Second this one. Freddie was more than a singer, he was a presence. You can’t duplicate that.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I’d go see the Doobie Brothers, but NEVER if Michael McDonald were there!
This is what I came to say. The Long Beach Dub All-Stars weren’t bad but they aren’t Sublime.
And Izzy!!!
I recently discovered that Boston is still a going thing; I thought they were done after Brad Delp died. I’ll pass, thanks.
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.
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.
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 ;).
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!
AAAAAARGH, 1970s arena bands! (runs fast :D)
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 ,
Grateful Dead - Jerry
Wouldn’t want to see them without sufficient cowbell
agreed!!