Musical Groups With Only One Original Member Left

Declan A Walsh · 29-06-2022 02:19PM

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 · 29-06-2022 02:35PM

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 · 29-06-2022 02:40PM

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 · 29-06-2022 02:43PM

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 · 29-06-2022 03:04PM

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 · 29-06-2022 03:07PM

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

Declan A Walsh · 29-06-2022 03:20PM

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 · 29-06-2022 03:31PM

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 · 06-07-2022 09:53PM

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 · 09-07-2022 04:50PM

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 · 09-07-2022 04:54PM

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 · 23-07-2022 01:16PM

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 · 03-08-2022 09:06PM

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

Declan A Walsh · 05-08-2022 02:41PM

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 · 05-08-2022 02:48PM

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 · 08-08-2022 02:38PM

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

is_that_so · 08-08-2022 02:51PM

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 · 11-08-2022 01:49PM

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

Declan A Walsh · 13-08-2022 02:48PM

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

Declan A Walsh · 28-08-2022 06:05PM

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

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

Declan A Walsh · 31-08-2022 08:56PM

English rock band Spear of Destiny - Kirk Brandon, singer

Declan A Walsh · 09-09-2022 12:56PM

Scottish psychedelic rock and electronic band The Shamen - Colin Angus, guitarist, vocalist and keyboardist.

Declan A Walsh · 12-09-2022 06:58PM

English rock band The Strawbs -Dave Cousins - main lead vocalist, also plays guitar, banjo dulcimer and autoharp. He is the only member that goes back to the 1960s, never mind 1963 when it started! In fairness, three of the other members first joined during the 1970s as well.

supernova5 · 12-09-2022 07:44PM

Andy Scott of Sweet [or The Sweet]

supernova5 · 12-09-2022 07:51PM

Rudolf Schenker of the legendary Scorpions

Declan A Walsh · 12-09-2022 10:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119609341#Comment_119609341

In fact, Andy Scott was not an original member of the band Sweet. The Sweet broke up during the 1980s and splintered into various versions, including Andy Scott's Sweet. You could say that he was the last original member of that particular band alright!

Declan A Walsh · 28-09-2022 09:41PM

American alternative rock band Throwing Muses - Krirstin Hersh, lead vocalist and guitarist.

Declan A Walsh · 29-09-2022 11:56AM

American rock band Journey - Neil Schon, lead guitarist

Declan A Walsh · 05-10-2022 09:53PM

These are all in the "grey" area - bands turning into one individual with session players:

English rock band The Cutting Crew - Nick Van Eade, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist

English punk rock band Splodgenessabounds - Mick Splodge, lead vocalist and trombonist

English punk rock band Spizzenergi - Spizz, lead vocalist and guitarist

Declan A Walsh · 09-10-2022 07:38PM

English humorous pop band The Barron Knights - Pate Langford- guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist

Musical Groups With Only One Original Member Left

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