Top 10 Musicians Who are or Were the Only Constant Member of a Band's Lineup
Throughout history, some bands (Led Zeppelin, U2, ZZ Top, Rush) have never really changed lineups, if at all. Other bands have undergone numerous member changes.Sometimes, only one member remains throughout the band's entire existence, either holding the rights to the band's name or serving as its creative leader.
Ian Anderson Paice (born June 29, 1948) is an English drummer, best known as the founding and only constant member of the rock band Deep Purple since its formation in 1968. His powerful, jazz-influenced style has been a key component of the band's sound through many different lineups. Ian Paice has been Deep Purple's drummer throughout its entire 50-year history.
Jon Lord was with the band until he retired in 2002, making Ian eligible for this list.
Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. As a guitarist for the progressive rock band King Crimson, Fripp has been the only member to have played in all of King Crimson's line-ups from their inception in the late 1960s to the present. He has also worked... read more Robert Fripp has been King Crimson's leader and creative force throughout its 50-year history.
He is, essentially, the band.
Aleksandar Živojinović, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a Canadian musician best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. He co-founded the band in 1968 alongside Geddy Lee and John Rutsey. Lifeson has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Rush... read more As I mentioned in the Geddy Lee entry, Alex (believe it or not) was the only constant member of Rush.
Anthony Frank Iommi, known as Tony Iommi, is an English guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He's best known as the lead guitarist and a founding member of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath. At age 17, he lost the fingertips of his right middle and ring fingers in an industrial accident... read more
Angus McKinnon Young is an Australian guitarist of Scottish origin, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, and the only constant member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. He is recognized for his energetic stage presence and schoolboy-uniform stage outfits. When performing live,... read more Angus Young became the last original member following Malcolm Young's retirement in 2014 (he died three years later).
Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams' departures removed all other ties to classic-era AC/DC.
Angus Young is the only member who stayed with AC/DC for the 47 years they were around.
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor, and author. He was the original lead guitarist of Metallica before being dismissed in 1983. Afterward, he formed the band Megadeth, where he became the lead vocalist and primary creative force.
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was the founder and leader of the band Death, widely considered one of the pioneers of the death metal genre. Schuldiner passed away from brain cancer on December 13, 2001, and is often referred to as... read more
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter best known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist, primary songwriter, and founder of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. He's led the band since its formation in 1975. Guitarist Dave Murray has been on every single album and tour with Iron Maiden.
Steve started the band, but Dave has been by his side since 1976. Their first album came out in 1980.
Donald Thomas "Tom" Scholz is an American rock musician, inventor, engineer, and philanthropist. He is best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the band Boston. Scholz is also recognized for inventing the Rockman guitar amplifier, which contributed to the band's signature sound. This is to be expected. Tom Scholz was the entire creative force of Boston.
Brad Delp's tragic suicide in 2007 left Tom Scholz as the only original member in the band.
Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English musician and composer, best known as the drummer of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to appear on all of the band's studio albums. In recent years, he has toured with his own group, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets, performing early... read more He was the only member of the group to have played on all of their albums.
Syd Barrett got kicked out in 1968.
David Gilmour joined at that time.
Roger Waters left the band in 1983 after the recording of The Final Cut.
Rick Wright got kicked out by Waters in 1979 during the recording of The Wall and returned in 1987 for A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
The Newcomers
Michael Trent Reznor, known professionally as Trent Reznor, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and film score composer.He's known for his stark, industrial rock sound and his select use of music videos. Reznor has described videos as little advertisements for the music, and only... read more
Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the progressive death metal band Opeth. He was also the vocalist for the death metal supergroup Bloodbath, contributing to three albums before leaving the band in 2012... read more
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the Eagles and later achieved a successful solo career. Henley released popular solo hits such as "The Boys of Summer" and "Dirty Laundry" and has won multiple Grammy Awards both... read more After Glenn Frey died in 2016, Don Henley became the only original member in the band.
William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as Axl Rose, is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He is the founding member and lead vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which rose to international fame with their debut album Appetite for Destruction (1987). Known for... read more He is the only original member of Guns N' Roses.
Axl is the only one who stayed in the band for the 36 years Guns N' Roses has been a band.
James Roger McGuinn, known professionally as Roger McGuinn and previously as Jim McGuinn, is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the folk rock band the Byrds. McGuinn was instrumental in popularizing the jangly twelve-string guitar sound that became a signature... read more I'm looking at such a creative, fresh, and informative music list after a very long time.
Great list. You add new content that is all about creativity and precision. I was really disappointed with the extremely biased and repetitive music lists being added repeatedly.
He was the only constant member of The Byrds, even when they completely changed their lineup in 1968.
This is evident in that he was the only band member to sing lead vocals on the album Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde.
Brendon Boyd Urie, more commonly known as Brendon Urie, was born April 12, 1987, in St. George, Utah. He is an American singer, songwriter, musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is best own as the lead singer of the American pop-rock band Panic! At The Disco. He is the only original remaining member... read more
Scott Ian is an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and the only remaining original founding member of the thrash metal band Anthrax. He is also the band's primary lyricist. In addition to his work with Anthrax, Ian has been involved in other... read more
He is the only original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd in its current lineup - a lineup that is somewhat controversial among fans.
Amy Lee, born Amy Lynn Hartzler, is an American singer-songwriter, classically trained pianist, and composer. She is best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of the rock band Evanescence, which gained global fame with their 2003 hit Bring Me to Life... read more
Ian Fraser Kilmister, known as Lemmy, was an English musician, singer, and songwriter who founded and fronted the rock band Motörhead. He was a bassist and a singer known for his raspy voice and aggressive playing style. He died in 2015 from prostate cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart... read more Motörhead went through nine other musicians throughout its history.
Lemmy was pretty much the face of the band.
He is the only original member left in The Marshall Tucker Band.
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, producer, television writer, poet, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and only permanent member of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan also owns and operates... read more
Robert James Smith is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He is the lead singer, guitarist, lyricist, and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure... read more
Steven John Wilson is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, most closely associated with the progressive rock genre. He is best known as the founder and frontman of the band Porcupine Tree. Wilson has also had a prolific solo career and is recognized for his work in surround... read more
Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Breaking Benjamin, which he formed in 1999. The band has released several successful albums and is known... read more
