Top Ten Bands | Replaced Key Members (And Became More Successful)

[@alexlifeson6917]

Totally agree with your number one pick. It's mind boggling when you think that Alex and Geddy were just trying to find a replacement for their former drummer and not only did they end up with the greatest rock drummer ever, but one of the greatest lyricists as well. Talk about winning the musical lottery. Their musical vision lasted 4 decades and garnered immense respect from their peers and fans alike - all the while hardly getting any airplay and beatdowns from critics. A true Canadian success story and my hometown heroes.

[@disgruntledtoons]

I regard rock music critics--most especially everyone who drew a paycheck from Rolling Stone magazine--as the most pretentious people of all. It takes massive degrees of self-delusion to believe that anyone needs your input in order to know whether an album playing on the radio is any good.

[@christopherclark1721]

Honourable mention should go to Jefferson Airplane when Signe Anderson was replaced by powerhouse Grace Slick turning the band from Byrds wannabees to acid rock monsters.

[@jefftide2166]

Spot on Neil Peart. Should be at or near the top of everyone's list. Total game changer.

[@francisbee69]

Glad you mentioned Justin Hayward, that rare combination of a wonderful, plaintive voice, exquisite musicianship and peerless songwriting. He should be more lauded.

[@johncollier9280]

I think Martin Barre replacin' Mick Abrahams was the key to Jethro Tull's success. Same with when Ringo replaced Pete Best in The Fab Four.

[@mattrogers1946]

I totally agree 👍

[@mattrogers1946]

How could those not make this list.

[@cobar5342]

Agreed. Barre is massively great

[@mccallosone4903]

well, you beat me to this comment by a year

[@stuartmazzeo2516]

First time i saw TULL, i said "Nothing can top this!" Till the second time i saw TULL. Then the third, fourth...

[@paulwheeldon3075]

I’m pleased that you included Justin Hayward in this list, but I can’t believe that Martin Barre joining Jethro Tull isn’t in there!

[@derekroberts6654]

Justin’s predecessor went on to be with Paul and Linda McCartney though… so it wasn’t all bad for him.

[@iSkully99]

I think my favorite example is Michael Schenker joining UFO. The band wasn’t bad before but Schenker really gave them their iconic sound and elevated them to british hard rock legends.

[@patvanderreest7416]

I believe most people tend to think of UFO as being German rather than British.

[@hawnyfox3411]

' @@patvanderreest7416 = That's REALLY bizarre, given that 4/5th's of the band WERE English (British) .

[@hawnyfox3411]

F.N.L.N = Fully agree, but I also equally LOVE the Paul "Tonka" Chapman era

[@TheGamecock366]

I actually liked Fleeetwood Mac's time as a blues band,

[@jamesthousandkings5406]

Steve Hackett joining Genesis for Nursery Cryme is my pick. That string of six records up to Wind & Wuthering is untouchable. Can't equal Peart & Gilmour's influence though, got to give you that.

[@b2tall239]

In spite of a conspicuous lack of writing credits, I believe it's no coincidence that Taylor's arrival in the Stones coincided with a period of amazing output from the band. Agree with all your examples here. Thanks, Barry.

[@TZ1000-zu7ki]

But it is difficult to ignore their string of hits from the 1960s with Brian Jones that are the foundation of their legend.

[@davidbutterworth9609]

Bloody hell. That was good. The comments about Peart and Rush, absolutely spot on. Thank you.

[@scottjackson163]

Great list. I anticipated 5 of them. I thought you might mention Pete Best to Ringo Starr.

[@John-k6f9k]

Pete was hoping he'd mention it too ;( (sad violin music....)

[@kevinmcc3147]

I agree with everything on your list only thing when Steve Hackett was gone they were never the same

[@Toggitryggva]

I'd like to mention the arrival of Dave Gregory in XTC to replace Barry Andrews

[@elliskent1515]

Great suggestion...critical to a really important band and one of my favourites...

[@veggie928]

Was honestly expecting this on the list

[@loyalroyal]

Great call

[@jennyjohn704]

This channel is mostly about 70s progressive and hard rock, so XTC are unlikely to make an appearance. They were a great band all the same, IMHO.

[@elliotwalton6159]

Great call on Justin Hayward! Although I'm a fan of Mach 1, no one can deny the explosive reverberations that 'DP in Rock' sent across turntables. I think in some ways Neil Peart was the 'Justin Hayward' of RUSH. He brought an aesthetic to the band through his lyrics and musical style.

