Line up issues.....

[The Dewbliners]

So, NSL gave me an idea the other night. One of our mutual favorite bands, Kittie, has had several line up problems. The band started in London, Ontario, Canada, as the Sisters Lander (Morgan [M] and Mercedes), and two friends Talena Attfield and Fallon (who's last name escapes me at the moment). A few years in, Talena was fired for reasons still unknown. After a few months, Fallon left to pursue her degree at University, and form another band.

In time, M and Mercedes found replacements. Several, to be more accurate. Each line-up last all of one record, and maybe a subsequent tour. Then, just a few short years ago, the band released Funeral for Yesterday. They sounded crisp, everyones playing was in sync with the others, and hope reared its head once again. Could it be? Kittie found a stable line-up? Well, not exactly. After the album was released, about half way through the tour, it was announced that Trish Doan had been let go, to deal with an awful case of Anorexia Nervosa she had developed during the recording process. So, now we have our current line-up. M, Mercedes, Tara McCleod, and Ivy Vujic. Will this line up last? Time will tell, though history says no.

Anyway, I made this thread for us to discuss bands with major (or minor), line-up problems. Let the discussions begin!

 

[NSL]

Sweet. You actually made the thread!

Then, just a few short years ago, the band released Funeral for Yesterday. They sounded crisp, everyones playing was in sync with the others, and hope reared its head once again. Could it be? Kittie found a stable line-up? Well, not exactly. After the album was released, about half way through the tour, it was announced that Trish Doan had been let go, to deal with an awful case of Anorexia Nervosa she had developed during the recording process. So, now we have our current line-up. M, Mercedes, Tara McCleod, and Ivy Vujic. Will this line up last? Time will tell, though history says no.

It definitely sucks to see what happened with Trish, as she had amazing stage presence, and was really getting along well with the rest of the band. Tara seems to be a rock solid replacement, and is a damn good guitar player. I've heard a lot about Ivy, but have yet to see/hear anything from her, so my judgment on the line up will have to wait.


The first band I wanted to list here, is All That Remains. They've only had 2 people last for every album and tour, and that's the lead singer, and lead guitarist. The bass player was different from album to tour all the way up until Jeanne joined, and she's been there for the last 2 albums, as well as all subsequent tours. The rhythm guitarist has been there for every album except the first one, but the real problem has been finding a drummer. They haven't been able to hold onto one for anything, but hopefully Jason Costa is going to stick around once his broken hand heals. If not, the guy touring with them now, is the former drummer from Nile, and if anyone here knows them, you know this man can bang some skins. The line-up has worked for them, and they gel nicely, so it'd be sad to see it be mixed up again...It's hard to make a name for yourself when no one knows your names...

 

[The Dewbliners]

Firstly, NSL, I've gotta say, Ivy is amazing. While I definately hope Trish gets well and can rejoin the others, I kind of wish they keep Ivy.

On to topic, though. Another band I just thought of was Metallica. Granted, four line-ups in a little over 25 years, not that bad. And the fact that they still churn out an epic record every once in a great while, is a good thing. But let's run through their changes.

They started with Dave Mustaine, better known as the frontman for Megadeth. He recorded the first few samples and an LP or two with them. Later on, he gets unceremoniously fired for his alcohol abuse. Their loss, as he went on to found Megadeth, gain his sobriety, and find Christ. Now his life is in its best place.

From there, James & Co. hired Cliff. We all know how this ends. An icy road, faulty breaks, and a bus crash later (not to trivialize it), and Cliff is no longer with the mortal world. Many felt Metallica could not move on, but move on they did. Which brings us to.....

Cliffs replacement comes in the form Jason Newstead (sp?). A phenominal player, with loads of charisma. He (seemingly), clicked with James, Kirk, and Lars. However, they never truly excepted him, when you look at how they behaved around him. They constantly called him "Newkid" and would jump in their limos while shutting the door on him, making him look like a jerk. Well, Jason decides during a temporary lull in Metallica's process to go and start a side project. James, in his infinite infantilism, decided that this was an act of treason against the band, and issues an ultimatum: Metallica or this other band. Exit Newstead, enter.....

Rob Trujillo. He's only been with the band a little over a half decade. They've released one critically panned record (St. Anger) and one very "vintage" (props to Mitchell Coleslaw) record. As far as I'm concerned, he fits their sound and meshes very well with the others, so it's a good pairing. Let's just see how far his relationship with the band goes, shall we? Will he be replaced, Mustaine and Newstead style, or will he stick it out? Time will tell.

 

[NSL]

I hate to defend Metallica's constant "teasing" of Newsted, but you have to understand what happened with them. They lost their best friend in Cliff, and it must have torn them apart to keep the band together, and find a replacement. They probably never accepted that Cliff was gone, and that it was time to churn on.

