Top 10 Bands that Became More Popular After They Replaced Their Lead Singer

The Top Ten

  1. Journey (Gregg Rolie with Steve Perry)

    Journey is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973 by former members of Santana, the Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch. As of 2026, the band consists of Neal Schon on guitar and vocals, Jonathan Cain on keyboards, guitar, and vocals, Deen Castronovo on drums and vocals, Arnel... read more

  2. Iron Maiden (Paul Di'Anno with Bruce Dickinson)

    Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Their most critically acclaimed period is widely considered to be from 1983 to 1989, during which they released landmark albums such as Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere... read more

  3. Deep Purple (Rod Evans with Ian Gillan)

    Deep Purple is an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are regarded as pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has changed over the years. They originally played progressive rock but shifted to a heavier sound around 1970.... read more

  4. AC/DC (Bon Scott with Brian Johnson)

    AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band founded in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Bon Scott was the lead singer from 1974 until his death from acute alcohol poisoning in 1980. He was succeeded by Brian Johnson.... read more

    NOW HEAR ME OUT. I know I really didn't want to put this on here. The only reason I did is because AC/DC had great success with Bon Scott. Some of AC/DC's best songs were with Bon Scott. But despite that, AC/DC had more hits than they did with Bon Scott. I'M SORRY, but it's true.

  5. Genesis (Peter Gabriel with Phil Collins)

    Genesis were an English rock band formed at Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, in 1967. The band's most commercially successful and longest-running lineup consisted of keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, and drummer/singer Phil Collins. In the 1970s, the group also included... read more

    The same with AC/DC. Yes, I know that Genesis had great success with both, but in my opinion, Phil Collins as lead singer just made Genesis way better with songs like I Can't Dance.

  6. REO Speedwagon (Terry Luttrell, Mike Murphy with Kevin Cronin)

    REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Speedwagon), or simply REO, was an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Their best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980... read more

    This classic '80s band had tons of hits such as Roll with the Changes, Keep on Lovin' You, Take It on the Run, etc. None of that would've happened without Kevin Cronin.

  7. Pantera (Terry Glaze with Phil Anselmo)

    Pantera is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul.

    The band started as a glam metal act in the 1980s with little commercial success. After replacing its original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, it signed a major record deal with... read more

    I don't listen to Pantera, but even I know it would have been a mistake to keep Terry Glaze.

  8. Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green with Stevie Nicks)

    Fleetwood Mac were a British-American rock band formed in London in 1967. They sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling musical acts.

    Primarily a British blues band in their early years, the line-up of singers and guitarists Peter Green, Jeremy... read more

    Peter Green actually did pretty well right after he left. He was even inducted into the RRHOF (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) in 1998.

  9. Faith No More (Chuck Mosley with Mike Patton)

    Faith No More is an American alternative metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. Before adopting its current name in 1983, the group performed under the names Sharp Young Men and later Faith No Man. The band gained widespread recognition with its 1989 album The Real Thing, which featured... read more

  10. Dream Theater (Charlie Dominici with James LaBrie)

    Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1985 under the name "Majesty," later changing it to Dream Theater. The original lineup consisted of John Petrucci on guitar, John Myung on bass, and Mike Portnoy on drums.... read more

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