# What is the oldest band that could have a full reunion of its original members? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421 "2012-03-01T03:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/41 "2012-03-02T18:52:03Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > I suppose it won’t be too long before we start seeing threads about famous rock and roll bands whose members are ALL dead. ☹ The Jimi Hendrix Experience The _Death Walks Behind You_ lineup of Atomic Rooster Both the Bolan/Took and Bolan/Finn versions of Tyrannosaurus Rex The Ramones are getting close… ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/42 "2012-03-02T18:52:49Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The Jackson 4. > Gladys Knight and her Pip. The Top. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/43 "2012-03-02T19:00:35Z")
I think the original members of The Chieftains are all still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/44 "2012-03-02T19:20:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Probably not the oldest but Kiss is from 1973 and still kickin’. > > Same year for AC/DC, also alive. Aerosmith’s “Dream On” was released in 1975. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/45 "2012-03-02T20:17:46Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The Jackson 4. > Gladys Knight and her Pip. > > (This is fun!) The Kink George Thorogood and the Destroyer The Traveling Wilbury Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airman The Allman Brothers Duo Yeah, this could go on and on… mmm ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/46 "2012-03-02T21:25:23Z")
The OP mentioned The Beatles as 2/4. It should be 2/5 and unable to have a reunion after April 10, 1962. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/47 "2012-03-02T21:28:56Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > The Allman Brothers Duo Actually, they’ve been The Allman BROTHER Band since 1971. . ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/48 "2012-03-02T21:49:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The Jackson 4. > Gladys Knight and her Pip. > > (This is fun!) Two Dog Night. 6,812 Maniacs. Talk. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/49 "2012-03-02T22:32:31Z")
The New York Doll ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/50 "2012-03-02T23:23:37Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Do vocal groups count? Because [The Fleetwoods](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4274/biography) (formed 1958) seem to all be still among us. Not meant to be a hi-jack, but Gary Troxel (lead singer) came up on stage with our band in the late 70’s and did ‘Come Softly to Me’ - our two lead singers whipped out the harmony parts like they’d been doing it forever. Life doesn’t get much cooler sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/51 "2012-03-03T17:27:55Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > The New York Doll Original bassist Arthur Kane is deceased, 2004. Very good and sad documentary on him (and his death) called _[New York Doll](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Doll)_, 2005. Tragic yet somehow uplifting life and story. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/52 "2012-03-03T18:21:54Z")
Black Sabbath? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/53 "2012-03-04T11:00:34Z")
So I think at the moment The Four Lovers (1956) is the lead contender although I haven’t been able to find anything saying specifically that all members are still alive. And the Fleetwoods are in second place at 1958 and they are all confirmed alive. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/54 "2012-03-04T12:25:23Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The Jackson 4. > Gladys Knight and her Pip. > > (This is fun!) Him. (Depending on how we decide to apply the Pete Best rule to Van Morrison’s old band). ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/55 "2012-03-04T14:39:58Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Black Sabbath? 1. All four originals still alive. And there’s a maybe/maybe not reunion in the works right now. I don’t know if Rush would count. The drummer on their first album died a few years ago, but you might be able to call the Pete Best rule on him. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/56 "2012-03-04T18:53:50Z")
ABBA got together in the 1960’s. They are all still alive, though Agnetha has stated she no longer even listens to music and will not perform ever again, Anni-Frid inherieted his third husband’s multi-million dollar estate, and Bjorn is suffering from extreme dementia. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/57 "2012-03-04T19:44:08Z")
I heard a thing on satellite radio just before they played a song by **Golden Earring**. They said they’re still all together and playing with their original line-up. That’s about 51 years, give or take a few months, if the info was accurate. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/58 "2012-03-04T23:50:14Z")
As far as I know the entire Brady Six are still with us. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/59 "2012-03-05T11:43:07Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I heard a thing on satellite radio just before they played a song by **Golden Earring**. They said they’re still all together and playing with their original line-up. That’s about 51 years, give or take a few months, if the info was accurate. Wikipedia lists a lot of former members, so it’s not the original lineup that’s still playing. There’s not enough info there to check easily whether the original members are all still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421/60 "2012-03-05T19:36:49Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > George Thorogood and the Destroyer “World’s Greatest 1-man Quartet!” Trivia: Since The Fleetwoods have been mentioned - my late uncle could sort of qualify as their “Pete Best”. In high school he dated one of the girls in that band, sat in on drums with them numerous times (he sat in with The Ventures, who were from the same area, a handful of times, too), and was offered the chance to join The Fleetwoods as their regular drummer when they got their record deal, but turned the offer down in favor of continuing with his own band, The Andantes, an instrumental rock group similar to The Ventures. Alas, his band didn’t go anywhere (according to my dad, they were “turned off” by a record company rep who offered them little pills to “help them play longer”) and he made a career of the Air Force instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-band-that-could-have-a-full-reunion-of-its-original-members/614421.md?page=4)