# Which Band Has Had The Most Line-Up Changes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 30, 2005, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581 "2005-10-30T08:59:01Z")\ **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:** [October 31, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/21 "2005-10-31T02:44:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Then a couple from Southern California joined: Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks Actually, they came from the Bay Area: they met at Menlo-Atherton High School. BTW, their pre-Mac LP was pretty good! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/22 "2005-10-31T03:10:52Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Actually, they came from the Bay Area: they met at Menlo-Atherton High School. BTW, their pre-Mac LP was pretty good! :smack: Anyway, that album is one the “will-likely-never-make-it-to-CD” releases. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/23 "2005-10-31T03:15:56Z")
Chuck Berry’s band probably is the champ, mostly because Berry used to tour by himself and hire different musicians in each city (at bargain basement rates – they were happy to play with him). ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/24 "2005-10-31T03:53:32Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Well, hell. > > The complete line-up of Cream from 1966 to 2005 > > Ginger Baker > > Eric Clapton > > Jack Bruce Want nitpicks? We got nitpicks! That’s only if you overlook the mid 90’s “Cream Lite” of the imaginatively named Bruce Baker Moore, or BBM, in which poor hapless Gary Moore was drafted in to fill Clapton’s shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Othersider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@Othersider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othersider)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/25 "2005-10-31T04:06:50Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Well, hell. > > The complete line-up of Cream from 1966 to 2005 > > Ginger Baker > > Eric Clapton > > Jack Bruce > > 😃 Cream broke up 35 years ago. ZZ Top, as far as I know, never has. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/26 "2005-10-31T04:57:53Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Want nitpicks? We got nitpicks! That’s only if you overlook the mid 90’s “Cream Lite” of the imaginatively named Bruce Baker Moore, or BBM, in which poor hapless Gary Moore was drafted in to fill Clapton’s shoes. I feel pretty sure that that shouldn’t count. I’ve got the Allman Brothers at about 16 lineup changes, which puts them further out of the running than I would have expected. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/27 "2005-10-31T05:03:47Z")
Genesis doesn’t lead in lineup changes, but they have had three lead vocalists. Peter Gabriel Phil Collins Ray Wilson It is rare for a band to change lead singers and still remain popular. Ray Wilson was only on for the last album, however. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/28 "2005-10-31T06:24:20Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > It is rare for a band to change lead singers and still remain popular. Ray Wilson was only on for the last album, however. I refer you to the OP: the Purps had four - or six if you count Ian Gillan {who left twice} three times. Mind you, apart from “Hush” they were never really successful with Rod Evans, and only took off after Gillan came on board. They managed the transition to David Coverdale fairly well, until Tommy Bolin scuppered Mark IV by OD’ing. Gillan was back for the reformation of the classic Mark II line-up in '85, Joe Lynn Turner took the reins briefly when Gillan packed a sad over Blackmore - everyone Blackmore’s ever worked with seems to have packed a sad over him at one point or another - but returned to the fold when Blackmore finally jumped/was pushed. And there he stays, at least until the next squabble on the tour-bus. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/29 "2005-10-31T06:33:20Z")
And then, of course, there’s Hawkwind. [Link to PDF list of members and guests](http://www.starfarer.net/hw_guests_members.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/30 "2005-10-31T06:44:14Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > And then, of course, there’s Hawkwind. > > [Link to PDF list of members and guests](http://www.starfarer.net/hw_guests_members.pdf) Jesus wept. I think we have a winner. Didn’t know Ginger Baker played for Hawkwind, Michael Moorcock I _did_ know about, but _Samantha Fox_? WTF was she doing in there? ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/31 "2005-10-31T06:49:46Z")
And that’s only the _official_ Hawkwind lineups. If you add in Nik Turner’s side projects (where he was playing Hawkwind music but Dave Brock prevented him from using the name “Hawkwind”), you could probably add on another, oh, dozen or two names. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/32 "2005-10-31T07:20:00Z")
