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User
Reviews 364
Approval 85%
Soundoffs 7
News Articles 1
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Album Edits 105
Album Ratings 355
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Last Active 04-29-20 1:18 pm
Joined 10-01-04
Review Comments 4,805
| Bands That Play Together...Stay Together!
Most bands nowadays are notorious for constant line-up changes, with members leaving, returning or being ousted often from one album to the next. And then there are the bands at the other end of the spectrum - the ones which seem unwilling to switch out members unless they absolutely HAVE to. In this list, we celebrate those long-distance runners, and their ability to endure each other's company for at least twice as long as the average rock act. | | 22 |  | ZZ Top
Afterburner
YEARS ACTIVE: 1969 - present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1969
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 3
FIFTY-ONE years. No lineup changes outside of a fill-in drummer on one tour. Enough said. They would have been first on this list were they not being added after the fact. | | 21 |  | Rush
Moving Pictures
YEARS ACTIVE: 1968-2018
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1974
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 5
After the usual early-career switch-ups, the Canucks managed to keep their power-trio intact for thirty-nine of their fifty years in activity, creating many a prog-rock masterpiece in the process. | | 20 |  | Green Day
American Idiot
YEARS ACTIVE: 1987-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1990
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 4
Give or take a few session and touring musicians, pop-punkers-turned-emo-saviours Green Day have been made up of the same three men for a full three decades at this point, with only a backup guitarist being added at one point, as the group's sound became more complex. Of the remaining three changes, all pre-fame, only one is really noteworthy – that being drummer John Kiffmeyer, better known as Al Sobrante. Still, considering WHO replaced him, that change can be said to have worked out for the best... | | 19 |  | Limp Bizkit
Significant Other
YEARS ACTIVE: 1994-2006; 2009-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1996
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 3
Considering the massive impact of the one lineup change poster-child for turn-of-the-millennium cringe Limp Bizkit went through in their career, it is difficult to conceive that it was the only one since the classic lineup first got together in 1996, and one of a grand total of three since their inception in 1994. If only they had swapped out their frontman at any point during that time... | | 18 |  | Nickelback
Silver Side Up
YEARS ACTIVE: 1995-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1998
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 3
Perhaps the most hated band on the planet for a stretch during the last decade, the Canadians have shown an impressive ability to shut out the incessant barrage of scorn, and remain together through thick and thin – for the most part. Early drummer woes notwithstanding, the group still did go through one switch-up after fame had come calling. Still, in a genre that is infamous for the revolving-door nature of its band lineups, to keep going for this long with most of the original members intact is no mean feat. | | 17 |  | P.O.D.
Satellite
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1993
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 2
Yet another often-scorned nu-metal group who nonetheless displays admirable consistency, going through a single member change since the classic lineup first came together, and only two over the course of a twenty-eight-year career. | | 16 |  | Deftones
White Pony
YEARS ACTIVE: 1988-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1993
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 3
One line-up change in twenty-seven years, and it was a forced one – after all, there is not much that can be done when one of the members goes into a vegetative state after a horrific accident. Otherwise, some initial instability in their ranks notwithstanding, the Californians have managed to keep their lineup untouched for the better part of their career. | | 15 |  | Korn
Issues
YEARS ACTIVE: 1993-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1993
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 1
Other than the founding drummer leaving, the forefathers of nu-metal have managed to retain all their core members for a whopping twenty-seven years - and counting. | | 14 |  | Billy Talent
Billy Talent II
YEARS ACTIVE: 1993-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1993
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 1
Active in one form or another since 1993, the Canadians' one and only change in all that time was also an enforced one, as their drummer fell victim to multiple sclerosis and could no longer perform his duties. Bonus points for having his replacement be a personal friend of the band. | | 13 |  | Nirvana
Nevermind
YEARS ACTIVE: 1987-1994
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1991
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 5
Despite being a revolving door for drummers early in their career, once Dave Grohl joined the fold, the only additional musicians used by the Seattle power trio were touring backup guitarists and guest cellists. Granted, their career was perhaps not as long as those of other bands on this list, but they just about do enough to merit a spot in it. | | 12 |  | The Beatles
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
YEARS ACTIVE: 1960-1970
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1962
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 2
Everyone knows about Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe, but again, once the definitive Fab Four had come together, they remained together for the length of the group's game-changing eight-year career. | | 11 |  | System of a Down
Toxicity
YEARS ACTIVE: 1994-2006; 2020
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1997
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 1
Another case of 'in it for the long run', as once the classic lineup had been established, there were no further changes for the remainder of the band's life cycle. | | 10 |  | Mudvayne
L.D. 50
YEARS ACTIVE: 1996-2010
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1997
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 1
A single line-up change over a fourteen-year career (and an early one, at that) is a clear indicator that these guys were together for more than the fame and money, and warrants them a place on this list. | | 9 |  | Pantera
Vulgar Display of Power
YEARS ACTIVE: 1981-2003
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1990
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 1
In 1988, lead singer Terry Glaze was booted from glam-metal wannabes Pantera, and replaced with a vastly different-sounding vocalist, one Phil Anselmo. This change, in turn, brought about a distinctive mutation in the band's sound, leading them in a more groove-oriented, power/thrash metal direction. The rest is history – and three of the four original members were still there to witness it. | | 8 |  | Linkin Park
Hybrid Theory
YEARS ACTIVE: 1996-2017; 2020 (?)
