Musical Groups With Only One Original Member Left

Declan A Walsh

Inspired by my previous thread about musical groups with no original members left, here is one about musical groups which have (or had in its last lineup if now defunct) only one original member left in the lineup.

Here are some examples:

Angus Young - lead guitarist with ACDC - I don't think I need to explain what he looks like

Pete Agnew - bassist with Nazareth

Nick Mason - drummer with Pink Floyd

Steve Harris - bassist with Iron Maiden. He is the founder and leader of the band (not saying lead vocalist, in case there's confusion there!). As an aside, guitarist Dave Murray is not far behind, not an original member but having been in the band for the majority of its existence and been on all their studio albums.

Graham Gouldman - bassist, guitarist and sometimes lead vocalist with 10cc (think Dreadlock Holiday in his case!)

The latter example is an interesting one as he basically kept the 10cc group going with his lineup. It raises the question of when is a band not a band, i.e. in reality, one person with a load of session musicians? For example, I would not give Matt Johnson of The The as an example as it is largely him. An official solo album by him was subsequently re-designated as a The The album! What about Simply Red? It is certainly Mick Hucknall's project these days, but it does have an official lineup, so probably does count. It started off as a band. So, in that context, he definitely is/was the last original member!

(Previous thread (plug!!):

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058229095/musical-groups-without-any-of-the-original-members-left#latest )

The Mighty Quinn

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. The original disbanded just before Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile), he recruited new band members to be Cockney Rebel leaving himself as the only original member.

Lynyrd Skynyrd have only one original member left also, Gary Rossington.

The Mighty Quinn

An interesting question to ask instead of "when is a band not a band", but rather, "at what point does a band become a cover band"! My Lynyrd Skynyrd example feels to me largely like a cover band to be honest, there's a bunch of people playing songs they didn't write or have anything to do with.

I think Thin Lizzy played until relatively recently with no original members, surely that's a cover band? Scott Gorham still plays with them when they perform, and to his credit he was around with them since the 70s and did play on their 4th album onwards (for about 10 albums!) - so probably not a cover band to be fair in this instance, but you get my drift.

Masala

Status Quo.....???? If they still going without Parfitt with only Rossi left

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118721020#Comment_118721020

It does count because Rick Parfitt left Status Quo earlier in 2016, before he passed away, and they continued without him, with Francis Rossi being the sole original member left. It does not matter if a group no longer exists, as long as their last lineup had only one original member left.

Declan A Walsh

Here is another example: The Fall. Mark E Smith was the sole remaining original member left until they folded due to his demise.

Strumms

Buzzcocks, just Steve Diggle as the remaining original member, the rest of the band are young lads literally looking half the guys age, … bit of a pîsstake him touring and doing so under the moniker Buzzcocks…it’s not the Buzzcocks. It’s 67 year old Diggle and friends or session lads…

saw them with original member, songwriter and frontman Pete Shelley in ‘06 and ‘12 and they were excellent… really were, for auld fellas they’d acres of energy, determination and enthusiasm, for lads hitting 50 they were loud, intense and they could play and enjoy themselves.

Now the lead guitarist is the lead singer, hmm nahhh.

Declan A Walsh

Two German bands with only one remaining original member:

Ralf Hütter - Kraftwerk - he was one of the two founders of the band.

Marian Gold - Alphaville - lead vocalist

Billy Mays

Jason Pierce - Spiritualized vocalist and songwriter

Declan A Walsh

The late Steve Bronski was the only remaining original member of the Bronski Beat when the band stopped in 2018 due to his ill-health.

Declan A Walsh

Here's some more:

Philip Oakey, singer with The Human League. He has been the only remaining original member since founding members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left in 1980. Just for clarity, his mate Philip Adrian Wright did not join until 1978 (band started in 1977), but, in any event, he left in 1986.

Ian Anderson, singer, flautist and sometimes guitarist with Jethro Tull. In fact, for the majority of its long existence, he has been the only original member left!

Luke Steele, singer and multi-instrumentalist with The Sleepy Jackson. He is better known as the lead vocalist of Empire of The Sun.

Declan A Walsh

The Commodores is another example. Keyboardist, trumpeter and guitarist William King is the only member left from the original line up of 1968. In fairness, the other two official members in the current line up have been around a while in the Commodores: drummer and vocalist Walter Orange (1972 and every studio album) and vocalist and keyboardist J.D. Nicholas (1984).

