Top 10 Bands that Survived Losing Their Leader
Whether the original band leader died, left, or was kicked out, here's some bands which survived the loss of their original leader from the line up; survived, or may have even thrived. Let's begin!
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 These guys are number one, not just for being a great band, but also because they lost not one but two band leaders and still survived. The first time was when they lost Syd Barrett in 1968 because he was kicked out for acting too neurotic. After Syd's departure, they experimented a lot with their sound and didn't really have a leader until 1973 when Roger Waters started taking over. He transformed them into the political prog rock band many people know today.
However, Roger Waters left the band in 1985 because he could no longer get along with the other members, and David Gilmour took over for the rest of their recording career.
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first settled line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums)... read more Brian Jones formed the band in the early 60s. While he didn't write many songs for the Stones, he came up with many creative musical ideas that helped define the band's iconic 60s sound. He was kicked out in 1969 and died shortly afterward. They replaced him with Mick Taylor in the 70s, and the rest is history.
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band, active between 1964 and 1973, formed in New York City. The band kinda survived after Lou Reed left in 1970. While their last album without him wasn't great, they still managed to survive without him.
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... read more Gene Clark left the band in 1966 during the production of their third album, "Fifth Dimension." He later returned to the band, but not until the 70s, and they continued to make music without him throughout the rest of the 60s.
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting, which collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz with rock and psychedelic music. Skip Spence formed Moby Grape in 1966 after leaving Jefferson Airplane. With Skip, the band mostly made folky/bluesy psychedelic rock for their first four studio albums. However, Skip, like Syd Barrett, started becoming more neurotic and left the band in 1969.
After leaving, Skip recorded the now-legendary psychedelic folk album "Oar," while Moby Grape transitioned into a country rock band.
AC/DC are a Australian hard rock band, formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who continued as members until Malcolm's illness and departure in 2014 . They were fronted by Bon Scott until his untimely death due to alcohol poisoning in 1979, after which they hired Brian Johnson... read more
Kevin Ayers left the band after their first album, where he had a huge influence. After he left, the band started shifting away from psych rock and became more influenced by jazz and prog.
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 Peter Gabriel left the band in the mid-70s. After he left, they shifted more toward pop rather than prog.
Their best album, A Trick of the Tail, doesn't have Peter Gabriel on it.
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 Jim Morrison died in 1971, and the band tried to continue as a trio for a while.
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Blue Cheer, and Jefferson Airplane. In 1968, Janis Joplin left the band to start a solo career and died two years later in 1970. Despite that, the band continued to make music. While it was never as legendary as their first two albums with her, they still created music long after Janis' death.
The Newcomers
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte. Their first album, Morbid Visions presented a proto-black metal sound with Wagner Lamounier of Sarcófago. Sepultura's sound varies by the album, from thrash metal, groove metal, and even death metal.
Blind Melon is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California by two musicians from Mississippi and one from Indiana.
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. With Peter Green, the band played blues rock and occasionally experimented with psychedelic rock. However, after he left around 1970, they slowly shifted away from that sound and became more of a soft rock band, which most people know them for today.
Black Sabbath were a Heavy Metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Tony Iommi, singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward... read more
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
Journey is an American arena rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. But their replacement singer was awful.
Van Halen was an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. From 1974 until 1985, the band consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony.
Alice in Chains is an American grunge/alternative metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. Their original singer Layne Staley died, but they continued to make music afterward.
Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992. The original lineup consisted of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. Initially named Groundswell, the band changed its name... read more
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
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 They are still around without Freddie.
Lostprophets were a Welsh rock band from Pontypridd, Wales formed in 1997. Founded by lead vocalist and lyricist Ian Watkins, bassist Mike Lewis, drummer Mike Chiplin and guitarist Lee Gaze, they were originally a side-project to hardcore punk band Public Disturbance.
Escape the Fate is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. They are signed to Eleven Seven Music.