Once Jason left, Rob came on as Jason's replacement, not Cliff's allowing the band to gel a little more. It's a little psycho-babble, but it had to have something to do with it.

 

[The Dewbliners]

I hate to defend Metallica's constant "teasing" of Newsted, but you have to understand what happened with them. They lost their best friend in Cliff, and it must have torn them apart to keep the band together, and find a replacement. They probably never accepted that Cliff was gone, and that it was time to churn on.

Once Jason left, Rob came on as Jason's replacement, not Cliff's allowing the band to gel a little more. It's a little psycho-babble, but it had to have something to do with it.

I understand that, and honestly, I can almost relate. And, it's not even like it was the whole band ripping on Jason, just mostly James. From what I've read and seen in interviews, James was the closest one of the band to Cliff, and he was probably still grieving, and then after that process was over, he was so used to ripping Newsted, he couldn't quit. This theory is evidenced in "Some Kind of Monster", when the shrink decides to invite both Mustaine and Newsted to a session. Kirk and Lars seemed genuinely happy to see both, whereas James was sitting in the corner, and being pissy, occasionally making snarky remarks. Then Kirk and Lars did the stand up thing and visited Newsted at a sound check. I didn't mean the first post to seem like I was bashing Metallica, I was just pointing out that Newsted never seemed to get over the "new kid" status. Hey, anyone else got a band with line up problems they want discussed?

 

[NSL]

Bump for relevancy, and in hopes that anyone else will post here...

Last night I went to see my favorite band, knowing that they had a new bassist, who joined only days before this tour started. The original bassist (Jesse Landry) had left to take some lessons to be a pilot, and it's something he's always wanted to do. The new guy is in a small band in LA, and has a very different look.

Jesse was huge on stage presence, and I knew this guy had big shoes to fill, and he didn't disappoint. His name is Kyle Konkiel (sp?), and he came out knowing he needed to impress the die-hards, and help the band get some new fans. There's no word if he's a permanent fill-in yet, but I wouldn't be against him joining.

 

[Barbedwire Ropes]

They started with Dave Mustaine, better known as the frontman for Megadeth. He recorded the first few samples and an LP or two with them. Later on, he gets unceremoniously fired for his alcohol abuse. Their loss, as he went on to found Megadeth, gain his sobriety, and find Christ. Now his life is in its best place.

I can't even BEGIN to start on how many things are so completely wrong with that mess of a statement! Wow.....are people really so down in the gutter when it comes to their knowledge of metal facts? Im starting to think that you and NightShift are best friends in real life or something since even he didn't rip on you for this.

A)Dave Mustaine was a member of Metallica for a very, very short amount of time and was never really considered by the band to be a full time member.

B)He never recorded a single studio LP with them, let alone 2. (I dont know where you grabbed your info on that one about but I would love to know)

C)He actually found Satanism before Christ

D)It was actually not a loss to Metallica at all, seeing as he did not record an album with them ever and they became the world's most famous Metal/Hard Rock band. Megadeth, for the most part, has never gained anywhere near the amont of Metallica's success. So in reality, its Dave Mustaine's loss.

Anyway, I made this thread for us to discuss bands with major (or minor), line-up problems. Let the discussions begin!

The only real severe one I can think of is 3 Inches of Blood. They have had a lineup change for every Demo/EP/LP and literally at every interval inbetween.

They started out thier career with the EP 'Sect of the Whiteworm' without Cam Pipes, who is now their lead vocalist. Then Cam Pipes joined for thier debut full length 'Battlecry Under A Winter Sun' who did co-vocals with Jamie Hooper for the next 2 full lengths 'Advance & Vanquish' and 'Fire Up The Blades'. In the meantime, during the recording process of "Advance..." the entire band left to form another project called Pride Tiger. Then, out of the replacements found by Pipes and Hooper, 2 others left inbetween the time of "Advance..." and "Fire Up...". Another Drummer was found (Alex Rodriguez) for the recording of 'Fire Up The Blades' who was then fired during the touring cycle for that same album for beating up the drummer for the British metal legends Saxon. Inbetween the release of "Fire Up..." and thier latest record 'Here Waits Thy Doom' the last remaining original member in Jamie Hooper had left, as well as their bassist and the drummer as I mentioned before, who was fired. So, in today's band we have no remaining oringinal members left from the first EP and the line-up consists of Cam Pipes (Lead Vocals), Justin Hagberg (Guitars, Growl Vocals), Ash Pearson (Drums/Percussion) and Nick Cates (Guitars). They are still without a bassist.