Deciding whether a band has maintained its core identity comes down to more of a gut feeling than any fixed rules. Feel free to provide your own answers to the question: Does it count?
1. Pink Floyd … without bassist-songwriter Roger Waters (despite the band previously carrying on without original visionary Syd Barrett).
2. The Who … without drummer Keith Moon.
3. The Who … without Moon or bassist John Entwistle.
4. The Pretenders … with Chrissie Hynde the only original member.
5. Smashing Pumpkins … with Billy Corgan the only original member.
6. Hole … with Courtney Love the only original member.
7. Wilco … with Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt the only original members.
8. Styx, Yes and Journey … without lead singers Dennis DeYoung, Jon Anderson and Steve Perry respectively.
9. R.E.M. … without drummer-songwriter Bill Berry.
10. Phish … after a five-year hiatus.
11. Genesis … without Peter Gabriel.
12. Genesis … without Phil Collins.
13. Fleetwood Mac … without singer-songwriter Christine McVie (despite many previous lineup changes).
14. Steely Dan … with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker after a 20-year gap.
15. Devo … with a different drummer and 20 years between albums.
Mark Caro‘s Answers
Yes: 7, 10, 11, 15
No: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12
Um … sorta-kinda but not really: 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14
What do you think? Any other bands that deserve an asterisk (Alice in Chains, INXS)? Email mcaro@tribune.com
— M.C.
