Musical Groups With Only One Original Member Left

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.