# Longest lasting rock band? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661 "2010-08-09T02:11:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/21 "2010-08-09T16:36:48Z")
> [@Cinebar](#): > > How about the Who? Are they still actively doing anything together? Roger was touring with his own band earlier this year. Pete is working on something, but it isn’t necessarily a Who project. Pete would be content to never get up on stage again, but there are persistent rumours of a tour next year. If you’re going to count The Stones, The Who are right there with them in terms of the inital meeting of the founding members. John joined Roger’s band in '61 and Pete signed up in '62 (Keith didn’t have his “audition” until 1964). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/22 "2010-08-09T16:41:12Z")
Pete and Roger don’t count. Even Roger describes them as “the world’s most expensive Who cover band.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/23 "2010-08-09T16:49:46Z")
The Who hasn’t had its original lineup since Keith Moon died in 1978. John Entwhistle has passed now too, so it’s really only Townshend and Daltrey. The band has also had numerous breakups, “farewell tours” and reunions, so they haven’t really been a continuous act, even with changing lineups. Pete and Roger performed at the Superbowl this year, and they were terrible. They just can’t sing anymore. It was sad. It was like when Ali got pounded by Larry Holmes. They should stop before they hurt their legacy. Maybe they can still do studio work. I’m sure Pete can still write and produce. They don’t have the chops to play live anymore, though. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/24 "2010-08-09T17:06:47Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The 4 Tops and the Ink Spots aren’t really “bands,” are they? They’re singing groups. Bands play instruments. > > I doubt that either of those groups have actually retained the exact same backing bands for their entire existence, so I would dispute their eligibility. No, but the point was they were still in existence if you didn’t count changes in personnel. If you mean instruments only, then there is the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, which still performs (and makes records) after being founded in 1842. No doubt there are some European orchestras that are much older. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/25 "2010-08-09T17:12:18Z")
Part of the criteria was to have no changes in personnel. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/26 "2010-08-09T18:23:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Part of the criteria was to have no changes in personnel. Yes, while I wasn’t looking at a strict interpretation, to me, continuity in membership does define it as a group. Otherwise, we’d be adding Chicage to the mix. While I liked the original group, by the 80’s it was run as a corporate owned name. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/27 "2010-08-09T20:49:58Z")
There are some interestingly broad definitions of ‘rock’ in this thread. 😃 Golden Earring are the longest I can think of (just to confirm what others have said). The Stones have lasted almost as long but have had a fair few changes in line-up. What was the radio show’s answer? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/28 "2010-08-09T20:54:41Z")
The Bee Gees were an act from 1960 to 2001. Their first minor hit was in 1965. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/29 "2010-08-09T21:16:21Z")
> [@Any\_Other\_Name](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Part of the criteria was to have no changes in personnel. > > Yes, while I wasn’t looking at a strict interpretation, to me, continuity in membership does define it as a group. Otherwise, we’d be adding Chicage to the mix. While I liked the original group, by the 80’s it was run as a corporate owned name. Pink Floyd was getting up there too. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/30 "2010-08-09T21:20:44Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Pete and Roger don’t count. Even Roger describes them as “the world’s most expensive Who cover band.” Great quote. Any idea where he said it? > [@scifisam2009](#): > > There are some interestingly broad definitions of ‘rock’ in this thread. 😃 > > What was the radio show’s answer? Broadness makes for an interesting discussion. I mentioned this discussion to my daughter, she said Dio nailed it - U2 was the answer. K-Rock doesn’t exist anymore so I can’t check her memory. And I have to say that from what I’ve read, Golden Earring would seem to have them beat. Interesting note (to me), I didn’t know that Golden Earring was playing at Six Flags amusement Park in NJ the night the Haunted Mansion caught fire and eight kids died. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/31 "2010-08-09T21:26:50Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > > [@Any\_Other\_Name](#): > > > > Yes, while I wasn’t looking at a strict interpretation, to me, continuity in membership does define it as a group. Otherwise, we’d be adding Chicage to the mix. While I liked the original group, by the 80’s it was run as a corporate owned name. > > Pink Floyd was getting up there too. True. I might have been a little unfair to Chicago though. They do still have Lamm and Pankow and others. It just seemed for a while like the record labels ran the band, deciding on personnel and direction. I might be wrong though. