# Best "Spin Off" Band **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321 "2010-05-04T19:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/21 "2010-05-04T21:22:48Z")
I’ll just list some of the spinoff bands I can think of, whether I like them or not. I will limit myself to actual bands (no solo artists) that contain at least two former members of the parent band. 1. McDonald and Giles (a short-lived spinoff of the original King Crimson) 2. Power Station (spinoff of Duran Durn) 3. Arcadia (also a spinoff from Duran Duran) 4. New Order (spinoff of Joy Division) 5. Big Audio Dynamite (spinoff of the Clash) 6. SPYS (short-lived spinoff from Foreigner) 7. Poco (spinoff of Buffalo Springfield) 8. Flying Burrito Brothers (spinoff of the Byrds) 9. Blind Faith (a spinoff of Cream) 10. Bell Biv Devoe (a spinoff of New Edition) 11. Lovemongers (spinoff of Heart) 12. Bad Compnay (spinoff of Free) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/22 "2010-05-04T21:28:04Z")
The Style Council from The Jam (not that they’re the best, just worthy of mention). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/23 "2010-05-04T21:29:37Z")
A few more: UK (a spinoff of the King Crimson lineup that dissolved in 1974) Tom Tom Club (a spinoff of Talking Heads) Whitesnake was a very successful spinoff of Deep Purple (founded by David Coverdale, Ian Paice and Jon Lord) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/24 "2010-05-04T21:32:28Z")
Oh…how about: **Public Image Ltd.** w/ John Lydon aka “Johnny Rotton” - spinoff of **The Sex Pistols.** They’re touring together again for the first time in ten years or so. Had tickets to see them this past Sunday night at the House of Blues in Chicago but ended up selling our tickets as we couldn’t get a sitter lined up. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/25 "2010-05-04T21:35:12Z")
Duran Duran would be one of my favorite bands if all of their albums sounded like Arcadia. Unfortunately it was only a one-album project. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/26 "2010-05-04T21:40:50Z")
**Joan Jett and the Blackhearts** AND **The Bangles** , spun off from **The Runaways**. **Mike and the Mechanics** spun off from **Genesis** (though it’s probably considered a side project). Edit to add, not saying these are the best, just adding them to the pool of possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/27 "2010-05-04T21:43:57Z")
Bachman-Turner Overdrive, which came about after Randy Bachman left The Guess Who to form Brave Belt with former Guess Who lead singer Chad Allan, his brother Robbie Bachman as drummer, Fred Turner on bass and vocals, after which Allan left. Another Bachman, Tim was added for a third guitarist, and BTO was born. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/28 "2010-05-04T21:45:06Z")
Foghat was a spinoff of Savoy Brown ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/29 "2010-05-04T21:46:31Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > Oh…how about: > > **Public Image Ltd.** w/ John Lydon aka “Johnny Rotton” - spinoff of **The Sex Pistols.** > > They’re touring together again for the first time in ten years or so. Had tickets to see them this past Sunday night at the House of Blues in Chicago but ended up selling our tickets as we couldn’t get a sitter lined up. Are you serious? John Lydon was in Chicago 2 days ago and I missed it? DAAAAAAMN! I wouldn’t have gone to the House of Blues for the show because although I like PIL, it was probably too expensive, probably sold out anyway, and I hate the House of Blues no matter what, BUT, I’ve always wanted to meet him and would have hung around outside in hopes. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/30 "2010-05-04T21:47:32Z")
This probably doesn’t qualify under the “well known” part, but as both bands are well known in the metal scene, so I think it should count. Anyway, I’d say **Nevermore** as a spin-off of **Sanctuary** that carried 2 members (3 if you count Jeff Loomis who only joined Sanctuary 4 months before they broke up). In fact, the spin-off is superior to the original band. Then again, if you’re only counting a single member, the best metal example would probably be **Megadeth** from **Metallica** (via Dave Mustaine), though I never was much of a **Megadeth** fan. Most of the rest of the examples I can think of would either qualify more as solo-projects or side-projects. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/31 "2010-05-04T21:55:25Z")
**Coil** and **Psychic TV** both spun off from **Throbbing Gristle**. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/32 "2010-05-04T21:59:30Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Are you serious? John Lydon was in Chicago 2 days ago and I missed it? DAAAAAAMN! I wouldn’t have gone to the House of Blues for the show because although I like PIL, it was probably too expensive, probably sold out anyway, and I hate the House of Blues no matter what, BUT, I’ve always wanted to meet him and would have hung around outside in hopes. Don’t mean to make you feel worse - but they had two shows, Sat and Sun, and they were having trouble selling tickets. Ending up selling them 2-for-1…So like $50 a pair AFTER fees. I know this because it made it really hard for me to sell my tickets that I paid full price for. I ended up taking a big loss on them. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/33 "2010-05-04T22:03:01Z")
Heaven 17 from members of the Human League. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/34 "2010-05-04T22:15:54Z")
The **Long Beach Dub All-Stars** are **Sublime** with a different lead singer. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/35 "2010-05-04T22:22:34Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > Don’t mean to make you feel worse - but they had two shows, Sat and Sun, and they were having trouble selling tickets. Ending up selling them 2-for-1…So like $50 a pair AFTER fees. ☹ Sigh. I never pay attention to the listings of who’s playing at the HoB. None of my favorites would play there, and people I like who might be there would (well, usually) sell out quickly. I’ve only ever been there once, to see Musical Box, and I swore I’d never go back. Crowded, filthy, full of idiots, no place to sit down unless you pay extra over and above the high cost of tickets, the list goes on. Ugh. If it hadn’t been Musical Box re-creating the Genesis tour of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, I wouldn’t have gone even then. I’m talking about the Main stage. The Back Porch stage is a totally different story. Reverend Peyton and the Big Damn Band have played the Backstage several times and I’ve only missed one due to working that night. I like seeing them there because the audience is [fun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt1s5Tp3gIo) and [bouncy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqPr_hPO2EQ). I’m on their mailing list though, so I know if they’re playing. So, I never look at the listings for the Main stage in the Reader. If I had, and I’d seen PIL’s listing, I would have been there. Outside. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/36 "2010-05-04T22:34:53Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > The **Long Beach Dub All-Stars** are **Sublime** with a different lead singer. And Sublime with yet another lead singer are known as **Sublime with Rome**. Also… **Zwan** was a spinoff of **The Smashing Pumpkins** ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/37 "2010-05-04T22:35:20Z")
The Breeders via The Pixies (Kim Deal) and Throwing Muses (Tanya Donelly), although this might better fit the category of “side project” than a direct spinoff. I’m not quite sure what the rules of the OP are. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/38 "2010-05-04T22:40:43Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > Thought of another one: > > \*\*Soundgarden \*\*and \*\*Pearl Jam \*\* were both formed by ex-members of seminal Seattle band **Mother Love Bone**. **Temple of the Dog** also fits in there somewhere, as sort of a missing link between the three bands. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/39 "2010-05-04T22:47:39Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The Breeders via The Pixies (Kim Deal) and Throwing Muses (Tanya Donelly), although this might better fit the category of “side project” than a direct spinoff. I’m not quite sure what the rules of the OP are. I think The Breeders count as they’re a pretty permanent entity. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321/40 "2010-05-04T22:51:49Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > Thought of another one: > > \*\*Soundgarden \*\*and \*\*Pearl Jam \*\* were both formed by ex-members of seminal Seattle band **Mother Love Bone**. Curses, foiled again! How about **Velvet Revolver**? They were pretty badass for a minute there… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-spin-off-band/538321.md?page=3)