Best Bands Which Changed Their Line-Up Within Their First Three Albums

The Top Ten
1 Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English progressive rock band formed in 1965 in London, England. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. The band consisted of 5 members - David Gilmour (Vocals and Guitar), Syd Barrett (Vocals and Guitar), Nick Mason (Drums), Roger Waters (Vocals and Bass), and Richard Wright (Vocals and Keyboard). Barrett was replaced by Gilmour in 1968. ...read more.

Syd Barrett(Their Original Guitarist, Singer, and Band Leader) was Kicked out of the Band During the production of their second album "A Saucerful of Secrets", and Replaced with David Gilmour, thus forming the now iconic Pink Floyd Line-up, most people know.

Piper was psychedelic, Saucerful was psychedelic/blues, Ummagumma was experimental

It is 1 but I am voting

Well deserved #1

2 Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy Metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The most critically acclaimed period for the band was from 1983-1989. With vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, lead guitarist Dave Murray, rhythm guitarist Adrian ...read more.

Cliff burr performed with iron maiden on the first three albums

3 Rush Rush was a Canadian progressive rock band that was formed in 1968. The band has had an iconic lineup since 1975, which included Neil Peart (Drums, Percussion), Geddy Lee (Vocals, Bass, Keyboards), and the guitarist, Alex Lifeson. Peart passed away after a 3 year battle with brain cancer in January of 2020. Because of this, Lee says there are no plans to keep the band going, so Rush is most likely defunct. The band has become one of the most well-known progressive rock bands in the world, with such albums as "2112", "Hemispheres" and "Moving Pictures". More than half of their albums have gone gold or platinum, as certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America).

After their first album, original drummer John Rutsey left and was, of course, replaced by Neil Peart.

4 Obscura Obscura is a technical/progressive death metal band from Germany, founded in 2002. The band became prominent when members of Necrophagist and Pestilence joined Steffen Kummerer to release the critically acclaimed second full-length album, Cosmogenesis. The band was named after the Gorguts album Obscura.

Only one member from their debut album remained for the 2nd album - Steffen Kummerer, the founder of the band.

5 Rainbow Rainbow are a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1993 to 1997. They were originally established with Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer and lyricist. Rainbow were ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band has sold over 28 million albums ...read more.
6 King Crimson King Crimson were a British progressive rock band that was formed in 1969. While the band has had numerous lineup changes, the head of the band has always been Robert Fripp (guitar). However, the most notable lineup is between 1972-75, consisting of Fripp, John Wetton (bass/vocals), Bill Bruford (drums), and David Cross (strings/keyboard). The band is most well-known for their debut album "In the Court of The Crimson King", with which they made a large impact on the progressive rock genre.

Many of the original members left the band after their debut album "In the Court of the Crimson King", and the only constant memeber throughout their discography is their guitarist Robert Fripp.

7 Jefferson Airplane Jefferson Airplane was a San Francisco, California-based band who pioneered the American counterculture movement as well as psychedelic rock. Members: Grace Slick - vocals, piano, organ, recorder Marty Balin - vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass guitar Paul Kantner - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vocals Jorma Kaukonen - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals Jack Casady - bass guitar, rhythm guitar, lead guitar Spencer Dryden - drums

Not many People know this, but Grace Slick was not in their first album "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off", and Spencer Dryden was also not in the band either in that album. Skip Spence was the drummer for that album, and he left the band to form Moby Grape, and their Original Female Singer, Signe Toly Anderson, left the band, because she had her child, and wanted to focus on raising the child instead of the band. So they replaced Them with Grace Slick, and Spencer Dryden for their second album, Surrelastic Pillow, and kept both of them until their name change in the mid 70s, thus forming the now inconic Jefferson Airplane Line-up.

8 The Byrds The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial success of contemporaries like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Rolling Stones for a short period, the Byrds are today considered by critics to be one of the most influential bands of the 1960s.

Gene Clark left the Band during the production of their thrid album "Fifth Demison", and he did not rejoin the band unitl the early 70s.

9 The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band. They first came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music, but their second album, Days of Future Passed, which was released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music and established them as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock.

A lot of their original members left the band after their debut, which was more pop influenced, however, when they got their new members to fill in the gaps was when they became more Psychedelic, and Progressive, like we know them today.

10 Annihilator Annihilator is a Canadian thrash metal band founded in 1984 by vocalist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, engineer, producer, mixer and mastering engineer Jeff Waters and former vocalist John Bates.

Their first 3 albums had 3 different lead singers and 2 drummers. There were other changes, too. But these are some of their best albums.

