So Who Can’t Be Replaced?

Yesterday’s discussion about Quiet Riot reforming with a new singer got me to thinking…is everyone replaceable? I always say everyone is replaceable at a “normal” job. Of course, lead singer or show-off guitarist is not the most normal job in the world.

I mean, AC/DC is more successful now than they were with their original singer. Def Leppard kept right on even after Steve Clark died and many argued he was the most talented member of the band. The Rev in Avenged Sevenfold was so much more than your run-of-the-mill drummer and yet the band soldiers on, with a number 1 record and sold out shows.

So maybe every musician can be replaced. Sure, there’s no replacement for John Lennon or Elvis but maybe there are people just as good. Maybe we just haven’t found them yet. Or maybe rock n’ roll is a casualty of globalization just like everything else: a worldwide labor pool means the next best singer or guitarist could be in Manhattan or Milan.

So I dare you. Tell me just who can’t be replaced.

Comments

[Bob]

GNR, excellent call on Lemmy. No Lemmy, not even a shred of Motorhead!

[nirVrana]

I think the main point is whether the new version of the band continues to write original material or not, and whether it is any good. If they do, then they successfully replaced that member. If they just throw a band together for some festivals, it is just ok.

Now, two of my favorite shows of the whole year were Slash and Adler's Appetite. Having at least one member of the band gives you a small taste of what it was like, and if that is all you can get it, then just enjoy it.

My favorite show this year might just be A7x, and a huge part is who you get to replace someone. Mike Portnoy is one of the best drummers, songwriters and band leaders of our generation, even if *some people* can't keep up with his playing. If he becomes permanent, they will continue to be one of the top bands around. He took Rev's songs and added to them, so they will be just fine.

Kix trying to write without Donnie has not even been attempted, so you just enjoy them as one of the best live shows today. It takes nothing away from their live show whether he is there or not.

Journey wrote new songs with the new singer and it makes all the difference, it is just as good as any of their previous albums, so this version is legitimate and amazing.

So, really it all depends on if the new band can write material just as good as the other band did, then it is all peaches and cream.

Speaking of peaches and cream, Def Leppard has been bollocks since Steve died, they have not put out any music anywhere close to what Steve put out. Vivian Campbell used to be in Dio and Whitesnake, for pete's sake, what happened to him when he joined Def?

[Chessie >^..^<]

I have to agree that Kip Winger & David Coverdale can't be replaced, but the caveat to that is that they both are the leader/owners of the bands in question. The Winger lineup went through many changes even before the first album came out--Ken Mary was going to be a member but had to bow out. Winger the band was Kip's idea, and he ran with it for quite a while.

The guy I think can't be replaced in Winger is Reb Beach. Reb has said many a time that he's Robin to Kip's Batman, the ying to the yang, etc. If anything happened and Reb wasn't a member anymore, I think Kip would shut down the band because Reb's guitar work has always been an essential part to their sound. Plus a vast majority of the songs are written by Winger/Beach.

As far as Whitesnake...Reb could leave them now and they'd be okay. (Good grief, they've already lost Uriah and Timothy in the past month!). Reb has always said his primary gig is Winger.

We shall see. ;)

Chessie >^..^<

[GNR]

No Axl, No GnR :)

[JT]

Chessie, Batman had more than one Robin. At least 2, maybe 3 or more (I can't remember for sure). No, Batman can't be replaced...but Robin can.

I think nirVana hit the nail on the head...if the remaining members of a band can write new material that rocks, then anyone can be replaced. It (amazingly) worked for AC/DC and Van Halen, and to a much lesser degree for Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, and Guns N' Roses. Even Skid Row has released a few albums post-Bach, and regardless of whether you like those albums, it says *something* that they were able to release them at all...someone thought they sounded good enough to be heard by the general public.

[Hootue]

Pretty much anyone can be replaced! Haw many bands have NEVER toured or played without an orignal member?

[Cienza]

Ronnie James Dio, period. (sniffle, weep, sniffle)

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