Top 10 Bands that Lost Their Mojo the Most When a Member Left or Died

The Top Ten
1 Queen - when Freddie Mercury died Queen are an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar, vocals). Before forming into Queen, Brian May and Roger Taylor had played together in a band... read more

Queen isn't the same without Freddie. Freddie was the heart and motor of this band. Brian May and Roger Taylor should end it, but they won't.

Sad, very sad. Marc Martel is great. Why don't they replace Adam Lambert with him? Adam Lambert is good and all, but he's really not the same.

Get Marc Martel and save this band.

2 Led Zeppelin - when John Bonham died

Not only did they lose their mojo, the entire band disbanded.

3 The Doors - when Jim Morrison died The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts of the 1960s, primarily due to Morrison's lyrics and voice,... read more

Morrison was the GOAT of all frontmen. Not even Freddie could compare to him. You got the feeling that Freddie was having a great time performing and wanted you to have a great time too. Jim Morrison became the music and helped guide you to experience it at a level unequaled before or since.

4 Guns N' Roses - when Slash left 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... read more

I don't really agree. In my opinion, Izzy Stradlin's departure was the real reason why Guns N' Roses fell apart.

More like when Axl "Narcissus" Rose kicked out everyone.

Chinese Democracy - enough said.

5 The Who - when Keith Moon died The Who is an English rock band formed in London, England in 1964. The most recognizable lineup was Roger Daltrey (lead vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), and Keith Moon (drums). They are best known for their live performances and hit songs Baba O'Riley, My Generation, and... read more

It was inevitable. It could never, ever have been the same without the beautiful lunatic. RIP.

6 Deep Purple - when Ritchie Blackmore left (1975) Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical approach changed over the years. Originally formed as a progressive rock band, the band shifted to a heavier sound in 1970. Deep Purple,... read more

When he left, they de facto split because he was the primary composer. He left in 1975 because he didn't like what the other members wanted to incorporate into the songs - soul, blues, funk. He has always been a metal guy - that's why he teamed up with Dio and formed Rainbow to do metal.

Several short reunions later (with Ritchie's participation) helped them release a great album (Perfect Strangers, 1984) and two very good ones (Slaves and Masters, 1990, and The Battle Rages On, 1993). After this album, in 1993, Blackmore left forever. They continued with Steve Morse, putting out new albums and touring to this day. This new material is not bad for what it is, but I miss Blackmore's metal edge and his touch in songwriting.

7 Iron Maiden - when Bruce Dickinson left 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

I disagree. Virtual XI sounds almost exactly like Brave New World, just with a different singer. The X Factor does not sound like anything Iron Maiden has done, but it is still very good. The Blaze era contains some of the band's best songs, like Sign of the Cross, Fortunes of War, and The Clansman.

I actually think they lost some of their mojo when Adrian Smith left. They made some of their worst songs, like The Apparition, Hooks in You, Public Enema Number One, Weekend Warrior, and Nodding Donkey Blues (besides some classics). I feel like they became better in the second half of the 1990s.

8 Thin Lizzy - when Phil Lynott died Thin Lizzy are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Their leader Phil Lynott was composer or co-composer of almost all of the band's songs, and the first black Irishman to achieve commercial success in the field of rock music. Thin Lizzy's most successful songs, "Whiskey in the Jar", "Jailbreak"... read more

Phil Lynott was the essence of Thin Lizzy. Without him, it's unfair to call the band Thin Lizzy because he was its driving force.

9 Judas Priest - when Rob Halford left Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band that formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are often referred to as one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and are even commonly called “The Metal Gods”, after one of the songs on their 1980 album “British Steel”... read more

After spending nearly 20 years with Judas Priest, Halford left in 1992. After 10 years, in 2003, Halford returned to the band.

There is only one Tim Owens song I actually like (Cathedral Spires). The rest I'm just neutral about.

10 ABBA - when Agnetha Fältskog got alienated ABBA are a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

When two band members, Agnetha and Bjorn, got divorced in 1980, ABBA de facto disbanded but announced it later. Agnetha became reclusive because Bjorn dumped her for another woman, and I guess it was difficult for her to sing his songs, see him regularly, and tour with him. Agnetha and Bjorn were married for 7 years and have two children.

I mean, it did give us one of the most beautiful songs ever written: The Winner Takes It All.

The Contenders
11 Helloween - when Kai Hansen left Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg, Northern Germany. The band is a pioneering force in the power metal genre, and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I and Part II, are considered masterpieces of the genre.

After Hansen's departure, they released a really bad album - Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991) - and the follow-up wasn't much better. Michael Kiske was still with the band, with his awesome voice. Michael Weikath was also still with them, but without Kai Hansen, it wasn't the same band anymore.

12 Bon Jovi - when Richie Sambora left

Absolutely. Richie will always be the proper guitarist. He's 100% better than Phil X.

He was THE guitarist for Bon Jovi. It's such a shame he left, but at the same time, it shows that Bon Jovi needs to take a much-deserved break.

13 Metallica - when Jason Newsted left
14 Helloween - when Michael Kiske left Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg, Northern Germany. The band is a pioneering force in the power metal genre, and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I and Part II, are considered masterpieces of the genre.

A second big crisis for this band. After Kiske's departure, they became an average band - not bad, but just average.

15 Guns N' Roses - when Izzy Stradlin left 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... read more

He was the heart of Guns N' Roses. I think that his departure is one of the reasons why the band unfortunately fell apart at the end of the Use Your Illusion tour.

16 Red Hot Chili Peppers - when John Frusciante left The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American funk-rock and alternative rock band, that was founded in 1983.

The band's members are Anthony Kiedis (Vocals), Michael "Flea" Balzary (Bass), Chad Smith (Drums) and numerous guitarists, most well-known being John Frusciante.

The band is among the... read more

His replacement was not bad, but he just did not have all the right elements to replace a guitarist like John.

17 Pink Floyd - when Roger Waters left 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... read more
18 Metallica - when Cliff Burton died 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"... read more

Cliff's death was a huge shock, but fortunately, this didn't ruin the band's future drastically.

19 Pantera - when Dimebag Darrell died Pantera was an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul. The band started out as a glam metal act in the 1980s with little success. After discarding their original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, the band signed a major record deal with... read more
20 One Direction - when Zayn Malik left One Direction (commonly abbreviated as 1D) were a British-Irish pop boy band based in London, composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously, Zayn Malik until his departure from the band on 25 March 2015. The group signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records... read more
21 Linkin Park - when Chester Bennington died Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), and Rob Bourdon (drums). Linkin Park is associated with a mixture... read more
22 Avenged Sevenfold - when Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan died
23 Genesis - when Phil Collins left Genesis was an English rock band formed at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, in 1967. The band's longest-existing and most commercially successful lineup consisted of keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, and drummer/singer Phil Collins. In the 1970s, during which the band... read more

There will always be that debate about whether Genesis was better with Peter Gabriel or with Phil Collins. The truth is, both were the souls of the band. However, after Phil Collins left the band and was replaced by Ray Wilson, Genesis lacked a true soul.

24 Iced Earth - when Matt Barlow left 1st time Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. It was formed in 1984 under the name Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer, and original drummer Greg Seymour. The band's music has also been described as thrash metal and power metal... read more

After the September 11 terrorist attacks (2001), Matt Barlow decided to become a police officer and contribute to the "real world" instead of living the illusion of a "rock star." In 2007, he returned to the band but left again in 2011 to spend more time with his family (Iced Earth has a busy touring schedule).

25 Three Days Grace - when Adam Gontier left Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario in 1992 with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. Their original name was Groundswell until they changed it to... read more
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