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Band Member Changes Over Time

Was reading a few articles over the last few days about bands with key band member changes. This got me to thinking about how I felt about some bands I like and follow and if it changes my perception of the band. Some random examples...

  1. Genesis: Peter Gabriel left and Phil Collins steps up. This happened way before I discovered them so Phil was the lead singer in my eye and to my ears. I was also listening to Peter Gabriel's solo catalog and went back to early Genesis albums. In this case, while I like both, I prefer Phil overall. 
  2. Styx: Dennis DeYong leaves and Lawrence Gowan eventually steps in for the long hall - being with the band longer than Dennis. Similar to Genesis - I discovered Styx with Dennis as a major influence and sort of lean to this era. Now, I did see them on a few tours with Lawerence and he does a great job and was well received. That being said, when Dennis was not there I felt the band was missing something which I locked onto when I discovered them.
  3. Pink Floyd: This was not so much a replacement but a missing member when Rodger decided to move on. I discovered Floyd with the release of The Wall and went on to be a huge fan of all eras - even after he departed. There are brilliant songs on all the albums and is a testament to what Gilmour, Wright, and Mason brought to the table. 

In my case, the discovery of these bands was right at the end of middle school or the beginning of high school. MTV also played a big factor. I can see the Abacab video like it was yesterday or the Styx "Caught in the Act Concert" played on a Saturday night which I loved. Around 12 years later I had an opportunity to hang out with Dennis for a few hours while he was working on a project here in town.

Being young when the discovering a band might haven something to do with being sensitive to the form of the band. There are many fine examples of new members bringing a positive influence to a group, but the members at the time of the discovery seems to influence how one views a group when key band members change.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

 

 

dvddesigner

Showing 1 response by dadork

dadork
633 posts
 

This is a topic I think on once in awhile. Junior in HS when The Wall came out and it was my first real exposure to Pink Floyd then on with life and other matters kept me from hearing much more. Now they are one of my favorite groups and I much prefer their very early albums. At first I thought many of the songs were absurdly self gratuitous. They were and I love it! They are very musical though. Complex. I can't help but laugh out loud every time I listen to Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In a Cave and Grooving with a Pict. 

Anyhoo, my favorite band had a change in their line up after their first album and I think it made them who they were. Rush wouldn't have achieved the the success they did without him. Some bands can't survive the departure of a key member. Some bands live on without any original semblance of themselves. I think Great White has had 41 different members. I still don't consider Foreigner to be Foreigner without Lou Graham. Journey isn't Journey without Steve Perry. Pink Floyd though survived and did well without Waters. I appreciated their music with him but I often had to disregard his lyrics and daddy issues. Syd Barrett was a genius IMO before his cheese slid off the cracker.

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