Top Ten Replacement Members In Rock Bands

We all love the famous member line-ups in bands, but the replacements members are no less, and rather underrated. Let's show them this is not true!
The Top Ten
1 Brian Johnson for Bon Scott - AC/DC

I don't know. I like Brian Johnson, but I find myself listening to more of the Bon Scott stuff. Still, he was a very good replacement.
Edit: I've opened up to Brian more. I still prefer Bon Scott, but Brian was probably the best person they could get to fill in his shoes.

2 David Gilmour for Syd Barrett - Pink Floyd

I know some people prefer the Barrett stuff, but I can't imagine Pink Floyd without David Gilmour's guitar playing. He is that good.

3 Bruce Dickinson for Paul Di'Anno - Iron Maiden
4 Neil Peart for John Rutsey - Rush

I know it's cliche, but replacing John with Neil was the best thing they did. It transformed them musically and lyrically from just an ordinary hard rock band into one of the best prog bands of all time.

5 Jason Newsted for Cliff Burton - Metallica
6 Justin Hayward for Denny Laine - The Moody Blues
7 Ronnie James Dio for Ozzy Osbourne - Black Sabbath Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture ...read more.
8 Lindsey Buckingham for Peter Green - Fleetwood Mac

Technically, it's Lindsey Buckingham for Bob Welch. Bob Welch replaced Peter Green in 1971, and he resigned in 1974.

9 Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal for and Buckethead and Slash - Guns N' Roses
10 Robert Trujillo for Jason Newsted - Metallica
The Contenders
11 Buckethead for Slash - Guns N' Roses
12 Dave Grohl for Chad Channing - Nirvana David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer and film director. He is best known as the former drummer of the hugely popular 90s grunge band Nirvana and the vocalist/guitarist for the alternative rock band Foo Fighters. He has sat behind the ...read more.
13 Ringo Starr for Pete Best - The Beatles
14 Kirk Hammett for Dave Mustaine - Metallica
15 Ron Wood for Mick Taylor - The Rolling Stones
16 Mike Mangini for Mike Portnoy - Dream Theater
17 Richard Fortus for Paul Tobias and Izzy Stradlin - Guns N' Roses
18 Mick Taylor for Brian Jones - The Rolling Stones

Definitely a good decision. Some of my favorite musical moments on Stones records are Mick T.'s guitar solos.

19 Steve Howe for Peter Banks - Yes
20 Stu Block for Matt Barlow - Iced Earth
21 DJ Ashba for Robin Finck - Guns N' Roses
22 Paul McCartney for Stuart Sutcliffe - The Beatles

Well, Paul already was a member of the band that was to become The Beatles. Paul and Stu were in the band together. Stu lost interest, wanting to pursue painting, and Paul (who was the more talented player) took over the bass duties.

23 Phil Collins for Peter Gabriel - Genesis
24 Jeff Gutt for Scott Weiland - Stone Temple Pilots

Scott Weiland’s tragic 2015 death from a drug overdose left many STP fans asking what would happen to the band. As soon as fans started to speculate at Chester Bennington of Linkin Park coming back, he too was found deceased (this one from a suicide).
Ultimately, the band held auditions and opted to go with former nu-Metal band Dry Cell frontman Jeff Gutt as their new singer.
They debuted their song “Meadow” at the end of 2017, to much acclaim.

25 Zakk Wylde for Randy Rhoads - Ozzy Osbourne
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