Is it worth seeing a band without their lead singer ?

[Mikey]

Just wondering,

There's a few older bands touring the Poconos next month and i'd really like to see them, but their lead singers are now long gone.

Is it worth going ?

Does the lead singer make the band ?

Incase you want to know what bands i'm talking about they're Three Dog Night and The Guess Who

[EMCE Hammer]

I can't imagine TGW without Cummings. They were back together for awhile a few years ago, including Bachman. Cummings is working on his solo stuff again, not sure about the rest of them.

As for Three Dog Night, I'd never know the difference.

[MIB41]

Wow. I guess that's a big judgement call there. Hmmmm. I would go out on Youtube and see if you can find a recent performance and see if they sound any good or not. That's the beauty of Youtube these days. You can do your review of concerts before you pay big money to see them.

[Mikey]

I didn't see a picture of Cummins in the group shot poster for the concert -- so I checked Wiki, and wiki doesn't list him as a current member.

[Riffster]

I was wondering that myself...Creedance Clear water revisited? yeah i think without Foggery it's not worth it

[Gorn Captain]

Judging from Queen, I'd say the answer to your question is a definite NO.

[kingdom warrior]

I think it does Queen is Nothing without Freddie Mercury.Journey sucks without Steve Perry.Aerosmith without Tyler would suck. The Rolling Stones without Jagger wouldn't be the Stones.....and so on.

[Sowth]

As far as Aussie bands go I would recommend as follows:

ACDC = Yes, INXS = No.



Will

[thomasjo_2093]

To me it really depends on my frame of mind when I see a show like that. If I go in with the attitiude that they are a cover band I am usually not disappointed. If the band is crap though it all goes out the window.

John

[Mikey]

The tickets are only like 35 bucks so I guess it's worth it even they do stink

[Adam West]

I was going to say something about the price. If the tickets are reasonable and the music is good then I would go.

Nobody will ever replace Freddie Mercury but I would go see Queen if they had a decent singer and the ticket prices were not ridiculously high.

[Cosmicman]

This is a good question.

I write for a local rock paper column and so I might have some opinions. I have included links to back up my statement if you want to read more past this thread.

So....
There are some bands that actually make it past without their famous front man. For an example David Lee Roth exits, enter Sammy Hagar.
At first a lot of people thought it was a joke but Van Halen wound up selling more records then ever.

Then there are bands like Deep Purple. They have replaced their "famous front man" (Ian Gillan) on a couple occasions. The first time Ian Gillan was "replaced" when he quit they had to bring in two singers to replace his amazing vocal range, enter David Coverdale (of later Whitesnake fame) and Glen Hughes. Not so successful of a lineup but it sold records.

Later when Ian returns in the 80s Deep Purple is successful again until he exits after old trouble with guitar player Richie Blackmore surfaces again, enter Joe Lynn Turner. One of the worse Deep Purple records of all time. The record company threatens to pull their deal of Ian Gillan isn't returned to Deep Purple.

Ian Gillan returns and to this day he is the vocalist for Deep Purple. Richie Blackmore (the famous Deep Purple guitarist) throws a temper tantrum and quits and is replaced by Steve Morse and nobody really seems to notice as much as they did when Ian Gillan left. Deep Purple has been on a semi-successful era since with touring and incredible new records like "Bananas" and "Rapture of The Deep".

Then you got bands like Led Zeppelin. They are smart. They know that Led Zeppelin is Robert Plant on vocals. No one in that band has or has ever dared to become Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant because the fans and public would eat them alive. Enter....nobody.

Of course there is KISS. They will never replace their two lead vocalists Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. They know that the KISS vocal sound would not be KISS. They have kept to their KISS name. Unfortunately the back up guys Ace Frehley and Peter Criss have met their untimely demise in KISS because they were not the star runners. A completely different type of scenario.

So it seems to work both ways in the rock n roll world. Some bands are brave enough to do it and some know better then to replace their lead singer.
It also works opposite as far as lead singer-wise.

Skid Row has replaced their famous lead singer Sebastian Bach and they have not been heard of since. Once in awhile you hear about Skid Row opening here and there for someone or playing a local bar. As for Sebastian Bach, he has went on and became more successful with his solo band and the majority of the Skid Row fans have followed him and his record sales have sky rocketed beyond what his former band has done without him.

Last example is Creed. Scott Stapp who obviously has or had a drinking issue and caused friction with the band for many years. Creed pulls a smart move. They replace Scott Stapp with a very talented singer named Myles Kennedy and change their name to Altar Bridge and go on to release two successful albums under their new moniker.
I could go on with bands like Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath but I am sure you have all heard them.
So to answer your question. In those examples above. It varies. I think it varies on the level of how well the band is and how well the fans adapt. The examples above pretty much sum up every band in history that has either replaced their leader singer or found ways to carry on.

[The Bat]

First reaction is an easy NO!! I can't stand Van/Haggar!!

However...they're are a few exceptions to this rule. Off the bat, I can only think of two where the Lead Singer was successfully replaced.

AC/DC
Joy Division/New Order

[Mikey]

Don't forget Pink Floyd.

Who the heck is this new guy Dave Gilmour ?

[Cosmicman]

First reaction is an easy NO!! I can't stand Van/Haggar!!

You were not alone but however, there were a lot of people who disagreed with yours and mine opinions and Van Halen was successful. One of the weirdest yet iconic events in rock n roll history.