Declan A Walsh

Singer and guitarist David Gedge is the only original member of The Wedding Present left, and its been that way for a long time.

Declan A Walsh

Simon Nicol is currently the only original member left in Fairport Convention from its formation in 1967. It should be pointed out, though, that he did leave the group for five years during the 1970s, and bass player Dave Pegg, who joined the group in 1969, has actually been in the group longer than Simon.

Declan A Walsh

Cast is another example. Its singer John Power is the only original member left.

The LAs, John Power's previous band where he was its bassist for much of its existence, is a funny one. Does it count when there was only one member, i.e. Mike Badger -it's original vocalist? If so, there are no original members left, i.e. Mike Badger! However, if it does not count until it had other members, the guitarist turned lead vocalist Lee Mavers, who joined the following year, was the only remaining original member left for the majority of its existence.

endacl

Cro-mags.

Both versions.

Declan A Walsh

Guitarist Chris Britton is the only original member left in The Troggs, a band which continues to this day but is most associated with the '60s.

Here is one that might surprise you. Technically, drummer Mick Fleetwood is the only remaining member from the original line up of Fleetwood Mac. The band was formed in 1967 by its then lead guitarist and main vocalist and songwriter Peter Green. He named the band after the rhythm section that he wanted, namely Mick and bassist John McVie. McVie did not join straight away - Bob Brunning was the first official bassist. Later in the same year, John did join and has been there ever since. There is a live recording featuring Bob, but all other recordings feature John.

Declan A Walsh

There is of course Chic where guitarist and band leader Nile Rodgers is the only remaining original member. One could debate if it really is a band, or a solo act with a large array of session musicians, since the death of his songwriting partner, fellow Chic founder and bassist Bernard Edwards.

Tork

Martin Fry is the only one left in ABC. Technically, ABC is a solo project these days. Does that count?

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119017333#Comment_119017333

It's that dilemma again! Simply Red, Chic, The Buzzcocks (Steve Diggle), 10CC (Graham Gouldman). All of them, including ABC, started off as groups. I never included The The because it really was one person's group, i.e. Matt Johnson!

gabria

Can't believe the Cure haven't been mentioned yet. They're often thought as Robert Smith & revolving-door backing band. But actually the bassist Simon Gallup has been there since nearly the start

Declan A Walsh

Here is another one, but it has been dominated by its sole original member for years: Whitesnake with lead vocalist David Coverdale.

mossie11

The Eagles: Don Henley is the only original member in the current line up...

Declan A Walsh

Rock and roll band Showaddywaddy has one original member left in its current line up: drummer Romeo Challenger. This was after the only other remaining original member after 2011, bassist Rod Deas, left the band in 2019. (Original member and vocalist Dave Bartram left in 2011.)

Arguably, The Zombies is another example, with its founder keyboardist and second lead vocalist Rod Argent being the only member still involved from its original formation. It is arguable because it did not really complete its formation until lead vocalist Colin Blunstone became part of the line up, and he is in the current line up.

Declan A Walsh

Drummer Ian Paice is the only original member left in Deep Purple from 1968, and was in every single line up. To be fair, the current bassist Roger Glover first joined in 1969 and was in the band for the majority of its line ups after that, with the exception of 1973-1976. Also, to be fair, current lead vocalist Ian Gillen also first joined in 1969 - he was out of the band between 1973-1976 and 1989-1992. Still, Ian Paice has managed to be there all the way. EDIT: I had left out the singer's name!

Ritchie Blackmore, a former guitarist with Deep Purple, is the only remaining original member from Rainbow. It has been that way for the majority of its existence in fact! It is very much his band and again it is one of those grey areas.

Moving from heavy rock to heavy metal... Guitarist and sometimes lead vocalist Paul Samson was the last remaining original member of Samson before it folded in 2002. Again, like others, I think it evolved more or less into his band.

In an earlier post, I referred to Fairport Convention's only remaining original member (Simon Nichol). Steeleye Span was another folk band, which was formed by an ex-member of Fairport Convention. It, too, has one remaining original member - vocalist Maddy Prior.

British soul band Hot Chocolate started in 1968 and has one remaining original member in Patrick Olive, who originally was a percussionist, but went on eventually to be the group's bassist as well. To be fair, current drummer Tony Connor and current guitarist Harvey Hinsley have both been in the band since 1970. All three of them have been in every line up since they joined.

