Can Two Bands Have The Exact Same Members?

Garf

Can the exact same group of musicians form two (or more) bands? Like let's say there are four members in a band - could they make a second band with the exact same four members, but with a different name (and probably a different genre or some reason to do this), while their other band still exists?

(Legally / business-wise I'm sure they can.) The question here isn't just *can* but also *should* they and/or *does* it happen? (Are there any examples?)

Like would the fans accept it? To me something feels off about the idea of it. Now, if they switched up the line-up even just a little bit, e.g. had a different guitarist for the 2nd band, or they dropped a member for the 2nd band, fair enough (e.g. side projects).

I suppose I'm trying to understand the abstract definition of a band (again, not just legally / business-wise).

eoinzy2000

Its the same band if its got the same members. But really though, you can do whatever the feck you want. Nothing to stop you changing the name of the band after every song if you like, doesn't mean its not the same band though.

Ash.J.Williams

Garf wrote: »

Can the exact same group of musicians form two (or more) bands? Like let's say there are four members in a band - could they make a second band with the exact same four members, but with a different name (and probably a different genre or some reason to do this), while their other band still exists?

(Legally / business-wise I'm sure they can.) The question here isn't just *can* but also *should* they and/or *does* it happen? (Are there any examples?)

Like would the fans accept it? To me something feels off about the idea of it. Now, if they switched up the line-up even just a little bit, e.g. had a different guitarist for the 2nd band, or they dropped a member for the 2nd band, fair enough (e.g. side projects).

I suppose I'm trying to understand the abstract definition of a band (again, not just legally / business-wise).

Artistically yes bands do it all the time sometimes for fun. From a business perspective I'm sure if a wedding band suffered a horrific review on social media they might form a second band... Then there's original bands that make a crust on the cover circuit... Actually anyone can do anything...

Also a professional band would trade under a company name or get paid by management so they can perform under any band name as long as the company get paid

Garf

eoinzy2000 wrote: »

Its the same band if its got the same members. But really though, you can do whatever the feck you want. Nothing to stop you changing the name of the band after every song if you like, doesn't mean its not the same band though.

Yeah so we both acknowledge it's the same band in one way, but we also acknowledge in another way they can be different bands.

Note however I'm more referring to not just a name change but like two or more projects going on simultaneously. That raises the question though: is a name change a new band?

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Artistically yes bands do it all the time sometimes for fun.

Any examples? (I believe you, I just want an example to google as a reference to see such in action. Maybe there are really obvious examples.)

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

From a business perspective I'm sure if a wedding band suffered a horrific review on social media they might form a second band... Then there's original bands that make a crust on the cover circuit... Actually anyone can do anything...

Also a professional band would trade under a company name or get paid by management so they can perform under any band name as long as the company get paid

As I said in my opening post I acknowledged that legally / business-wise this can be done, of course, but I'm more concentrating on the non-legal/business side of things (e.g. what eoinzy2000 said: "Its the same band if its got the same members").

The originals vs covers idea is a thing I thought about - I think it's the most concrete example we have thought of so far.

eoinzy2000

What point are you trying to make/discover? I dont understand. A band is a band. Change the band and its a different band. Change the music set and its just the same band doing a different set. All the rest is bollox.

eoinzy2000

What point are you trying to make/discover? I dont understand. A band is a band. Change the band and its a different band. Change the music set and its just the same band doing a different set. All the rest is bollox

Ursus Horribilis

Are you one of the three original members of the Sugababes? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutya_Keisha_Siobhan

eoinzy2000

Black sabbath played last friday. But the drummer was some young'un, therefore it was 3 members of sabbath and a drummer playing sabbath songs. Doesnt make the music any better or worse though in all fairness, well, unless the stand in is pure gash.

Delacent

From a business / legal view think of Musgraves.

They are involved in selling food.

Musgrave foodservice
Musgrave wholesale
Super valu
Centra
Daybreak.

All one company, but different styles targeting different markets.

So same can apply for bands.

noby

Garf wrote: »

Any examples? (I believe you, I just want an example to google as a reference to see such in action. Maybe there are really obvious examples.)

I'm sure there are others, but the one I'm most familiar with is The Wedding Present and Cinerama.

Cinerama started as a side-project, when Wedding Present were on hold. As the music became more and more like Wedding Present songs (and more of the original band joined the side-project), it morphed back into the original band. Now they can occasionally interchange.



From the Wiki page:
"Although Cinerama officially no longer exists, a band perform a short set under the name Cinerama at each of David Gedge's "At the edge of.." festivals. The line up usually comprises the current Wedding Present lineup but with the musicians switching their usual instruments."


Edit: On the local scene the covers/originals seems to be not uncommon.

ted1

Delacent wrote: »

From a business / legal view think of Musgraves.

They are involved in selling food.

Musgrave foodservice
Musgrave wholesale
Super valu
Centra
Daybreak.

All one company, but different styles targeting different markets.

So same can apply for bands.

I'm sure that each company is an individual register company with limited liability for each one.
Actually your example is just wrong.

mick121

If memory serves me correctly there were 3 bands in Dublin around late 80s early 90s all the same members just playing different music.the Joshua trio (playing u2).tony st James (tom Jones etc) and my favourite the glam tarts(glam rock).I could be wrong but I think it was the same people.