[@Harromuso]

You missed Brian Johnson joining AC/DC, when they launched into the stratosphere

[@brucedickinson12]

They were better b4

[@Doviderus]

Ummm....launched by Bon's legacy , properly sold by the industry.

[@dondesmond7969]

His definition was went stratopheric which they did after Back in Black. That also allowed them to be one of the biggest bands on the planet. R.I.P. to all of them that have left us.

[@ACDZ123]

Bon died so it's not like he was fired and Brian made it better. They were already on their way up..Brian just got lucky he got a good gig

[@paulturner4419]

Spot on, Back in Black is their peak and his vocal is better than any with Bon. His stronger voice fits the much heavier guitars better .

[@infernocfc9038]

Top list as always, although I would include Martin Barre joining Jethro Tull.

[@classicalbum]

Good call!

[@domielakrabi3276]

I would add Thin Lizzy replacing founding member Eric Bell with Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson.

[@Foul_Quince]

Ten Best Trade ups (not including Ringo for Pete because I think every sees that one) 10. "Duck Dunn" for Lewis Steinberg in Booker T and The MGs. It wasnt a trade up as such - Lewis wanted to go back to teaching and not tour on the back of the huge hit (and greatest recorded ever) "Green Onions". Booker and the the MG's neither lost not gained anything from the move, but Stax records did and The Dunn/Cropper/Jackson axis became the spine of the Memphis sound in the 60's. Add Otis Redding to the mix and then you really got a funky soul stew goin' on. 9. Freddie Keppard for Buddy Bolden in the Eagle Band. Buddy Bolden was the first legendary jazz musician but he had a mental breakdown in 1907. After packing him off to the bughouse, his band needed a flashy showman with first class chops up front in order to keep the punters dancing inthe Funky Butt club and other such venues. Up came the certainly flashy and showily arrogant Freddie Keppard, who perpetuated the lineage of great NO cornet players. Without him, jazz may have been something very different from what we know today. 8. Phil Rudd for anyone. I've said I before and I will say it again, ACDC dont sound right without Phil Rudd. 7. RH Harris In The Soul Stirrers - The soul Stirrers were a seven piece act (which was huge for a Gospel Group when quartet signing was the accepted style) when RH Harris, their legendary long time leader quit. His replacement - a 19 year old hotshot kid from Clarksdale, Mississippi who was singing in The highway QC's and had a voice that sounded like honey and sandpaper - Sam Cooke. Sam got his big break, Gospel was never the same again, Rock and Roll got its most Urbane black voice and Soul Music got a founding father. What became of RH Harris? He became Sam Cooke's road manager and trusted advisor. What became of Sam Cooke? Now, that's a damn sad story indeed. 6. Steely Dan - those guys for these guys. I'm stretching here but Steely Dan's audacious approach to hiring and firing did give us some remarkable records, create some remarkable musical juxtapositions and in all likelihood saved them a whole bunch of money on payroll taxes. 5. The Drifters and The Drifters and The Drifters. Original lead singer Clyde McPhatter was one of the most exciting singers in early R&B, an idol of Elvis Presley's and the first black artist to earn a $100,000 cash contract. When he went solo, the bands manager George Treadwell (classic sleazy old style manager), rather than cancel gigs to break in a new singer, just sacked the whole band and hired a new one. (Because he owned the name the Drifters, he could do that). They had the great Ben E "Stand By Me" King as a lead singer. When he quit to go solo, that was it for Mark 2 and new a Drifters, with Rudy Lewis was assigned.. And these guys were a hit machine - Up on The Roof, On Broadway, There Goes My Baby. The day before ther are due to go in an and record a sure fire hit in "Under The Boardwalk", Rudy decides to go out an celebrate with a bit of the old heroin. Guess what? That was it for mark 3, but rather than came the session, Johnny Moore stepped up from second tenor to sing a lead that was so sad considering the happy subject matter of the song, it made the record a classic. So - the Drifters, very good at finding lead singers, not so good at keeping them alive or otherwise gainfully employed. 4. John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Lost Eric Clapton, hired a guitarist from Peter B's Looners named Peter Green and that was a great trade up. In March 1965, the Yardbirds lost Eric Clapton and hired a guitarist from Tridents named Jeff Beck and that was a great trade up. Ummm, Eric? 3. Gram Parsons for David Crosby. Had it been possible (contract-y stuff) a year before, Crosby would have joined Buffalo Springfield (he played with them at Monterey, subbing for an in-a-snit Neil Young) and who knows. When Crosby finally got the green light to go off to join Stills, subbing again for a no doubt in-a-snit Neil Young, Chris Hillman brough his buddy Gram Parsons into the band. The result was the amazing Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, the first country rock in as much as it was so legit a country record that the Byrds got to be the first band to be allowed on stage at the grand Ol Opry with drums, a legit rock record because in 1968 the nature of rock was to absorb, incorporate and interpolate and the song list is amazing - the version of "Pretty Boy Floyd" is bitchin' 2. Don't mess with the Godfather. The Famous Flames and James Brown has been together for 15 years. Then, one night in March 1970, they asked him for a payrise. The next night, Brown was onstage with a new band, the JB's, who contained exactly 2 Famous Flames. Within a few weeks they recorded (Get Up I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine and they were all superstars. Then, a year later, the JB's asked James for a payrise.... 1. Tony Williams and Wayne Shorter for Jimmy Cobb and George Coleman. Jimmy Cobb was a great drummer - for a lot of people, it's his gentle, driving swing that *is* The Kind of Blue Album, but Miles wanted to leap forward and the moment he saw William playing for his old drug buddy Jackie Mclean's band, he knew he had found a drummer who could sit in front of his band with the same authority that Cobb could ride behind it. Shortly after Williams joining, Miles who had already pinched the youthful Chicago tyro Herbie Hancock and was making goo goo eyes at hard headed Ron Carter, scooped up Art Blakey's tenor man Wane Shorter for his rotation tenor chair on the promise he could write and perform whatever he wanted to. Thus was born the best band in the world from 1963-1968. Just some thoughts.

