[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

A recent article in SPIN Magazine targeted some of the classic rock bands that are currently on tour, warning that you may be disappointed to learn that even though your ticket says you're seeing one of your favorite groups, there may not be many members left in the group that actually recorded their hits.

Question : Is it ok for artists to use famous name of a band sell tickets, when in reality they're essentially a cover band?

FOREIGNER - 6 original members that recorded all their hits in the 70's and 80's, but only 1 original member still with the band (Mick Jones) who plays guitar and keyboards. No idea who their singer is, but their original singer was a big part of their sound.

BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS - 9 original members that recoded their hits in the 60's and 70's, but currently touring with 1 original member (guitarist).

FOGHAT - 4 original members that recorded all their hits in the 70's and early 80's, currently touring with only 1 original member (drummer).

LYNYRD SKYNYRD - 7 original members that recoded dozens of top hits in the 70's, currently touring with only 1 original member (guitarist)

SURVIVOR - 5 original members recorded all their hits in the 70's and 80's, currently touring with 1 original member (guitarist)

SWEET - 4 original members with many hits in the 70's, currently touring with 1 original member (bass player).

ASIA - 4 original members recoded several top hits in the early 80's, currently touring with NO original members, but the singer-bassist was with them in 1992, several years after their star faded.

Like or dislike these bands, I'm wondering at what point are they ripping their fans off?

Some other classic rock groups that toured without key members:

JOURNEY (without Steve Perry)
CREEDENCE (without John Fogerty)
BOSTON (without Brad Delp)
THE BEACH BOYS (without Brian Wilson)
PINK FLOYD (without Roger Waters)
THE GUESS WHO (without Burton Cummings)

A reunion is one thing, but I think touring under the band's name, when key members are not part of the group anymore, is a bit of a ripoff.

Can you think of any more? What are your opinions of seeing bands where only 1 member was with the band when they were making hits, and that member was not one of the songwriters or vocalists?

A few minor corrections:
Foghat:The bass player(Craig McGregor) replaced Tony Stevens early on and was there thru the 80's.Earl & him are one of the better rytms sections going today.THey sound extremelt good...BUT there is no replacement for Pevrette & Price.

Skynyrd:Ricky Medlocke was originally in LS-he was the drummer in the beginning.And the arguement can be made that they sound better today.

Grand Funk is out with .38 special's old lead man.

Outlaws are on life support with two original guys.

[justincampbell]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Skynyrd: ....And the arguement can be made that they sound better today.

Are you serious??? I wasn't even alive before Ronnie passed away and therefore would have no way to know about the quality of live performances. However, if you are speaking of their studio work... there is absolutely no contest between the original lineup and the current lineup. Ronnie and the rest of the original group put out some of the greatest music ever of any genre. Little brother... well some sort of Skynyrd is better than none at all.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by justincampbell

Are you serious??? I wasn't even alive before Ronnie passed away and therefore would have no way to know about the quality of live performances. However, if you are speaking of their studio work... there is absolutely no contest between the original lineup and the current lineup. Ronnie and the rest of the original group put out some of the greatest music ever of any genre. Little brother... well some sort of Skynyrd is better than none at all.

I've seen both.The 2000 line-up sounds better than the oriinal.Hughie Thomason,Ricky Medlocke & Gary Rossington were the best guitar line-up the band ever had.Todays-you may have a point with the death of Powell & the Mad Hatter.

[Don Keefe]

Off to see Styx at the NY State Fair. Call them what you want, cover band, whatever, they still rock!