Not going to even try with the names, but the Fall should probably be up there on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/33 "2005-10-31T07:36:10Z")
> [@hazel-rah](#): > > Not going to even try with the names, but the Fall should probably be up there on the list. Ah, yes. I remember a Mark E. Smith quote along the lines of “If it’s me and your granny on bongos, it’s The Fall.” ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/34 "2005-10-31T13:16:18Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Oh, and God knows how many people have been in Jethro Tull, with Ian Anderson being the only constant. > > Mick Abrahams > Ian Anderson > Barriemore Barlow > Martin Barre > Clive Bunker > John Evan > John Glasscock > Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond > Tony Iommi (yes, the Black Sabbath dude was in Tull for a short time) > Eddie Jobson > David Palmer > Dave Pegg > Tony Williams > And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Anderson and Barre have been together for 35 years or so, but the bassists, drummers and keyboard guys seem to change every other year. That’s a rather uninformed statement. The drummer, Doane Perry, has been there since 1984. He missed only one tour in that time frame (I think due to a death in the family). Dave Pegg played bass from 1979 - 1994. His replacement, Jonathan Noyce, has been there ever since. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/35 "2005-10-31T13:30:09Z")
How about John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers: Roger Dean-guitar John McVie-bass Hughie Flint-drums Eric Clapton-guitar, vocals John McVie-bass Hughie Flint-drums Alan Skidmore-tenor sax Dennis Healey-trumpet Peter Green-guitar, vocal John McVie-bass Aynsley Dunbar-drums Mick Taylor-lead guitar Keef Hartley-drums Chris Mercer-baritone saxophone Rip Kant-tenor saxophone Chris Mercer-tenor and baritone saxophone Dick Heckstall-Smith-tenor and soprano saxophone Keith Tillman-bass Tony Reeves-string bass and bass guitar Jon Hiseman-drums and percussion Chris Mercer-tenor and baritone saxophone Henry Lowther-cornet, violin Steve Thompson-bass Colin Allen-drums Jon Mark-acoustic finger-style guitar Johnny Almond-tenor and alto saxophones, flutes, mouth percussion Larry Taylor-bass Don “Sugarcane” Harris-violin Harvey Mandel-lead guitar Paul Lagos-drums Jerry McGee-guitar Blue Mitchell-trumpet Clifford Solomon-saxes Ron Selico-percussion Freddy Robinson-guitar Victor Gaskin-string bass Ernie Watts-tenor saxophone Charles Owen-tenor and soprano saxophones, flute Fred Jackson-baritone and tenor saxophones Hightide Harris-lead guitar Red Holloway-saxophones & flute Soko Richardson-drums & percussion Randy Resnick-lead guitar Dee McKinnie-vocals Soko Richardson-drums Jay Spell-keyboards, piano, clavinet Rick Vito-guitar Larry Blouin-baritone saxophone James Carroll Booker III-organ Tony Bourssard-bass Herman Ernest-drums Steve Hughes-guitar Kim Joseph-congas Dee McKinnie-vocals Nick Messina-trumpet Lon Price-tenor saxophone, flute Soko Richardson-drums Jay Spell-organ, acoustic & electric piano (this only takes them up to 1977; Mayall is still recording) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/36 "2005-10-31T14:20:02Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Genesis doesn’t lead in lineup changes, but they have had three lead vocalists. > > Peter Gabriel > Phil Collins > Ray Wilson > > It is rare for a band to change lead singers and still remain popular. Ray Wilson was only on for the last album, however. If we’re just looking at lead vocalist changes, Black Sabbath probably wins the prize. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/37 "2005-10-31T14:40:37Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > :smack: Anyway, that album is one the “will-likely-never-make-it-to-CD” releases. Are you referring to _Buckingham / Nicks_? I have that CD right here! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/38 "2005-10-31T14:48:34Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > Are you referring to _Buckingham / Nicks_? I have that CD right here! Really? When was that released? I was always under the impression that hell would have to freeze over, thaw, and then freeze again before Buckingham would sign off on a release. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/39 "2005-10-31T14:57:02Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Really? When was that released? I can’t tell, it’s a Japanese CD, and there is no year of issue on it. It may be a really good LP transfer, as I can’t seem to find a listing for it on the net. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581/40 "2005-10-31T15:29:00Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > I can’t tell, it’s a Japanese CD, and there is no year of issue on it. It may be a really good LP transfer, as I can’t seem to find a listing for it on the net. Sounds like it’s a bootleg. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-band-has-had-the-most-line-up-changes/328581.md?page=3)