U2, line-up changes (or lack thereof)

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

So, U2 has been around as a band since the late '70s ('78?), with no break-ups or line-up changes. Just the same four people. Has any other existing band been around as long - or longer - without losing/gaining/changing/firing a member?

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Bee Gees were.

― Huck Everlasting (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Edge's brother was originally in U2 as well, making them a 5-piece. Does it matter that they hadn't yet put out a record?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say that Edge's brother is a footnote. They have been the same band for the entirety of their recording career, and that's what counts.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

But, alas (or not), the Bee Gees no longer exist. Besides, didn't they break up and reform a few times?

I would say from first album/release on is a good starting point. When Edge's brother was in the band they had a different name, too.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

The Beegees also briefly had more members than just the three brudders.

Witness....

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc000/c078/c0782808ky6.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Righteous Bros?

― Huck Everlasting (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Fugazi has been the same four guys since 1987 or thereabouts.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter, Paul and Mary, and The Smothers Brothers both beat out the Righteous Brothers by one year, recordings-wise.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

INXS was the same 6 guys for the better part of 20 years.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smothers Brothers both beat out the Righteous Brothers by one year, recordings-wise.
and also alive-wise.

― Huck Everlasting (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

nyuck nyuck

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

nothing funny about that.

― Huck Everlasting (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Phish -- (AMG says they were formed in 83)

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Rush have had the same line-up since 1975.

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I may have this won:

The Statler Brothers - formed in 1955, still active.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

― Huck Everlasting (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:25 (twenty-two years ago)

still all active? Statler Bros that is?

I know the Jordanaires ain't who they used to be. or even the Blind Boys of Alabama, who would win hands down otherwise. or some other churchy combo.

― Huck Everlasting (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Career Bands Who've Always Had the Same Lineup

― aleksandr supertramp (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

One of the Statlers is a replacement for a deceased member, though, as of the '90's.

Huck -- 'twas the turn of phrase that amused me, not the death part.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Rush have had the same line-up since 1975.

They have a different drummer on the first album, John Rutsey (granted, that was released in `74, though).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

heck though even the early 90s gives the Stats an almost 40 year run....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone in the other thread pointed out ZZ Top. Not including the Smothers Brothers and their ilk, they seem like the winner (30-ish years?).

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

It made me sad when I saw someone mention Run-DMC on the other thread....I kinda thought they would be like the rap vers. of ZZ Top....three old guys, always wearing the same clothes, soldiering on with great live shows, never changing.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

The Modern Jazz Quartet had a forty year (1955-95) stretch with the same lineup until Conni Kay died (however, they took seven years off).

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Although there were alot of lineups before, the current lineup of the Oak Ridge Boys has been around for a long time (I think 1961 but I couldn't quite tell)

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn, the MJQ, nice call. I was going to say the Art Ensemble of Chicago, who had the same membership from 1969-1993.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

If you count vocal groups, I think The Four Tops are nearing the 50-year mark. One of their guys died, but they didn't replace him, and in my book that counts.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Tough call, that -- they did replace Lawrence Payton for live shows, but I'm sure that neither he nor the group really consider him a "member".

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone know how long the current lineup of the Blind Boys of Alabama have been performing?

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

amg says Kronos Quartet formed in 1973

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

U2 threads aren't the same without THE VICAR.

― the bellefox, Tuesday, 27 January 2004 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

The Blind Boys added two guys in the '90's, but the core three have been together since the late '50's.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

amg says Kronos Quartet formed in 1973

But they switched a member fairly recently, I recall.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 22:23 (twenty-two years ago)

So when a new member joins the Blind Boys of Alabama do they, like, blind them?

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't realize the Tops had taken someone else on. That rules them out, as far as I'm concerned. Still, 1954-1997 ain't hay.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Queen went 20 years without a line-up change.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 07:03 (twenty-two years ago)

apart from the time Brian May swapped with his wife for part of the One Vision tour and no-one noticed

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 11:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The fall managed the same lineup for two albums ...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 11:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the Sonny Stitt might have played with the same drummer once or twice.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

After 40 posts the only correct answer to the question posed is "Rush."

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Why is that, Mark, when ZZ Top have been going longer?

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I thought the Modern Jazz Quartet was in the lead.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

yet Rush had a drummer prior to Peart...

I think the question is of bands that have had the original line-up longest?

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, ZZ Top, too. But I read the question as asking for band where the current line-up has been the same all along. Hence MJQ doesn't count (line-up changed in '95).

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

All right Josh in Chicago, we need a ruling here.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.