[@No.One.Knows.Anything]

I heard it wasn't a a payrise, it was tha one of the band members used JB's private bathroom.

[@natetardini8750]

The best band in the world 1963-1968? Care to think on that?

[@dmlevitt]

fantastic musings. I love your thoughtful post. cheers bud. you know your stuff.

[@olliepops1124]

@@natetardini8750 Hard to argue that, but we should note how much essential and amazing Davis stuff does not feature that greatest band ever. Kind of Blue (and the later version with Kelly replacing Evans), Bitches Brew had just Wayne, the 1st great band with Coltrane (and the pinch that’s available with Rollins that sounds meh)…

[@c.e.anderson558]

Good blow?

[@camoss3724]

Did anyone mention Joe Walsh replacing Bernie Leadon in the Eagles? Hotel California was the group's first album after Walsh joined up.

[@russelljdj]

Felder replaced Bernie. Bernie recruited him. I just wish the Don Henley band(they're Not The Eagles) would go away.

[@darwinxke2827]

Hotel Cal. was recorded before JW joined the band. It was very recently, but JW didn’t have a hand in original recording. They debuted HC the same night as an upcoming S/S opened for them. He debuted a song also. We heard Hotel California and Wasted Away Again in Margaritaville, and JW playing in concert with the Eagles for the first time. 1975?

[@stefanrathert4011]

Eddie Jobson replacing Brian Eno in Roxy Music would be another interesting example for discussing in which direction a band developed or would have developed if the replacement hadn't been done.

[@solfly6]

I completely agree. I love Eno but there’s no denying that Jobson had a profound effect on Roxy’s sound.

[@hankwedelmusic9965]

ENO claims he left Roxy Music because he found himself more concerned onstage one night with having left his laundry behind in the last town than the music he was making… Fair nuff

[@rdspam]

Saw the title and had three immediate thoughts. They were your 1, 2, and 3 👍

[@rollietocups8592]

REO Speedwagon and Kevin Cronin, who once settled in produced big chart success

[@MrCherryJuice]

One could argue the 'more successful' aspect in terms of musicality or commerciality - in some instances both, however, Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale filling Ian Gillan's spot in Deep Purple worked well for me. Jeff Beck replacing Eric Clapton was a reminder of who the real 'God' was...and remains. Clapton replacing Bernie Watson in the Bluesbreakers...then Peter Green taking over Clapton's role when EC formed Cream...then Mick Taylor taking over when PG formed Fleetwood Mac. Yes, Mick Taylor was a transformational addition to the Stones. But two other facts contributed to that: the lads locked into what I call 'Bluesicana' - a combination of blues and americana, and the involvement of Glyn Johns in the recording process. (For me, Taylor as a Bluesbreaker was much more thrilling.) Michael McDonald assuming the frontman role in the Doobie Brothers when Tom Johnson bowed out in the mid 70s was a musical and commercial double-whammy. John Frusicante joining the Chili Peppers is another.

