Top 10 Rumored Band Member Replacements that Didn't Happen
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Cozy Powell (Led Zeppelin)
Colin Trevor "Cozy" Powell was an English rock drummer known for playing with several influential bands. His collaborations included The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Whitesnake, and Black Sabbath. He also worked with Robert Plant and was known for his powerful and energetic drumming style.
Rumored as a possible replacement for John Bonham after John's death (before Zeppelin officially disbanded).
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Michael Kiske (Iron Maiden)
Michael Kiske (born January 24, 1968) is a German singer best known as the former lead vocalist of the power metal band Helloween.
He fronted Helloween during their rise to international prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, contributing his distinctive high-range voice to albums such... read more
After Bruce Dickinson departed from Iron Maiden in 1993, Kiske was rumored to be Dickinson's replacement, but (sadly) the position was filled by Blaze Bayley.
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Dave Lombardo (Megadeth)
David "Dave" Lombardo is a Cuban American drummer best known as a co-founding member of the thrash metal band Slayer. He played on many of Slayer's early albums and helped define their aggressive sound. Lombardo has also contributed to other projects including Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies, and Mr. Bungle... read more
In 2014, he was rumored to be Shawn Drover's replacement in Megadeth when Shawn departed.
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Myles Kennedy (Led Zeppelin)
Myles Richard Kennedy is an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge. He is also the lead vocalist in Slash's current band, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. Kennedy has received critical acclaim for... read more
He auditioned with Led Zeppelin when Jimmy Page was going to continue the band without Robert Plant.
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Jack Bruce (Led Zeppelin)
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce, born May 14, 1943, and died October 25, 2014, was a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the bassist and lead vocalist of the British supergroup Cream. The band also included guitarist and singer Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker, and it played... read more
Jimmy Page asked Jack Bruce to join Led Zep after the 1973 tour because John Paul Jones wasn't happy with touring. So this replacement was rumored but didn't happen.
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Doogie White (Iron Maiden)
Douglas "Doogie" White, born on March 7, 1960, is a Scottish rock and heavy metal vocalist. He has performed with a number of prominent bands including Rainbow, La Paz, Midnight Blue, Cornerstone, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Praying Mantis, and Rata Blanca.... read more
He was rumored to be Bruce Dickinson's replacement in Iron Maiden. He auditioned with them, but (sadly) lost out to Blaze Bayley.
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Ralf Scheepers (Judas Priest)
Ralf Scheepers is the lead vocalist of the German heavy metal band Primal Fear. He is known for his high-pitched, tenor-like singing voice and often uses shrieks similar to those of Rob Halford from Judas Priest. His vocal range spans nearly four octaves in the modal register, which also includes powerful... read more
He was rumored to be Rob Halford's replacement in Judas Priest. He auditioned, but lost out to Tim Ripper Owens.
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Michael Bolton (Black Sabbath)
Michael Bolotin, known professionally as Michael Bolton, is an American singer and songwriter. He originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres during the 1970s and 1980s, including with the band Blackjack. Bolton achieved mainstream success in the late 1980s and 1990s with a series of... read more
I guess there were many rumors after Dio's departure from Black Sabbath in the early 80s. Michael Bolton was one of the names.
The best part: Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath claims that Bolton even auditioned with Black Sabbath for the job. Michael Bolton denies doing that.
I don't know whose memory is better, but there's one thing that is documented: Michael Bolton toured with Black Sabbath at the time with his hard rock band, Blackjack.
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Lita Ford (Black Sabbath)
Lita Rossana Ford is an English-born American rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She was the lead guitarist for The Runaways, an all-female rock band formed in the late 1970s by Joan Jett and Sandy West. Ford launched a solo career in the 1980s, becoming known for her hard rock sound and hits... read more
In the mid-80s, there were rumors of Lita Ford singing for Black Sabbath when she was dating Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath's leader).
How she ended up singing a duet with Ozzy, who was kicked out of the band, is a mystery. Or revenge (Lita and Tony broke up). Her song with Ozzy was Close My Eyes Forever, 1988.
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Eddie Van Halen (Kiss)
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (January 26, 1955 - October 6, 2020) was a Dutch-American musician, songwriter, producer, and inventor. He was best known as the lead guitarist, occasional keyboardist, and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. He is widely recognized for pioneering guitar techniques... read more
According to Gene Simmons' book, Eddie Van Halen lobbied to be Ace Frehley's replacement in Kiss.
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Steven Tyler (Led Zeppelin)
Similar to Myles Kennedy, Steven Tyler also reportedly auditioned with Led Zeppelin when Page wanted to revive the band without Plant.
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Meg White (Rush)
Megan Martha "Meg" White is an American drummer known for her work with Jack White in the Detroit rock duo The White Stripes. Her minimalist drumming style became a defining feature of the band's raw and garage rock sound. The White Stripes gained international acclaim with hits like "Seven Nation Army... read more
A joke rumor swirled following Neil Peart's retirement from Rush in 2015 that Meg was going to replace him.
Of course, this was all a joke. The mere idea that the mind behind the simple Seven Nation Army drumming was going to replace the mind behind the ever-complex rhythms of Tom Sawyer and 2112 was ludicrous.