History Main / ThebandMinusTheFace

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* It even happened to TheBeatles: [[ThePeteBest Pete Best]] may be a relative unknown in this day and age, but when the band replaced him with Ringo Starr, it led to a fan uprising in Liverpool. Of course, you know the rest of the story already...

* When Lou Reed left The Velvet Underground in 1970, guitarist Doug Yule (whom Reed had brought in to replace John Cale) kept what was left of the band touring for two years, then recorded the album ''Squeeze'' with session musicians. According to the {{Wikipedia}} [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeeze_(Velvet_Underground_album) article]], ''Squeeze'' "could justifiably be regarded as a Doug Yule solo album in all but name". While the album has [[http://bobchaos.com/squeeze/squeeze1.html its defenders]], rock critic David Fricke sums up the general consensus when he describes it as [[FanonDiscontinuity "an embarrassment to the VU discography."]]

* AliceInChains reunited and began touring in 2005, three years after lead singer Layne Staley died, and they are currently producing another album. Though this may turn out to be an aversion, as of right now, fans have not been pleased with Layne's replacement.

* Steve Jones and Paul Cook, plus a couple of [[TheOtherDarrin no-name fill-ins]], toured as the Sex Pistols several times in the 2000s, more than 20 years after singer John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon left to form Public Image Ltd. and bassist Sid Vicious died of a drug overdose. Lydon would later come out of retirement to front the group in performances in 2007 and 2008, along the band's original bassist Glen Matlock (who was kicked out and replaced by Vicious).

* The Band did a tour of tiny clubs and theatres in the early 90s without Robbie Robertson. It was a rather depressing affair.

* Bauhaus, notable British goth band from the late 70s, disbanded in 1983. Singer Peter Murphy went on to a reasonably successful solo career while the three remaining musicians reformed as Love & Rockets. L&R achieved greater commercial success than Bauhaus over the course of several albums and tours until 1998. In 1998, Peter Murphy and Love & Rockets reformed Bauhaus. In 2008, Bauhaus recorded a new album, but imploded after recording it. The band is now back to being splintered between Love & Rockets and Peter Murphy

* When TheWho lost drummer Keith Moon after 1978's ''Who Are You'', the band replaced him with Kenney Jones. Everything went OK for a while, including a decently-received tour, until 11 fans were killed at a concert in Cincinnati a year later. The band then released two studio albums with Jones, ''Face Dances'' and ''It's Hard''. While the former had a bonafide hit in "You Better You Bet" and a charter in "Another Tricky Day", the latter was panned by just about everyone (though Rolling Stone infamously awarded it 5/5 stars). Though they've reunited since then (recently without deceased bassist John Entwistle) many times for tours and even a studio album, they've never REALLY been TheWho since Keith passed away.

* Bauhaus, notable British goth band from the late 70s, disbanded in 1983. Singer Peter Murphy went on to a reasonably successful solo career while the three remaining musicians reformed as Love & Rockets. L&R achieved greater commercial success than Bauhaus over the course of several albums and tours until 1998. In 1998, Peter Murphy and Love & Rockets reformed Bauhaus.

[[folder:"Vacations":]]

* Music/TalkingHeads (the band, not [[TalkingHeads the trope]]) broke up because of tension between singer/guitarist David Byrne and the rest of the band. In 1996, the group (under the shortened name The Heads) recorded ''No Talking, Just Head'', an album on which Byrne was replaced by a new guitarist and a variety of guest singers, including Debbie Harry, Michael Hutchence, Andy Partridge and Johnette Napolitano (who sang lead on the accompanying tour). The album was not well received, and that was the end for any version of Talking Heads (except for a one-shot 2002 reunion gig celebrating the band's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame).

* After Ian Hunter left Mott the Hoople, the band shortened its name to Mott and continued with two more albums, ''Drive On'' (which was at least a decent seller, peaking at #35) and ''Shouting and Pointing'' (which didn't chart at all).

** Most would agree that Arnel Pineda has done much for Journey financially. With Pineda at the helm, Journey had one of the most successful tours of 2008, and the first album with him as lead vocalist, Revelation, was certified platinum. Also, it seems that he has brought appeal to a generation two decades younger than Journey's initial fanbase.