[@dredhead117]

dunno if they're considered classic rock, but Faith No More replacing original vocalist with Chuck Mosley with Mike Patton definitely lauhed that band into the stratosphere

[@warmeggs]

Always entertaining mate and Peart has to be the number one game changer,'kimonos aside' Cheers from Thailand

[@63mckenzie]

I always felt Steve Hackett leaving Genesis had a greater impact on their sound than Gabriel's departure.

[@LazyCat010]

Hackett's departure was definitely bigger, but was overshadowed by Gabriel's. Two albums wasn't quite enough to distinguish the four person lineup from either the previous or following one, at least to a broader audience.

[@terrybono5995]

he was under rated and under appreciated

[@63mckenzie]

@@LazyCat010 Ironically, Rutherford wasn't a good guitarist, so they had to simplify things which made them more accessible.

[@chrisbyrne5358]

Me too

[@63mckenzie]

@@hoskinb1 There's been a few decent moments as a three piece, but generally most of it has been very ordinary.

[@atatterson6992]

Well done on giving the Professor top billing in your list. This cements my high opinion of your... opion :-) Cheers from the left coast of New Britain.

[@17primemover]

Chris Maitland was a great drummer for Porcupine Tree, but adding Gavin Harrison brought a next-level dimension.

[@kunalkumar8217]

Yups! Was just going to write this.

[@lionheartroar3104]

Top channel...appreciate your work.

[@happy_fecker]

I disagree with never hearing another Fleetwood Mac Rumours song but a great list none the less. RIP Christine McVie.

[@classicalbum]

Rumours is one of the best albums.... I have just heard it one too many times

[@stephanierae650]

@@classicalbum Don't apologize. Totally agree. Rumours-& FM-blows.

[@bobbybishop368]

I can still hear " THE CHAIN ' and " YOU MAKE LOVING FUN " a few more times.

[@ShawnKitchen]

One of the first things I thought of was James LaBrie replacing Charlie Dominici in Dream Theater. I always thought Charlie's voice was too soft for DT, and James' voice lent the gravity needed to solidify the rest of the band.

[@backspin6698]

Good list. I think Rush had their "sweetspot" with the albums Permanent waves, Moving Picture and Signals. I liked also Grace under pressure and Power windows.

[@stoneyspring4371]

It's hard to overestimate the impact it had when Topper Headon replaced Terry Chimes in The Clash.

[@kevhead1525]

The importance of Neil Peart to the band was so significant that the fact that he became the most kick ass drummer in rock was secondary. Without his vision, the band would have gone nowhere.

[@SoundlabStudios63]

Their first album I like to call “Led Zeppelin Lite”. Without Peart, Rush would sound like a wannabe Zeppelin meets Lynyrd Skynyrd (listen to In the Mood).

[@robertharvey2604]

Excellent choices 👌 The Taylor years were the height of the Stones. The first four Collins Era Genesis albums are great. After that...well we know.

[@AlexRodriguez-hl1vu]

The Taylor years were the best 😊

[@markmury6934]

Rush baby. Great channel.

[@odb_roc_hound4186]

I’m surprised after a year no one has mentioned Mathias Jabs replacing Uli Roth in the Scorpions. While I love early Scorpions, their music was not heading into the future until Mathias joined, pushing them into the super group they became in the 80’s.

[@WineSippingCowboy]

As a San Francisco native 🌁, I remember when Steve Perry replaced Robert Fleischmann. Great call👍 Not listed. Simon Le Bon replacing Stephen Duffy in Duran Duran. Phil Collen replacing Pete Willis.

[@johnwolf3294]

The addition of Steve Howe put Yes over the top. I 100 percent agree with you

[@hughjass1044]

Taylor was the most underrated Stone in my opinion and also the least known. It's incredible that some younger Stones fans have never heard of him. They think they jumped right from Jones to Wood.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

I saw him play in Chicago at the blues fest with John Mayall. Great stuff!

