# What is the biggest rock band with no living, original members? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744 "2026-02-17T14:24:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [February 18, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/61 "2026-02-18T23:49:03Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > It’s now called “The Tabernacle Choir At Temple Square.” Hadn’t known they had changed their name. It wouldn’t surprise me if that change was related to a 2018 decision by the church president, that the church and its members should no longer officially refer to themselves using the word “Mormon” (or the acronym LDS). > [@](#): > > An updated style guide posted by the faith suggests using “the Church,” “Church of Jesus Christ” or “restored Church of Jesus Christ” when a shortened reference is needed. For church members, it requests using “Latter-day Saints” or “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” > > The term “Mormonism” should no longer be used either to refer to the faith’s doctrine, culture and lifestyle, the styled guide said. > **[Don't use 'Mormon' or 'LDS' as church name, president says](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-t-use-mormon-or-lds-church-name-president-says-n901491)** > > Both terms have been used for decades to refer to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/62 "2026-02-18T23:50:24Z")
I had wondered if the name change was due to them allowing non-LDS people to participate. It wasn’t. As for Foreigner’s Mick Jones, I had the biggest crush on him as a tween. I had no idea he was old enough to be my father. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/63 "2026-02-19T15:20:33Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > There are lots of bands with only one surviving original member, the Grateful Dead most recently earning that distinction, but finding a band that actually meets the OPs criteria is more difficult. After an hour of googling, I give up. The Grateful Dead haven’t performed under that name since Jerry Garcia died in 1995. Since then the surviving members have only all performed together a handful of times, though various permutations of ex-members have frequently toured together doing Dead material under various names. Also, both drummers, Bill Kreutzman and Mickey Hart, are still alive, though admittedly Mickey wouldn’t count under a hyper-strict definition of “original”, as he was only in the band for 23 years. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/64 "2026-02-19T23:04:17Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Also, both drummers, Bill Kreutzman and Mickey Hart, are still alive, though admittedly Mickey wouldn’t count under a hyper-strict definition of “original”, as he was only in the band for 23 years. At the time of his death the other two members of Rush referred to Neal Peart as “The New Guy.” ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/65 "2026-02-19T23:22:47Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Also, both drummers, Bill Kreutzman and Mickey Hart, are still alive, though admittedly Mickey wouldn’t count under a hyper-strict definition of “original”, as he was only in the band for 23 years. Well, Hart wasn’t there at the band’s inception. They had been going for a couple of years and already had the first album out by the time he connected up with them. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/66 "2026-02-20T06:57:18Z")
LOL that is true! A lot of Rush fans have, over the years, wondered if Neil and John Rutsey ever met. Multiple accounts have said that they did, although they never performed together. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/67 "2026-02-20T07:31:44Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > The Grateful Dead haven’t performed under that name since Jerry Garcia died in 1995. Since then the surviving members have only all performed together a handful of times, though various permutations of ex-members have frequently toured together doing Dead material under various names. The most recent, and probably final, incarnation was “Dead & Company”, which was Kreutzman, Hart, and Bob Weir, along with Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge, and John Mayer. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/68 "2026-02-20T13:23:01Z")
Someday they’ll all be dead. But will anyone be grateful? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/69 "2026-02-20T14:44:34Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The most recent, and probably final, incarnation was “Dead & Company”, which was Kreutzman, Hart, and Bob Weir, along with Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge, and John Mayer. Kreutzman left DeadCo with a couple of years to go and Jay Lane joined the band. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/70 "2026-02-20T15:03:11Z")
A couple points of reference from a Garage Rock cruise I’m going on in April. The proto-punk 60s band The Sonics will be performing with only one original member (the sax player) and musicians a generation younger. Marky Ramone (not the original drummer) will be performing with three other musicians as “Marky Ramone Plays The Ramones” ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/71 "2026-02-20T17:49:00Z")
I’m not sure if they count as “big” - maybe more influential than popular - but it looks like all of the original members of the MC5 are dead. Rob Tyner - 1991 Wayne Kramer - 2024 Fred Smith - 1994 Michael Davis - 2012 Dennis Thompson - 2024 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/72 "2026-02-20T17:50:17Z")
You’re supposed to kick out the jams not the bucket. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/73 "2026-02-20T18:13:02Z")
Three of the four members of the Stooges are dead; Dave Alexander (died 1975), Ron Asheton (2009), and Scott Asheton (2014). But lead singer James Osterberg aka Iggy Pop is still around at 78, despite a lifestyle that has Keith Richards saying “Damn, that guy is still alive?” ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/74 "2026-02-20T19:55:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Iggy Pop is still around at 78, despite a lifestyle that has Keith Richards saying “Damn, that guy is still alive?” Maybe he didn’t always, but I believe Iggy actually leads a very healthy lifestyle. Isn’t he a body builder? ---
**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:** [February 20, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/75 "2026-02-20T21:08:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But lead singer James Osterberg aka Iggy Pop is still around at 78, despite a lifestyle that has Keith Richards saying “Damn, that guy is still alive?” I saw him last June in Halle a. d. Saale, Germany, and of course he wore no shirt, moved the stage left and right all the time and took a stage dive at one time. I wanna have what he had! (or, better not) And half of the gig were Stooges songs. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/76 "2026-02-20T21:32:55Z")
> [@](#): > > [What is the biggest rock band with no living, original members?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744) I have been patiently waiting here for **some** Doper to crack a joke about [the Burgess Shale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagerst%C3%A4tte), but I guess it’s not gonna happen. Carry on with your discussion of the other kind of rock fossils. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/77 "2026-02-20T22:19:16Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Maybe he didn’t always, but I believe Iggy actually leads a very healthy lifestyle. Isn’t he a body builder? Yes, he’s reportedly given up his once extensive drug use. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2026, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/78 "2026-02-21T07:46:16Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Kreutzman left DeadCo with a couple of years to go and Jay Lane joined the band. I was not aware of that. I’m barely a casual Dead fan at best, but I saw the Weir/Kreutzman/Hart/Mayer/Chimenti/Burbridge lineup in 2016 and thought it was an amazing show. I had previously seen them in 2004 as “the Dead” when they still had Phil Lesh and when Warren Haynes was singing, and I found the later incarnation to be a much better show. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/79 "2026-02-23T00:32:48Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Similarly the Glenn Miller Orchestra still performs, playing exactly the same arrangements that Miller originally scored. As it turns out, there is still one living member of the original orchestra. > **[Ray Anthony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Anthony)** > > Ray Anthony (born Raymond Antonini; January 20, 1922) is an American retired bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his tenure as a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, from 1940 to 1941 and appearing in the film Sun Valley Serenade. > After returning to professional music in 1945 following a stint in the United States Navy, he became a bandleader in his own Orchestra and had a wrote solo compositions, some of which became chart successes, including "The Bunny Hop",... ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744/80 "2026-02-23T00:42:27Z")
And there’s this from that wiki: “He is listed as the oldest living recorded musician.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-biggest-rock-band-with-no-living-original-members/1027744.md?page=5)