When a musical group loses one (or more) of its key members, such as the lead singer or a similar FaceOfTheBand figure, it usually breaks up--but not always. Occasionally, a band tries to continue without its "face". Sometimes the group tries to replace the departed member, sometimes not. (If this happens, the new member is dismissed by fans as TheOtherDarrin or a ReplacementScrappy.) Either way, more often than not, the result is a DethroningMomentOfSuck, and the band rarely lasts more than one or two more albums. It can also lead to {{Discontinuity}}, as everyone tries to forget the inferior post-face recordings ever existed. However, on rare occasions, a band gets lucky and averts the trope by attracting a new, larger audience.

* When Lou Reed left The Velvet Underground in 1970, guitarist Doug Yule (whom Reed had brought in to replace John Cale) kept what was left of the band touring for two years, then recorded the album ''Squeeze'' with session musicians. According to the {{Wikipedia}} [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeeze_(Velvet_Underground_album) article]], ''Squeeze'' "could justifiably be regarded as a Doug Yule solo album in all but name". While the album has [[http://bobchaos.com/squeeze/squeeze1.html its defenders]], rock critic David Fricke sums up the general consensus when he describes it as [[DisContinuity "an embarrassment to the VU discography."]]

** GNR could also be seen as an inversion--all ''but'' Axl Rose left. The "new" GNR put out ''Chinese Democracy'' and many fans declared it [[HypeBacklash a massive failure]], [[DisContinuity pretending it was never made]].

* Most people agree that Don Caballero hasn't been the same since guitarist Ian Williams left. The bassist quit shortly after he did, leaving only drummer Damon Che left. Che tried to salvage the band, but the results were...[[DisContinuity disappointing, to say the least.]]

* {{Genesis}} averted this trope...for a while. When Peter Gabriel left, the band's unlikely replacement was Phil Collins, the group's drummer. It turned out that not only did Collins have a singing voice similar to Gabriel's, his sensibilities were far more mainstream. Under Collins' leadership, Genesis went from cult heroes to one of the biggest-selling bands of TheEighties. While this was happening, Collins maintained an equally successful solo career...so successful that he eventually left as well. This time the replacement, a new member named Ray Wilson (former singer with UK [[OneHitWonder One Hit Wonders]] Stiltskin), only lasted one album.

* {{Nightwish}} managed to stay in business after the female lead Tarja Turunen got fired. Whether it's "still Nightwish" is the source of ''intense'' {{Your Mileage May Very}} though.

*** On the other hand, some fans think [[DisContinuity Chicago died with Terry Kath]].

* Sixteen years after the death of Freddie Mercury, {{Queen}} performed a reunion tour and recorded an album with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company and Free as vocalist. Sensing that perhaps their fanbase wouldn't accept Rodgers as a replacement for Mercury, the album was listed as being by "Paul Rodgers and Queen" as if to suggest Rodgers was a collaborative artist rather than a band member.

* Creedence Clearwater ''Revisited'' consists of the drummer and bassist of Creedence Clearwater Revival, minus vocalist John Fogerty.
* Sixteen years after the death of Freddie Mercury, {{Queen}} performed a reunion tour, with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company and Free as vocalist.
** Now that Queen and Rodgers have parted ways, rumor has it that ''AmericanIdol'' also-ran Adam Lambert is in negotiations to become the group's new frontman.
*** ''[[BigNo NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!]]''

* The Fallen is {{Evanescence}} without Amy Lee.

* After a cocaine indictment, lead singer Steven Page left TheBarenakedLadies. He'd already released one solo album, but went off on his own solo career while the Ladies remained together. Their first non-Page album is slated for 2010, so time shall tell. It appears second vocalist Ed Robertson will share vocal duties with some of the other band members (an experiment that started with ''Barenaked Ladies Are Men'').

* With a number of replacement musicians greater than that of Guns N' Roses, English grindcore band Napalm Death possesses no members of the original line-up.

* KingCrimson practically lives this trope... partially. Despite keeping only one member throughout its entirety, (RobertFripp), they have always made musical gold.

* {{Nightwish}} managed to stay in business after the female lead Tarja Turunen got fired. Whether it's "still Nightwish" is the source of ''intense'' FanDumb though.

** He's not the current frontman anymore, though. Joey Belladonna reunited with Anthrax a few months ago.