[@DanielRodrigues0048]

Good list. One I can think of off the top of my head is Faith No More with Mike Patton replacing Chuck Mosley.

[@raybrash375]

Thanks

[@classicalbum]

Thank you for supporting me and my channel.

[@Retrocanary]

I love the Barry Andrews keyboard sound on the first two XTC albums, but replacing him with Dave Gregory was the best thing they could’ve done at that point in their career and it immediately paid off, even if chart success was relatively short lived.

[@Retrocanary]

Also, there is one band I can think off where replacing key personnel was both a commercial AND artistic failure and that’s replacing Hugh Cornwell in The Stranglers with Paul Roberts and John Ellis. Thankfully, they have recovered a lot artistically since the arrival of Baz Warne.

[@jimandlizhudson2501]

Great selection.

[@alexlifeson6917]

I agree with Neil Peart being number one on the list. Funny they were just looking for a drummer to replace Rutsey and they not only ended up with the greatest drummer in rock but wIth the greatest lyricist as well.

[@spectator1996]

“They did away with all the sprites and gnomes…” perfect!

[@kensolar69]

100% agree with you on Genesis. Less commercially successful, but musically better with Peter.

[@carncats07]

Mike Patton replacing Chuck Mosley in Faith No More. Went from an OK band to something huge. Also John Fruicante made a big impact on the Chilli Peppers sound making them the band we all know.

[@mccallosone4903]

fnm, good pick

[@patrickbrent642]

This guy is very knowledgeable and well-spoken. Love these videos. The Mick Taylor era of the Stones was always my favourite and so underrated. Right on. And then there's my favourite band Rush-someone else besides myself gets it...the 80s stuff (after Moving Pictures) really WAS great! So what if it wasn't 2112. That's what Rush was about- experimenting, learning, growing musically. I watched some stupid metal head try to analyze Rush's Hold Your Fire...said it was too adult and the playing was weak! This man here obviously gets Rush and just knows music. Cheers. Keep up the good work!

[@sbutler860]

I think DIRE STRAITS should have been on this list twice - first when David Knopfler was replaced by Hal Lindes in 1980, he brought an incredible amount of energy to the band's music - especially live - for a brief period. But even more important was the ADDITION of a second keyboardist in Guy Fletcher before the Brothers in Arms album. OK, technically it's not replacing a key member of the band, more of an addition, unless you want to count empty space as a band member to be replaced by Mr Fletcher, then he's in! x

[@jimbelton]

Agreed on Steve Perry, Justin Hayward, Buckingham and Nicks, Ian Gillan, Bruce Dickinson (though I do like Diano), David Gilmore, and Neil Peart.

[@rjm4091]

Great topic. 👍

[@harizonflamingice3167]

Biggest one for me is Mike Patton replacing Chuck Mosley in Faith No More. More so in the sense that I like the music so much more once Patton joins despite Faith No More never being super well known outside of a few songs like Epic, Midlife Crisis and their cover of Easy (though I wanna say Falling to Pieces might've been a successful single? I forget).

[@ajones957]

Good list.

[@jimmcclements5229]

Rush is my favorite group I enjoy all the music they ever made. I don't hear too many people who embrace the heavily laden keyboard sounds in their music in the 80's. I feel that Caress Of Steel is actually pretty good a lot of people including the critics didn't like it as much.

[@SoundlabStudios63]

I’ve never heard anyone who dislikes Signals

[@jimmcclements5229]

@@SoundlabStudios63 Sometimes Rush fans on Facebook grumble about it and say there’s too much keyboard.

[@SoundlabStudios63]

@@jimmcclements5229 that’s what I thought the first time I heard it. The second time I heard it I thought it was a masterpiece. Alex’s role is a bit diminished, but every note he plays has a significant role in each song (see the Subdivisions solo, a top 5 Rush song for me)

[@jimmcclements5229]

@@SoundlabStudios63 I never thought about it. I enjoy most of their songs.I was surprised when I found out that Alex didn’t play on the song “Losing It” I am surprised that there are a few songs that Geddy wrote the lyrics for. I always thought it was just Neil, Pye Dubois, and Richard Foster who inspired Red Barchetta.

[@mattrogers1946]

I think Martin Barre and Ringo would have been obvious choices for this list.

