# Bands with three or more members who let everyone sing lead on at least one song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 17, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816 "2023-04-17T20:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/41 "2023-04-19T17:29:56Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > I had no idea either. Hats off to him. I only learned this a week or two ago, when a DJ on SiriusXM mentioned it after playing “Have a Cigar.” ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/42 "2023-04-19T18:44:46Z")
Bjorn and Benny each sang solo lead on a few ABBA songs. [ABBA: Who Sings Which Song?](http://www.abbaomnibus.net/songs/whosings.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/43 "2023-04-19T20:12:39Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > > [@Pavelb1](#): > > > > Speaking of which…just now…in lookin into “Songs not sung by the lead singer”…I found out Roy Harper (!) sang ‘Have A Cigar’. I had no idea. > > I had no idea either. Hats off to him. I have a usb thumb drive with about 1500 songs on it plugged into my car audio, usually set to play randomly. One day when I was on the way home from work, it played “Have A Cigar” followed by “Hats Off To (Roy) Harper”. I got a big kick out of that. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/44 "2023-04-19T20:28:47Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I have a usb thumb drive with about 1500 songs on it plugged into my car audio, usually set to play randomly. One day when I was on the way home from work, it played “Have A Cigar” followed by “Hats Off To (Roy) Harper”. I got a big kick out of that. That’s a really cool coincidence! ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/45 "2023-04-19T20:37:25Z")
All 5 members of Take That have sung album tracks, although I can’t find a released single that Jason Orange led. Not that I’ve looked very hard. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/46 "2023-04-19T21:39:50Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > (but not all of them played cowbell 😉) No one knows who did. 🙂 From wikipedia: The cowbell on “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” may have been played by Albert Bouchard, David Lucas or Eric Bloom. > [@Railer13](#): > > Um, The Monkees, perhaps? They really shouldn’t have let Peter sing. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/47 "2023-04-19T22:26:15Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > So some of my examples don’t count, sorry. Phew! I was killin’ myself tryin’ to figure out which song Marc Perlman sings lead. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/48 "2023-04-19T22:41:45Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Phew! I was killin’ myself tryin’ to figure out which song Marc Perlman sings lead. Ah, file that under my prejudice that drummers don’t really count. They just bang on things, don’t they? 😉 ETA: another one of my former examples, the original Byrds, were another band where everyone sang but the drummer (Michael Clarke). Later drummers of the band, Kevin Kelley and Gene Parsons, did. I think Michael Clarke is the only member in the Byrds’ history who never sang lead. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/49 "2023-04-19T22:57:22Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Ah, file that under my prejudice that drummers don’t really count. Marc plays bass (Jayhawks). And the drummer does sing lead on a couple songs. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/50 "2023-04-19T22:58:43Z")
Oops, I think I confused Marc Perlman with Tim O’Regan or which instruments they play, respectively. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/51 "2023-04-20T00:49:56Z")
All the examples I can think of have already been mentioned, with the exception of a few other supergroups a la the Wilburys, which may or may not count. (In many cases, such groups have to be supplemented with other instrumentalists.) Bands like these (including many of the specific ones mentioned), where all, or at least several, of the members are capable of singing lead, tend to be my favorites. Maybe it’s because it allows for more variety and versatility in their overall catalog, and/or because such bands also tend to be capable of good harmony or backing vocals. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/52 "2023-04-20T01:10:05Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Ah, file that under my prejudice that drummers don’t really count. They just bang on things, don’t they? 😉 Phil Collins would like a word with you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/53 "2023-04-20T04:06:50Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Phil Collins would like a word with you. Is it Sussudio? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/54 "2023-04-20T15:13:08Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Phil Collins would like a word with you As would Don Henley, Levon Helm, Mickey Dolenz, Ringo Starr, Roger Taylor and that’s basically some from my generation. Plenty of older and younger singing drummers. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/55 "2023-04-20T15:19:54Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Mickey Dolenz Who didn’t really even know how to play the drums prior to the Monkees; he’d been a vocalist in one or more smaller bands prior to then, and had to take drumming lessons in order to be credible in that role with the group. The producers decided which of the four Monkees would be placed into which musical role, and in every case, it appears that they picked a guy who wasn’t as skilled in that role as another member of the group. Davy Jones was actually a good drummer, but the producers wanted the “teen idol” member of the group to be out front, and Jones (who was _maybe_ 5’ 3" tall) would have been hidden if he’d been behind the drum kit. According to Peter Tork, if the Monkees had actually been slotted in according to their musical ability, it would have been Dolenz on vocals, Jones on drums, Tork on guitar, and Mike Nesmith on bass. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/56 "2023-04-20T15:23:44Z")
Word. It’s a testament to their talent and work ethic that they became a pretty good band despite the weird constraints they worked under. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/57 "2023-04-20T15:29:37Z")
Don’t forget Barry Wom! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iZIQKn2Adfk/maxresdefault.jpg "The Rutles - Living In Hope") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZIQKn2Adfk) ---
**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:** [April 20, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/58 "2023-04-20T15:41:46Z")
En Vogue. They were all lead singers. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/59 "2023-04-20T15:43:11Z")
> [@Galactus](#): > > Did Ace Freely ever sing lead in a KISS song? All the others did in the original line-up. With the band KISS ( when he was in the band ), but NOT including his solo album from 1978, nor his solo career. Shock Me 2000 Man Hard Times Rocket Ride Dark Light Into the Void ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/60 "2023-04-20T15:52:33Z")
Would The Association count? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816.md?page=4)