "2015-06-15T18:54:36Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > The Drifters. There have been at least 3 incarnations: > > [ol] > [li]The one head-lined by Clive McPhatter. When he went off for a solo career, the manager, George Treadwell, selected Johnny Moore as the replacement lead. Then Moore got drafted.[/li][li]Treadwell got rid of the rest of the original members and replaced them with a group who had been performing as The Five Crowns. The lead singer of this group was Ben E. King, who did “There Goes My Baby.” Then King went solo, and Moore came back to do “Under The Boardwalk” and others.[/li][li]This third incarnation in the early seventies recut some of the old tunes in Europe to surprising success. They toured well into the eighties managed by Fay Treadwell, George’s widow. Ironically, Johnny Moore was for a long time the oldest surviving member.[/li][/ol] Good post, but the name was [Clyde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_McPhatter) McPhatter. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/16 "2015-06-17T16:08:02Z")
[Morning Musume](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Musume) ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/17 "2015-06-17T17:25:50Z")
Menudo. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/18 "2015-06-17T17:28:59Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Good post, but the name was [Clyde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_McPhatter) McPhatter. Oops. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/19 "2015-06-17T18:52:34Z")
[The Coasters.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coasters) They under the management of the son of one of the original members; the current version still performs in oldies shows, but the longest tenured member joined in 2001. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404/20 "2015-06-17T20:05:25Z")
A group called the Platters is still touring and performing “The Great Pretender” and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” but nobody currently in the group was even born when Tony Williams was the lead singer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-no-original-members/722404.md?page=2)