[@CaseAgainstFaith1]

I can’t believe you didn’t include Brian Johnson AC/DC and Ringo for the Beatles! Now, I still to this day prefer Bon Scott, but since the topic says “and became more successful” you have to include AC/DC.

[@stuartmazzeo2516]

i understand this list can go on and on. i'm surprised thee best vocalist, Mike Patton didn't make the top ten, five or three.

[@Anybloke]

Pink Floyd was just a pop group with Barrett. They became a rock band after Gilmour joined.

[@John-k6f9k]

Pink Floyd are mostly a soft rock band. They just dress it up with pretentious lyrics and weird sound effects.

[@nickkaltz738]

Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham in the place of Eric Bell in Thin lizzy..

[@jimbelton]

Good vid. Permanent Waves is Rush's peak, not Moving Pictures, but both are great.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

On the first two albums, Maiden showed great potential, but the songwriting was still a bit sophomoric. I'm not sure if it was coincidence, or inspiration, concerning Dickerson's arrival , but NOTHB is a giant leap in regard to their musical maturity.

[@TheJuggernautv2]

Maybe my favorite episode yet

[@nigelh4617]

I can't recall if it was NME or Kerrang who described Iron Maiden's new front man as "Bruce 'air raid siren' Dickinson".

[@joeslish-p1p]

love that melatron beautiful sound

[@toddfrank3344]

Wow..a music list I generally agree with (anomalies do happen once in a while). Absolutely agree with your number 1, though I'm admittedly biased. I'm a drummer, and Neil is my top influence (notice I don't say "greatest," which is a silly argument I refuse to engage in). I would have included somewhere Jimi Jameson replacing Dave Bickler in Survivor. And I'd have put the addition of Hayward AND Lodge together in the Moody Blues.

[@woohoo273]

Good list !!!! I might put Ringo replacing Pete Best somewhere in there but it’s a close call. The early Beatles would have survived with Pete but the game changing Beatles might not have been game changing with Pete

[@Foul_Quince]

With respect, couldn't agree less. It was when the Beatles finally realised it's how much they have traded up by hiring Ringo that hey let him off the hook on "She Loves You" that the whole world shook on its axis and drumming for a small combo was never the same thing after that. We'd all be sitting around praising Gerry and the Pacemakers or Rory Strom and The Hurricane's if it were not for Ringo joining the Beatles.

[@woohoo273]

@@Foul_Quince possible. I’ve listened to many of the Pete Best tracks and he just wasn’t that good. His timing was bad imho but they say the chicks liked him. I think Paul and John would have carried the band for a while though

[@ronaldstone1285]

One thing people don't think of...Ringo is left handed and played on a right handed kit. It brought some interesting syncopation.

[@michaelbeaule1966]

I'd like to add kiss. No one can replace Ace Frehley. But kiss had a revolving door of guitar players until Bruce kulick came along and solidified a sound that would carry them for the next 10 years or so A sound I rather enjoyed until it ended with the reunion.

[@GaryBook]

I love Ronnie Woods, but Mick Taylor took them to their greatest work. Let’s not forget that The Doobie Brothers hit a great jazzy groove with Micheal McDonald.

[@AlexRodriguez-hl1vu]

Yeah mick Taylor really was great and the stones were a better band because of his great guitar skills

[@tomegerstrom3725]

your kidding mcdonald ruined the doobies

[@madhouze1]

Steve Hogarth replacing Fish in Marillion

[@R2Zmedia]

Peart would be my number 1 too, made such a huge difference to them.

[@thatonedude1003]

Great list…but I’d add Dave Grohl adding his drums and harmonies to Nirvana…you don’t get much bigger than that.

[@needfoolthings]

So which key member did he replace?

[@thatonedude1003]

@@needfoolthings Chad Channing. Grohl was their third drummer.

[@needfoolthings]

@@thatonedude1003 I know his name. But was he a key member? The point of the video is bands surprising with improving even though a supposedly irreplacable member leaves, not just any replacement we can come up with. There's hundreds of Channing/Grohl replacements.

[@thatonedude1003]

@@needfoolthings Well…I like Chad’s drumming on Bleach, so yeah…

[@needfoolthings]

@@thatonedude1003 According to your taste, better than Grohl?

[@mrblitzer8705]

Excellent list and analysis. For the number 11 spot I could suggest when Nirvana found the perfect drummer.

