# 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:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**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, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/61 "2023-04-20T17:08:06Z")
They might fit into a category of bands where all members sing lead on the _same_ song. 🙂 ---
**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 20, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/62 "2023-04-20T17:10:25Z")
So Solid Crew’s “21 Seconds” gave each member 21 seconds to rap in the song between choruses ---
**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 20, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/63 "2023-04-20T18:14:39Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > 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. Did they stick to their assigned instruments in the recording studio? Or did they mix it up a little? ---
**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 20, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/64 "2023-04-20T18:17:33Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > Did they stick to their assigned instruments in the recording studio? Or did they mix it up a little? Most instrumental parts for Monkees songs weren’t played by them, but by session musicians (GOOD session musicians, to be fair). That was part of their hang-ups with their professional and artistic situation. ---
**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, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/65 "2023-04-20T18:25:38Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Most instrumental parts for Monkees songs weren’t played by them, but by session musicians (GOOD session musicians, to be fair). This was definitely the case on the early albums, but as things went along, the four of them were increasingly contributing on instruments in the studio. > [@CaveMike](#): > > Did they stick to their assigned instruments in the recording studio? Or did they mix it up a little? [Wikipedia indicates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkees#Lineup_configuration) that they did mix it up from time to time on stage, and in at least one film/video. > [@](#): > > Tork was a more experienced guitar player than Nesmith, while Nesmith had trained on the bass. While Jones had a strong lead voice and did sing lead on several Monkees recordings, Dolenz’s voice is regarded, particularly by Nesmith, as distinctive and a hallmark of the Monkees’ sound.[[28]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkees#cite_note-28) This theoretical lineup was actually depicted once, in the music video for the band’s song “[Words](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Words_(Monkees_song))”, which shows Jones on drums, Tork playing lead guitar, Nesmith on bass and Dolenz fronting the group. In concert appearances Tork also took much of the guitar duties, even in appearances with Nesmith, and Dolenz often plays [rhythm guitar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_guitar) 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:** [April 20, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-three-or-more-members-who-let-everyone-sing-lead-on-at-least-one-song/982816/66 "2023-04-20T18:32:05Z")
Their third album, _Headquarters_, was the one where they really tried to play most of the instruments themselves. Looking at the credits for [that album on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headquarters_(The_Monkees_album)), I see that Micky played all the drums, Davy played “percussion” (things like tambourine and maracas), and the instrument that they relied on a lot of outside help on was the bass. [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=3)