Best Band Member Lineup Changes

Bands that changed their members. Even after changing it they were/are best.

The left sided members are earlier members and right sided members are the members switched with them (right sided).
The Top Ten
1 Paul Di'Anno and Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)

Are we talking about Bruce? Paul isn't even a good metal vocalist so it's a great decision that Paul was replaced with Bruce.

2 John Rutsey and Neil Peart (Rush)

If you listen to him, John was no slouch (he's kinda a cross between John Bonham and Simon Kirke), but he was nowhere near Neil Peart's level. Plus, most of Geddy and Alex's lyrics are trite sounding compared to Neil's. Best decision they made.

Neil is the best drummer ever. John isn't even close to him, so yeah, it's one of the best lineup changes.

3 Dave Mustaine and Kirk Hammett (Metallica)

Dave Mustaine is a more technical guitarist but he had addiction problems and was unreliable so Metallica did the right thing. Besides, Metallica released their best album (MOP) with Kirk Hammett. So it was a good decision overall and lets not forget that thanks to this change we got another legendary thrash band - Megadeth.

4 Bon Scott and Brian Johnson (AC/DC)

This was probably the smoothest change - they sound very similar and Bon Scott himself selected Brian Johnson. Bon first saw Brian singing in a bar and asked for his phone number. And Bon gave the phone number to Angus just in case...

Both of them are great. One great hard rock singer died another great singer came so I'd say this is the best member lineup change, because this band was able to keep a good singer.

I prefer Bon, but I do think they made the right choice by bringing in Brian Johnson. He was the best man for the job.

5 Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath)

Dio was a way better singer than Ozzy.

6 Pete Best and Ringo Starr (The Beatles)

Oh yes. Ringo has a much better sense of time, fluidity, and groove than Pete did. Just compare Pete doing Love Me Do to Ringo or Andy White. Big difference.

7 Al Atkins and Rob Halford (Judas Priest)

Ha ha, Rob Halford. He isn't the original vocalist. It's great that he came instead of Al Atkins. So yeah it's another great decision.

8 Syd Barrett and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

I like Syd, but I think that replacing him with David was for the best, especially in terms of their long-term success. Plus, if David never replaced Syd, then most people would never get to hear his guitar playing.

Syd was great but he was heavily addict to drugs and had mental disorders and that's why he was fired by Roger, but still David carried the band greatly. Especially as a great guitarist and vocalist

9 Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds)

Agree with this one. Eric was great, but I think Jeff was a better fit for the band. Plus, that meant we got the Bluesbreakers album, Cream, and Blind Faith!

Eric was great, but after his departure Jeff did some great guitar work.

10 Rod Evans and Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)

Ian Gillan no doubt, one of the best member switches.

Agree. Ian is exponentially better, no contest.

The Contenders
11 Jeff Young and Marty Friedman (Megadeth)

Nothing beats Marty's exotic scales and his neo-classical type playing.

12 Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan (Black Sabbath)

@Mumbizz01: Black Sabbath had no choice here - Dio left and because Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan were friends (I think they still are) Gillan did him a favor and sang on this album. This change was a temporary solution and wasn't supposed to be something long-lasting. But "Born Again" is one of the heaviest Black Sabbath albums and half of the songs are very good. The screams in "Disturbing The Priest" are great. However, I personally like albums with Dio better because songs were better (different style) and were meant for Dio voice. "Born Again" sounds like an album meant for Ozzy voice, especially songs like "Zero The Hero". The material wasn't for Gillan voice - he is a talented singer with a 4 octave range but most of the songs did not allow him show his potential.

I think Ian Gillan suits in Deep Purple than any other bands. Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Paice's works helped him to show Ian's talent.

13 Tracii Guns and Slash (Guns N' Roses)
14 Anders Colsefni and Corey Taylor (Slipknot)
15 David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar (Van Halen)
16 Ian Gillan and David Coverdale (Deep Purple)
17 John Greely and Matt Barlow (Iced Earth)

John Greely wasn't a bad singer but Matt Barlow was an 'Oh My God' singer.

18 Mark Wakefield and Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)

Chester is one of the greatest singers of modern rock. And also the best member of Linkin Park (for me). So I think, yes, it's a great change

Linkin Park actually was successful with Chester as lead singer

19 Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones)

I disagree here. It's nice that they have two rhythm players weaving back and forth between each other, but the problem is that Ronnie isn't good enough to cover Mick Taylor's lead guitar solos.

20 Hillel Slovak and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

RHCP's best work is with Frusciante. Slovak was necessary for the formation of the band, but Frusciante is a better guitarist.

21 Paul D’Amour and Justin Chancellor (Tool)
22 Jesse Leach and Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage)
23 Anette Olzon and Floor Jansen (Nightwish)

See... no one can replace their first singer Tarja whose operatic and unique singing style were the band's major trademark in the beginning. For whatever reason she was fired by the other members, we'll never know.
What we know on the other hand is that for the style of music they make - which is big, bombastic and orchestral rock - a singer with a similarly big voice is needed. Anette Olzen has a great voice - but the entire tone of her vocal fits for music that is more minimalistic. I can perfectly imagine her on Nu Metal, or also pop rock for that matter. She is not supposed to sing about fantastic lyrics, but to be more direct and modern.
Floor Jansen is not a classical singer like Tarja, but she is capable of extreme belting as well as silent wispers, she always alters her vocals to whatever fits the tone of the music - which sometimes means she has to put up against a full blown orchestra. Actually, she is the best subsitute for Tarja they could get. Nevertheless were the two albums with Anette masterpieces of an amazing band - but perhabs Floor would have made them even greater.

24 Dave Henwood and Tré Cool (Green Day)

Tre's great although he joined in 1990. These were several members in Green Day. Several drummers but none of them were great as Tre. In fact tre is the best or most talented Green Day member.

25 Mike Portnoy and Mike Mangini (Dream Theater)
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