[@disgruntledtoons]

Justin Hayward contribution came from his songwriting and a change in their themes. That's what turned the Moodies from just another British R&B group into one of progressive rock's greatest.

[@ClaydenLee]

"the signing of Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks" makes FM sound like a football team, thanks for that mental image

[@kerrycanfield332]

I think it must be something about the sound of the names. We have other associations with those syllables in our memories, which gives an iconic resonance.

[@kerrycanfield332]

What did I just say??

[@meandmyEV]

Unpopular opinion but Trevor Rabin joining Yes and the reformation of Yes in the 80s in general also led to more success. It was not very well received with Yes fans at the time (and still many now) but the band had really reached an impasse. Their music in the late 70s (especially Tormato and Drama which I like but we not big sellers) was starting to feel a little bloated as 70s bands like Rush were starting to compose much tighter, more commercially friendly AOR songs. For those of us that gave Trevor a chance and followed him through the influence of Rick Wakeman and even Steve Howe brought him on the Union tour in 91 (a big wonderful mess of a show), the 1994 Yes album Talk with the 80s lineup is superb in my opinion even though I think I am only one of a couple of hundred of people that bought it. 😂

[@mccallosone4903]

When Dave Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica, that gifted with the world with two of the greatest bands of all time. dont forget the amazingly underrated Martin Barre replacing Mick in Jethro Tull as well. as much as Jethro Tull is Ian Anderson, i feel its very nearly as much Martin Barre, the guy is incredible

[@troubledjoe6201]

John Fruscianti and Mani might be worth a mention? Re the Stones my favourite period was when engaged Brian Jones was replaced by checked out Brian Jones and Keith had to do more of the heavy lifting - However great a guitarist Mick Taylor was I prefer Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed to anything that followed.

[@graemelightbody1144]

Andy Summers joining The Police

[@yehoshuabenavraham9706]

“Beggars’ Banquet,” a Brian Jones album, is absolutely solid and magnificent, and stacks up as well as “Let it Bleed,” “Sticky Fingers,” or even “Exile.”

[@briang1663]

Love your list, a few I would not have thought of but see exactly what your saying. Need to add the 11th (that could have been a top 10 - even #1): Ringo Starr replacing Pete Best!!!!

[@webz3589]

5:44 and may I say eclipsing them ten fold

[@rciscon]

Ultravox -- John Foxx leaves a band abandoned by their label and Midge Ure joins ushering in an age of high quality records and big hits (in England at least).

[@johnlamb2754]

Judy Dyble replaced by Sandy Denny,loved them both equally but Fairport went on to produce some classic albums.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Ringo Starr replacing Pete Best in the Beatles was a glaring omission... Also: Tommy Shaw replacing John Curulewski in Styx Kevin Cronin joining REO Speedwagon Don Felder joining the Eagles, Joe Walsh replacing Bernie Leadon in the Eagles Brian Johnson replacing Bon Scott(RIP) for AC/DC( important because AC/DC continued to exist) As to Genesis, Steve Hackett leaving had more impact than Peter Gabriel leaving

[@classicalbum]

Agree

[@Foul_Quince]

Bon was about to be sacked from ACDC is any case, so the change and the existential crisis was inevitable.

[@RUDI-UK]

Tim Staffel leaving Smile was one of the most important divorces in rock music history.

[@raypsychodad]

Peter Green replacing eric Clapton in the bluesbreakers. The album hard road is just amazing

[@rushbravado1972]

This is an interesting topic. For me easily number one has to be Neil Peart joining Rush. John Rutsey was a great drummer and the debut album is a classic but Peart is in a stratosphere all on his own. Rush became the greatest band ever due to his immaculate playing and fantastic lyrics. 1 Rush (Neil Peart replacing John Rutsey) 2 Iron Maiden (Bruce Dickinson replacing Paul Di Anno) 3 Electric Light Orchestra (Jeff Lynne being the primary vocalist and lyricist after Roy Wood leaves the band) 4 Black Sabbath (Ronnie James Dio replacing Ozzy Osbourne. Dio didn't overtake Ozzy but he pushed the band to an upper echelon) 5 Pink Floyd (David Gilmour joining the band) 6 Yes (Trevor Rabin joining the band during the 80's explosion) 7 Genesis (Phil Collins taking over as vocalist after Peter Gabriel leaves) 8 Styx (Tommy Shaw replacing John Curulewski) 9 Journey (Steve Perry joining the band) 10 Van Halen (Sammy Hagar replacing David Lee Roth)

[@mccallosone4903]

must disagree. both van halen and black sabbath were more successful and worlds better with their original front men

[@terrybono5995]

agree with the top two i would have included Brian Johnson to round out the top three

[@phillipanderson7398]

AC/DC became very popular in Australia and for a time in the world when they replaced their very first singer who's name escapes me with Bon Scott. And yes you are correct they achieved even more fame with Brian Johnson.