Declan A Walsh

Guitarist Alex Liefson was the only original member from 1968 left in Rush before they broke up. In fairness, bassist and frontman Geddy Lee was in Rush for the vast majority of its existence. Drummer Neil Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey in 1974, which gave it its most well-known line up.

rtron

Don't know if it counts but Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher.

Split up to start new versions of the same band.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119072539#Comment_119072539

Well, not exactly. Neither band is Oasis. However, it is true to say that technically Liam Gallagher was the only original member left when Oasis stopped in 2009, as Noel was not actually in the original line up.

mossie11

Dave Hill is still touring with Slade

Declan A Walsh

Electronic combo Hybrid, which is currently a duo, has one remaining original member - Mike Truman.

loyatemu

The Beach Boys - the current line up is Mike Love and Bruce Johnston plus a bunch of sidemen, but Johnston only joined in 1965 as a touring replacement for Brian Wilson and was subsequently made a full member (he also left for several years in the 70s).

The other surviving Boys, Brian W and Al Jardine are currently touring together.

Fairport Convention - they've had a lot of members over the years, but Simon Nicol is the only original member in the current lineup.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119266932#Comment_119266932

Have Brian Wilson and Al Jardine left the Beach Boys? From checking Wikipedia, it does not seem so, whatever about touring arrangements.

loyatemu

it's debatable - there were 2 versions touring in the 90s followed by a lawsuit that resulted in Mike Love getting ownership of the name.

For the 50th anniversary in 2012 the surviving members (plus early member David Marks) recorded an album and toured; but afterwards the Love/Johnson version of the band resumed touring and Wilson and Jardine are effectively not involved anymore and aren't allowed use the name in any way.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119267098#Comment_119267098

It's mad that the creative genius behind their sound in the 1960s (BW) is not allowed use their name.

loyatemu

Brian's only been loosely connected to the band since the late 60s, some albums he's barely on due to his mental problems. For better or worse, Mike Love's been the guy that's kept the show (permanently) on the road for the last 30 years or so.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119267124#Comment_119267124

well tony iommi can’t use the name black sabbath unless Ozzy is in the band which to me is just stupid.

Itssoeasy

Duke Fakir is the only one of the four tops still in the band and only one alive.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119267281#Comment_119267281

I was deliberately excluding vocal-only groups from this thread and just concentrating on groups who actually play music.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119267334#Comment_119267334

Fair enough but the point still stands that he’s the only one left in the group.

Declan A Walsh

Bassist and joint lead vocalist Jean-Jacques Burnel has been the only original member left in The Stranglers since the death of keyboardist Dave Greenfield in 2020.

Shakyfan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119267124#Comment_119267124

Bucks Fizz are in the ludicrous position that there are 3 of them still touring and recording together but have to call themselves The Fizz because the rights to the name are owned by the only other original member - Bobby G!

Shakyfan

Smokie had just one original member in their line-up - bassist Terry Uttley - until his death in December 2021. He was with them from the start barring a 2 year period from 1966 to 1968.

Declan A Walsh

The Canterbury-based rock band Caravan formed in 1968 has only one original member left - its vocalist and guitarist Pye Hastings. It should be pointed out, though, that two of its current line up - multi-instrumentalist Geoffrey Richardson and keyboardist Jan Shelhaas - first joined Caravan during the 1970s.

Declan A Walsh

Survivor has just one original member left, namely lead guitarist Frankie Sullivan.

Declan A Walsh

Here is another one: Liverpool Express and its bassist and lead vocalist Billy Kinsley. They are a pop band who had a few hits in the 1970s and are best known around these parts for You Are My Love.

And another one:

King Crimson, prog rock band, and its lead guitarist Robert Fripp.

Tork

Prog rock band Camel which has a bit of a cult following, only has original lead singer/guitarist Andrew Latimer still in the line-up

Declan A Walsh

American thrash metal band Megadeth has one remaining original member in lead vocalist, guitarist and frontman Dave Mustaine.

is_that_so

Jeff Lynne is the only original member of ELO as you can tell from its current name! Bevan (who co-owns the original name with Lynne) and Tandy didn't join until a few years after it was formed.

Declan A Walsh

British Rock band Wishbone Ash - Andy Powell, vocalist and guitarist.

Declan A Walsh

Post-punk/new wave band Department S - Eddie Roxy, keyboardist turned lead vocalist.

Declan A Walsh

English hard rock band Humble Pie - Jerry Shirley, drummer.

American R&B/funk band The Dazz Band - Bobby Harris, saxophonist and singer.