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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 )

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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.

Declan A Walsh

English rock band Spear of Destiny - Kirk Brandon, singer

Declan A Walsh

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

Declan A Walsh

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

Andy Scott of Sweet [or The Sweet]

supernova5

Rudolf Schenker of the legendary Scorpions

Declan A Walsh

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

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

Declan A Walsh

American rock band Journey - Neil Schon, lead guitarist

Declan A Walsh

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

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