[@slowmarchingband1]

Ultravox found huge success after John Foxx left and Midge Ure joined.

[@jonesy2111]

And I prefer the Midge Ure era despite all of those who consider themselves Ultravox purists or whatever. Great band.

[@slowmarchingband1]

@@jonesy2111 I agree. I was lucky enough to see both incarnations live, and Midge's version at Oxford New Theatre around 1982 is still in my top 10 gigs.

[@kingcrimson234]

Of these bands, the "most changed" award goes to Genesis, hands down. Listen to Selling England by the Pound, and then listen to Invisible Touch. Oof. From brilliant to bollocks. It's amazing to think those are hardly more than a decade apart. They were still great until the self-titled album, though. A legitimately terrible album, that one was. They were so creatively drained that they couldn't even come up with an album title. It was just "Genesis". Duke was good. Abacab was alright. A few great tracks after that like Domino and Driving The Last Spike, but otherwise mostly just a shell of their former selves. But honestly, I think the bulk of their fall from creative grace has a lot more to do with Steve Hackett leaving than Gabriel leaving. Peter wasn't highly involved in the actual musical composition from what I can gather. He was just the singer and lyricist. Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering were still monstrous albums. Top tier progressive rock, possibly even better than the Gabriel-era stuff. It felt less pretentious and more mature. Their descent began after that. Great video, though. Agree with everything here.

[@Foul_Quince]

Controversial afterthought - Ronnie Wood for Mick Taylor was a better upgrade than Taylor for Jones.

[@SSGLew]

I would add the metamorphosis of Small Faces becoming Faces with Ronnie and Rod replacing Steve. Although I love both variations.

[@mr.milehi9883]

Tomorrow is an extremely underrated but short-lived band I feel even more strongly about art woods. That's where John Lord really shined brightest for me.

[@josephmanno4514]

You did overlook Tommy Shaw replacing John Curulewski in Styx, which should absolutely be in this top ten.

[@Bobmacca64]

If we take into consideration the replacements that followed the death of a member who therefore 'had to' be replaced, I'd say that Brian Johnson replacing Bon Scott could be included here. Didn't necessarily make AC/DC a ' better' band musically, but commercially, there's no question about it:)

[@carncats07]

Brian replacing Bon is an interesting one. AC/DC were better with Bon, but went stratospheric with the public with Brian. But perhaps they still would have had Bon not passed. We'll never know.

[@Bobmacca64]

@@carncats07 man...that would have been amazing to see and hear that. Bon being still there in the 80's and onward...

[@Foul_Quince]

Bon Scott was about to be fired, anyway- so the change and existential crisis was inevitable

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

AC-DC were on the up anyway. It's got nothing to do with Brian. Besides AC-DC were a better band with bon

[@Bobmacca64]

@@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479 I can see your point and I myself think I prefer the Bon era. That being said when you go from Highway To Hell selling 7 million copies in the States to Back in Black selling 22 million I can't help but seeing the effect of the arrival of a new singer there. And maybe curiosity from the public as to Bon's replacement and people buying the album to see if the band would still be great after his death. Also, it's a damn great album! :)

[@cobar5342]

I agree most with Gillmore taking over from Syd. From Ok they became a super group

[@keithbrown7685]

Syd was in serious meltdown anyway. I forget which drug ultimately shorted out his cognition circuitry. But he was a doner, even when he was showing signs of greatness.

[@robertkerr4201]

Ringo Starr replacing Pete Best. Not just musically, but changed the synergy and personality of the band. People forget that in the early days Ringo was the most popular member of the Beatles and had a lot to do with their subsequent success.

[@gerardcolavito8174]

dream theater adding james labrie. symphony x adding russell allen

[@jamesw.weissii3795]

Awesome.