# I want to go to the \[band name\] concert, but not if \[band member\] is not there! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276 "2019-04-09T13:30:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/21 "2019-04-09T22:14:19Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Queen without Freddie. I remember when Adam Lambert started getting really popular due to American Idol. I can’t recall if he sang a Queen song or if it was just speculated that he would do well singing with them. The Academy Awards show proved that’s not the case. Second this one. Freddie was more than a singer, he was a presence. You can’t duplicate that. ---
**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 10, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/22 "2019-04-10T00:45:57Z")
I state the obvious: if either Mick or Keith kicks the bucket, the Stones are definitely done. ETA: and in my world, also without Charlie. ---
**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 10, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/23 "2019-04-10T00:55:02Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > The Rolling Stones without Bill Wyman. > > Yeah, I know, Daryl is better, and maybe it’s just me, but it ain’t the Stones without Bill. I dunno. I was shocked when he left, but later I’ve learned that on almost every damn Stones recording with great bass playing, some other guy was playing bass, mostly Keith. He was definitely not approximately as important to the sound of the band as another “not so big” member, Charlie Watts. The Stones without Charlie I can’t imagine, or else they have to hire a clone. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/24 "2019-04-10T01:00:11Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The question at the core of this thread is at the heart of 90% of all disagreements between Yes fans. 😃 Heh, I got an email a week or so ago letting me know that Yes tickets were about to go on sale. Had to check and see which Yes it was. Turns out it was a joint concert with Asia, so the Howe version. Pass, I’ve seen that version a couple times before Squire died, and even then it was close to the edge of not being worth it. Also heard that Blue Oyster Cult is playing a festival in my area next month. Never saw them in the glory days with the Boushards, but now even Alan Lanier is gone, plus it looks like they only have an hour, so I’m not sure if I’m going to bother. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/25 "2019-04-10T01:07:06Z")
In most cases it’s going to be the singer, isn’t it? It’s the exceptions that are rare. I could enjoy U2 without Bono because I’d be mostly in for The Edge’s epic guitar. Can’t think of many more. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/26 "2019-04-10T01:30:32Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I dunno. I was shocked when he left, but later I’ve learned that on almost every damn Stones recording with great bass playing, some other guy was playing bass, mostly Keith. He was definitely not approximately as important to the sound of the band as another “not so big” member, Charlie Watts. The Stones without Charlie I can’t imagine, or else they have to hire a clone. Disagree, respectfully. Yes, Keith played bass on a number of songs. I can pick those songs out in the first four bars. Keith played bass like a guitar player. Watts is of course, Watts. There are no Rolling Stones without Charlie. But Bill had a sound too. I miss it. ---
**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:** [April 10, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/27 "2019-04-10T01:39:26Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > In most cases it’s going to be the singer, isn’t it? It’s the exceptions that are rare. > > I could enjoy U2 without Bono because I’d be mostly in for The Edge’s epic guitar. Can’t think of many more. I have a really odd one, The New Pornographers. I think most people would guess that it’s Neko Case. She’s there at about half their shows, so it’s common she’s not on a tour. Certainly, it’s more fun to see them when she’s around. But you know what broke my heart? When Kurt Dahle the drummer left a few years ago. He was my favorite part of a great band. I’ve seen maybe four of their shows, but the last one I had bought tickets before Kurt left, and he quit the band in the interim. The show was fine, but it just didn’t feel right to me without Kurt, and I haven’t been interested in seeing them live since. I didn’t mind seeing them without Neko, but without Kurt, the songs just didn’t have the same swing. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/28 "2019-04-10T01:42:03Z")
I’d go see the Doobie Brothers, but NEVER if Michael McDonald were there! ---
**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:** [April 10, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/29 "2019-04-10T01:44:26Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I want to go to the Sublime concert, but not if Bradley Nowell is not there! > > Sublime is touring. Without Nowell, what is the point?? This is what I came to say. The Long Beach Dub All-Stars weren’t bad but they aren’t Sublime. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/30 "2019-04-10T01:47:14Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > You can’t be serious. GNR is not GNR without both of them AND Duff. And Izzy!!! ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/31 "2019-04-10T01:52:37Z")
I recently discovered that Boston is still a going thing; I thought they were done after Brad Delp died. I’ll pass, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/32 "2019-04-10T02:03:17Z")
Pink Floyd, David Gilmour. I could pretty much go to a DG solo concert and feel like I’ve seen Pink Floyd, but if I went to see Waters, Mason, and Wright (if he was still alive) I don’t think I’d feel like I’d seen Pink Floyd. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/33 "2019-04-10T02:28:52Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > In most cases it’s going to be the singer, isn’t it? It’s the exceptions that are rare. > > I could enjoy U2 without Bono because I’d be mostly in for The Edge’s epic guitar. Can’t think of many more. I’ll give you one. Many Van Halen fans won’t go if Michael Anthony isn’t there, and many of that set don’t care whether it’s Dave or Sam up front. ---
**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 10, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/34 "2019-04-10T02:36:44Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Disagree, respectfully. > > Yes, Keith played bass on a number of songs. I can pick those songs out in the first four bars. Keith played bass like a guitar player. > > Watts is of course, Watts. There are no Rolling Stones without Charlie. But Bill had a sound too. I miss it. Could be. I’m not a musician myself, and I was probably talking from a false impression and/or memory who played bass on which song. But I remember a correlation between tracks that Keith played bass on with Stones songs that caught my ear for the bass. Maybe I like bass players who are actually guitarists. I also like Noel Redding. As long as we all agree that the definite Stones line-up was Jagger, Richards, Wyman, Watts and Taylor, all is good ;). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/35 "2019-04-10T02:44:24Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I recently discovered that Boston is still a going thing; I thought they were done after Brad Delp died. I’ll pass, thanks. Delp already had an understudy for the extreme high notes when I saw them in 1995. It wasn’t a very good show, which is about all I remember about it. They had the singer from Stryper for a while (and we can assume he probably wouldn’t sing “Party” or “Smokin’”) and whatever you may think of Stryper, he definitely does have some pipes. Dennis DeYoung left Styx many years ago. It’s also not the same band without him, nor is Foreigner without Lou Gramm. Aaaahhh, 1970s arena bands! ---
**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 10, 2019, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/36 "2019-04-10T02:49:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Aaaahhh, 1970s arena bands! AAAAAARGH, 1970s arena bands! (runs fast :D) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/37 "2019-04-10T03:02:48Z")
there’s been a decade or so long debate about if new order is the same without peter hook ……and sits a yes or no thing ……. although the keyboardist whos married with a few kids to another member of the group has come and went when ever she felt like it for years , ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/38 "2019-04-10T03:10:56Z")
Grateful Dead - Jerry ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/39 "2019-04-10T03:50:55Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Also heard that Blue Oyster Cult is playing a festival in my area next month… Wouldn’t want to see them without sufficient cowbell ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276/40 "2019-04-10T13:57:40Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > i’d go see the doobie brothers, but never if michael mcdonald were there! agreed!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-go-to-the-band-name-concert-but-not-if-band-member-is-not-there/832276.md?page=3)