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/32 "2010-08-09T21:32:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The Who hasn’t had its original lineup since Keith Moon died in 1978. John Entwhistle has passed now too, so it’s really only Townshend and Daltrey. The band has also had numerous breakups, “farewell tours” and reunions, so they haven’t really been a continuous act, even with changing lineups. > > Pete and Roger performed at the Superbowl this year, and they were terrible. They just can’t sing anymore. It was sad. It was like when Ali got pounded by Larry Holmes. They should stop before they hurt their legacy. Maybe they can still do studio work. I’m sure Pete can still write and produce. They don’t have the chops to play live anymore, though. I thought they were awesome at the SB. I was in vegas, and did drink a lot of shots, but awesome nonetheless. I saw them live at msg about 6 years earlier–Totally Awesome even at their advanced age. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/33 "2010-08-10T01:55:21Z")
test one > [@Any\_Other\_Name](#): > > > [@silenus](#): > > > > Pete and Roger don’t count. Even Roger describes them as “the world’s most expensive Who cover band.” > > Great quote. Any idea where he said it? That sounds more like Pete to me. He’s referred to the The Who as being a “brand name” for years. He’d be happy to be left alone to work on his new project. Still, he has a reverence for what he, Roger, and the audience share when they play: [QUOTE=PT] …when we stand side by side the force I spoke of comes into play, and the music rolls, and we become like concert professionals playing Beethoven over and over again. This isn’t merely pop music any more. It’s gone too far now for me to pretend otherwise in some futile hope to appear humble - the Who’s music, some of it, a good bit of it, has taken on a power that we in the band never imagined could be possible. We are in awe if it… [/QUOTE] ---
**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:** [August 10, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/34 "2010-08-10T02:51:26Z")
The Kinks have to be up there. Founded in (I think) 1964 (maybe earlier, albeit with a different name), with Ray and Dave performing togegther until at least the late nineties, and Mick Avory sticking with them into the mid-eighties. Ray Davies is still performing, and including many Kinks songs in his act, although not under the Kinks name. Still, even though Ray wrote just about all of the Kinks’ songs, it’s not the Kinks without Dave Davies. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/35 "2010-08-10T06:24:38Z")
I decided to go and look through old Japanese bands to see if any of them have survived, figuring that no one here would know about any of them. I’m still looking for anyone who fits the OP’s requirements, but here’s a link to a song by the earliest super-group (started as a Beatles cover band) before I lose it: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqU7oIg1I8c) ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/36 "2010-08-10T06:57:39Z")
Sadly, I can’t find this on its website, but an excellent UK magazine called ‘The Word’ did this only a few months ago. To make this post even more pointless, I can’t remember their conclusions, but I’m sure the same names mentioned here cropped up in their list. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/37 "2010-08-10T07:06:47Z")
Didn’t find anything. Maybe someone can try China. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/38 "2010-08-10T17:42:17Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > Sadly, I can’t find this on its website, but an excellent UK magazine called ‘The Word’ did this only a few months ago. To make this post even more pointless, I can’t remember their conclusions, but I’m sure the same names mentioned here cropped up in their list. [Here’s a thread on their website.](http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/which-british-band-has-been-together-longest-with-same-personnel) First limited to British bands, much of the same answers as we came up with here. U2 mentioned but then eliminated as being Irish not British. Pet Shop boys were mentioned. Once the discussion broadened to bands throughout the world ZZTop got mentioned, as did Four Tops and the Beverley Sisters. The OP came back to say the answer was Golden Earring. The Beverley Sisters, according to Wiki, are recognized by Guinness as the longest surviving vocal group without a change in their lineup. They started during WWII and seem to still be performing. Sixty five years? Wonder what Guinness has to say about longest surviving rock group without a change in lineup? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/39 "2010-08-11T02:17:57Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] If you disregard changes in personnel, the original Ink Spots were founded in the early 1930s and are still touring. The Mills Brothers were first performing in 1928; they are still around. Obviously neither group has any of the original members. [/QUOTE] Who’s the opening act? Theseus? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661/40 "2010-08-11T03:46:36Z")
What about Chuck Berry? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-rock-band/549661.md?page=3)