The Contenders
11 Blue Cheer Blue Cheer was an American rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, Blue Cheer played in a psychedelic blues rock style, and are also credited as being some of the earliest pioneers of heavy metal, with their cover of "Summertime Blues" sometimes cited as the first in the genre.

Their original guitarist Leigh Stephens Left the band after their Second album "Outside Inside", and for the rest of their recording history they had a revoling door of guitarists.

12 Iron Butterfly Iron Butterfly is an American rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", providing a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of hard rock and heavy metal music.

Very Similar to King Crimson, because a lot of their original members left after the first album, and they also only really had a few constant members throughout their recorded history.

13 Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1985. The classic lineup, as signed to Geffen Records in 1986, consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. Apart from hard rock they are also associated with heavy metal. ...read more.

They change their drummer between Appetite For Destruction and the Use Your Illusion albums.

14 The Soft Machine

Kevin Ayers Left the band after their first album, and after he left they became more, and more Progy, and Jazzy.

15 Metallica Metallica is an American Heavy/Thrash Metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup was James Hetfield (Vocalist and Rhythm guitarist), Dave Mustaine (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums), Ron McGovney (Bassist). The group came into mainstream from their Self-Titled album and the hit single "Enter Sandman".

With their first two albums, Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning reaching underground success, their third effort, Master of Puppets has since become one of the most important heavy metal albums ever, as it became the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum. The title track has since become the band's most played song live. ...read more.

Ron McGovney, the original bassist, left the band in 1982 because he felt like he didn't fit in and feel like a respected member of the band.

Dave Mustaine, the original lead guitarist, was fired in 1983 because he was too confrontational and wound up drunk several times.

Cliff Burton is a story everyone knows at this point...

And yet, Metallica has still persevered and has become of the best selling and influential bands in the world. That's incredibly admirable if you ask me.

Dave mustaine was kicked before there first album even came out

16 Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band formed in July 1967, in London. The band have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.
17 Yes

Changed guitarists: Peter Banks in first 2 albums, Steve Howe in 3rd album.

18 Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band

Ry Cooder, the original guitarist for the band left after their first album, "Safe as Milk", and they got more, and more out there, after he left.

19 The Jeff Beck Group The Jeff Beck Group was an English rock band formed in London in January 1967 by former The Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck.

After they recorded their first album, Truth, Jeff brought in pianist Nicky Hopkins as a full-time member, and Mickey Waller (the drummer) was replaced by Tony Newman. They then split in 1969, and Jeff Beck reformed the group in 1971 with a completely different lineup.

20 The Yardbirds The Yardbirds are an English rock band formed in London in 1963 that had a string of hits during the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul" and "Over Under Sideways Down".

You can hear the transition within their first album. Most of the songs have Eric Clapton as lead guitarist, while five of the songs have his replacement, Jeff Beck, on lead guitar.

21 Mushroomhead Mushroomhead is an American nu metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound which includes influence from heavy metal, art rock and electro-industrial and their imagery which features masks and costumes as well as ...read more.
22 Tool Tool is an American alternative metal/progressive metal band, that was formed in 1990. ...read more.
23 Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1985 under the name of "Majesty", only to change its name to Dream Theater later.

The members of the band’s original lineup consisted of John Petrucci (Guitar), John Myung (Bass) and Mike Portnoy (Drums). The band had multiple keyboardists and singers, but as of and since 1991, the band's lead vocalist has been James LaBrie.

The band released their debut album "When Day and Dream Unite" in 1989, but only gained success and notoriety after the release of their second album, "Images and Words" in 1992. ...read more.
24 Oasis Oasis were an English britpop band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher (vocals and tambourine), Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll. Noel Gallagher (Liam's Brother) served as the primary songwriter and guitarist for the band. They released a total of 7 albums. Definitely Maybe (1994), (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (1995), Be Here Now (1997), Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000), Heathen Chemistry (2002), Don't Believe The Truth (2005), and Dig Out Your Soul (2008). They disbanded in 2009 after Noel refused to attend their final gig. Causing Liam and Noel to have a falling ...read more.

Oasis actually changed their drummer between Definitely Maybe and WTSMG, although their old drummer appeared on Some Might Say.

25 Twenty One Pilots Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo that is originally from Columbus, Ohio, who are best known for their songs "Stressed Out", "Heathens" and "Ride". Currently there are two members, Tyler Joseph (lead vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, ukulele, bass and guitar) and Josh Dun (drums and percussion). Former members include Nick Thomas (guitar, bass, piano and keyboards) and Chris Salih (drums and percussions). The band was formed in 2009 with Joseph, Thomas and Salih. ...read more.

Josh Dun made the group what it is today.

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