Bands that change singers and didn't suck or die afterward...

[nancyr]

Fleetwood Mac. They've been through ten different singers over the last 40 years or so without sucking or dying, mostly. Most of the time they've had more than one front person, which probably has helped with those transitions.

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by atheos

As mentioned, Nightwish. Really looking forward to their next album and hope they'd stick with Floor Jansen.

Sentenced. They changed their style quite a lot with their then new singer Ville Laihiala but it turned out great.

Amorphis has also changed their singer a few times and still kept up solid performance.

Also Katatonia, sort of. 'Sort of' is because they didn't actually change their singer but the singer Jonas Renkse changed his style quite dramatically from all-growling into all-clean after nearly losing his voice somewhere around the mid-90s.

Saw Opeth and Katatonia live. Two of my favorite bands, but I almost can't listen to their old stuff. Ghost Reveries and Viva Emptiness are my favorites

[tat2jim]

Journey was mentioned already, though the drummer in the band has a great voice also.

Mother Father live from Manila:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHA3KjhDHXQ

[AuntieBeeb]

Hooverphonic.

Their original singer, Esther Lybeert, never appeared on anything more than an early demo. Lies Sardonius, for many their "first" singer, only appeared on their first album. She was absolutely superb, and a lot of the fans still wish she'd stayed.

But the band's "real" vocalist, for many fans, is Geike Arnaert. She first appeared on their second album and stayed with the band for about ten years. By the time she quit, her distinctive voice was one of the defining aspects of their sound.

So after a couple of years' hiatus, Arnaert was replaced with Noemie Wolfs, who got a distinctly mixed first reaction. But the fans seem to have accepted her, and I personally thought she was excellent on the first post-Arnaert album.

*SIGH* Yes, dreadful fanboy, I admit...

[jmac]

Originally Posted by oniman7

Saw Opeth and Katatonia live. Two of my favorite bands, but I almost can't listen to their old stuff. Ghost Reveries and Viva Emptiness are my favorites

I was introduced to Opeth with Ghost Reveries. I was totally blown away. Love that album.

I Mother Earth did a good job replacing their original singer.

[Rip Topaz]

I'm gonna say Mötley Crüe. In the mid-90's when the ditched Vince Neil for John Corabi, the resulting album was the best of their career.

http://youth.be/P2zgjIGaIo4

Unfortunately, they brought Vince back.

[Bisounourse]

Originally Posted by AuntieBeeb

Hooverphonic.

Their original singer, Esther Lybeert, never appeared on anything more than an early demo. Lies Sardonius, for many their "first" singer, only appeared on their first album. She was absolutely superb, and a lot of the fans still wish she'd stayed.

But the band's "real" vocalist, for many fans, is Geike Arnaert. She first appeared on their second album and stayed with the band for about ten years. By the time she quit, her distinctive voice was one of the defining aspects of their sound.

So after a couple of years' hiatus, Arnaert was replaced with Noemie Wolfs, who got a distinctly mixed first reaction. But the fans seem to have accepted her, and I personally thought she was excellent on the first post-Arnaert album.

*SIGH* Yes, dreadful fanboy, I admit...

A shame they don't get to fire Alex Callier...

[AuntieBeeb]

Originally Posted by Bisounourse

A shame they don't get to fire Alex Callier...

Haha! Yeah, much as I love their songs, they're not exactly "essential listening" if you want to hear great bass playing, are they?

[SteveC]

AC/DC came to mind first.
Journey quickly followed.

[Richland123]

Rainbow - lead singers Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie Whit

[rtav]

Genesis. Well, they didn't suck for a few years after Gabriel left.

[Nashrakh]

Cannibal Corpse

Lots of people don't dig Fisher but to me Barnes never quite fit into the band, and was Imo better served with six feet under.

[zfunkman]

Deep Purple -3 different singers

[zfunkman]

Originally Posted by Jhengsman

I like Van Hagar, yes I said it.

Or Sam Halen

[electracoyote]

Old school, I know.

REO Speedwagon. They brought in singer/songwriter Kevin Cronin and their popularity exploded.

[gjbassist]

Originally Posted by SteveC

AC/DC came to mind first.

That may have been true for the first few albums but IMO Brian Johnson's voice has sucked for many years. I can't even stand to listen to anything newer than "Flick of the Switch".


+1 for Van Halen. Hagar is a much better vocalist than Roth even though Roth was a better showman.

[lavmonga]

People have mentioned AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac, I think both of these actually got BETTER with their singer change (not to hate on Bon Scott, he kills, I just like Brian better).

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by papilgee4evaeva

Tower of Power.

Yes. Yes. And and more yes.

[Ajak]

+1 for Nightwish
-Uriah Heep
-Gotthard. Steve is irreplacable, but they found a great guy/singer. Went from the best live band (IMO) to a good live band though.

[two fingers]

Actually Journey had a singer before Steve Perry, so I gues that change worked out pretty well.