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 2000
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 1
Apart from having difficulty finding a bass player early on, the Californians have never felt the need to change members. Their recent announcement that they will be returning minus a certain deceased frontman is a little controversial, to say the least, but their ability to keep the line-up consistent is still worthy of praise. | | 7 |  | Audioslave
Audioslave
YEARS ACTIVE: 2001-2007; 2017
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 2001
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 0
Only six years as a unit keep this band from achieving a higher position on this countdown, but even six years is longer than many bands can go with their original lineup – so, if nothing else, Audioslave warrant their inclusion on that merit alone. | | 6 |  | Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
YEARS ACTIVE: 1991-2000; 2007-2011; 2019-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1991
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 0
Much like the previous and following entries, these guys' career was short (even after factoring in the two comeback attempts), preventing them from showing up any higher on this list; still, insofar as the list's theme is concerned, this band definitely fits the bill, having had absolutely no formation changes at any point in their otherwise patchy history. | | 5 |  | The Doors
The Doors
YEARS ACTIVE: 1965-1973; 1978
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1965
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0 (not counting making music without Jim Morrison)
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 0 (not counting making music without Jim Morrison)
Yes, they did make an album without their mentor, frontman, figurehead and centre of attention – but that was only because he was dead by that point. Otherwise, one suspects The Doors would have kept on going with the same lineup indefinitely, which earns them a place on this list. | | 4 |  | Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin II
YEARS ACTIVE: 1968-1980
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1968
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0 (not counting reunions)
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 0 (not counting reunions)
No, the (multiple) reunions do not count – where albums are concerned, no one but the original four ever recorded a single note under the name Led Zeppelin, making their original twelve-year run worthy of inclusion on this list. | | 3 |  | Coldplay
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
YEARS ACTIVE: 1996-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1996
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 0
Love 'em or hate 'em, twenty-four years is a long time to keep the same lineup steady – especially when the band has been active all throughout, with no breaks. So kudos for sticking together, lads – still doesn't make you any less annoying, though. | | 2 |  | Bauhaus
In the Flat Field
YEARS ACTIVE: 1978-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1978
CHANGES AFTER CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 0
Missing out on the title of 'longest-running band with no member changes' by about a decade, Bauhaus nonetheless prove that choosing the right accomplices is vital when it comes to keeping an artistic endeavour going. | | 1 |  | U2
War
YEARS ACTIVE: 1976-present
CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 1977
CHANGES SINCE CLASSIC LINEUP ESTABLISHED: 0
TOTAL PERSONNEL CHANGES: 1
One of the most divisive groups in modern pop also currently rank as one of the longest-standing steady lineups in music history. Since changing their name from Feedback to U2, and subsequently bidding farewell to second guitarist Dik Evans, the group has experienced absolutely no member changes, retaining the exact same lineup for a mind-boggling FORTY-THREE YEARS and counting. Whatever one's opinion on the band is, that is worth some respect. | |
Senetrix666
11.23.20 | there's a glaring omission of Rush here | ReturnToRock
11.23.20 | Rush has been added with apologies - I HAD meant to include them and it just slipped my mind. | sheelanagig
11.23.20 | ZZTop | ReturnToRock
11.23.20 | Added. | Titan
11.23.20 | Rush has made it clear that their friendship with one and other, as well as their ability to be willing to compromise if one of them wasn't happy with something, is what got them through their career. Buddies first. | Titan
11.23.20 | and where's Deep Purple? | ReturnToRock
11.23.20 | @sheelanagig added.
@normaloctagon Coldplay are number 3 :p
@Titan too many lineup changes to feature. I wanted bands with 0-1 changes after the classic lineup was established, and no more than 3-5 overall. Otherwise Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Queen and The Who would have all featured. | Titan
11.23.20 | i was kidding bro! | ReturnToRock
11.23.20 | Eh. I hadn't explained the criteria yet anyway. | Mythodea
11.23.20 | Nice idea for a list. I'd add Mastodon (0 changes in 17 years), Muse (0 changes in 20+ years), Riverside (1 change because of death, in 17 years), Tool (0 changes in 25 years)
| ReturnToRock
11.23.20 | @Myth I'll add those at some point.
| ReturnToRock
10.13.22 | Welp...the Blink-182 one aged well :p | wham49
10.13.22 | how can you leave out the Rolling stones, Grateful dead
both have been playing together since the early 60's
only death has changedthem for the most part. but fo rthe most part they have had the big neucleaus of the band for decades
also Phish | Zig
10.13.22 | Type O Negative, 1 change in 21 years, I think 1989-2010
Radiohead, no changes since 1990?
Rammstein, no changes since 1994
Mr. Bungle, 1 change with the most succesful line-up (1989-2000) |
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