Can a band remain the same with a different singer?
The Doors. Guns N' Roses. Megadeth. Van Halen. Led Zeppelin.
These are all bands that have had, for one reason or another, prominent members rotate through, with varying levels of success. After the death of Jim Morrison, the Doors have never been the same (although they have toured with different singers, sometimes adopting a different band name). GNR has never released an album with one of their founding members (the "Guns" part, for the record), and has consistently changed out members along with Axl Rose's whims (and possible substance addictions). Yet, because of the (de)stabilizing force of their lead singer, GNR remains ("new" GNR being worse than the "old" GNR being an irrelevant point). Megadeth has always maintained the same song writer, lead singer, and lead/rhythm guitarist in the persona of Dave Mustaine; tenure for any other member is optional. Van Halen is divided into two distinct periods: the David Lee Roth (or classical) and Sammy Hagar (or neoclassical) eras (despite maintaining throughout the two members for whom the band is actually named). Led Zeppelin reunions will always be rumored as long as Robert Plant lives.
Thus, the question: how much turnover does a band require before it is no longer the same band?
It seems that songwriter is an obvious choice, but the most dramatic and obvious demarcation between one band and another seems to be singer. Very few bands continue on as before with a new singer. Van Halen's two periods are rather distinct; no one imagines Roth singing "Right Now," or, worse, Hagar singing "Hot for Teacher." It's impossible to shake the mantle of an original singer.
Iron Maiden and Genesis are perhaps the only bands I can think of immediately who have rotated lead singers and maintained a constant, consistent sound, while maintaining an ability to perform their older material with little fan or professional criticism.
Therefore, it is my hypothesis that, with few exceptions, once a notable frontman has departed the band, it is no longer the same band: it is inherently changed. (Songwriting aside, can you imagine Type O Negative without Peter Steele?)
This topic came to mind while listening to new Killswitch Engage on the radio. KSE has returned to their original singer, letting go of Howard Jones. The problem is that Jones is a dramatic singer (and screamer); the new KSE is like listening to a post-Ozzy Black Sabbath. The fact that Leach is the original singer is irrelevant; Jones was the singer for 9 years, including the entirety of their popular catalog.
It's even more important with KSE than with other "grindcore" bands. Shadows Falls is guitar-driven scream metal. Phil Labonte is extremely important in All That Remains, but Oli's guitar work is front-and-center. Of these three nearly-identical bands (stylistically), it's the guitar that separates these two from KSE. Jones has a smooth, almost operatic singing style, alternating frequently with harsh screams, that forges a very distinctive style in a bland genre.
Thus, the "new" KSE just sounds...different. Different enough, on the radio, that I tend to change the station, as I'm not familiarized with this different sound being associated with the same name.
Changing a singer is the most dramatic departure a band can make from a previous sound, and the more dynamic and powerful the singer, the more drastic that difference becomes. Some bands can carry on, albeit with a completely different persona (Van Halen; Black Sabbath); very few can pull it off and remain essentially the same (Maiden; Genesis).
These are all bands that have had, for one reason or another, prominent members rotate through, with varying levels of success. After the death of Jim Morrison, the Doors have never been the same (although they have toured with different singers, sometimes adopting a different band name). GNR has never released an album with one of their founding members (the "Guns" part, for the record), and has consistently changed out members along with Axl Rose's whims (and possible substance addictions). Yet, because of the (de)stabilizing force of their lead singer, GNR remains ("new" GNR being worse than the "old" GNR being an irrelevant point). Megadeth has always maintained the same song writer, lead singer, and lead/rhythm guitarist in the persona of Dave Mustaine; tenure for any other member is optional. Van Halen is divided into two distinct periods: the David Lee Roth (or classical) and Sammy Hagar (or neoclassical) eras (despite maintaining throughout the two members for whom the band is actually named). Led Zeppelin reunions will always be rumored as long as Robert Plant lives.
Thus, the question: how much turnover does a band require before it is no longer the same band?
It seems that songwriter is an obvious choice, but the most dramatic and obvious demarcation between one band and another seems to be singer. Very few bands continue on as before with a new singer. Van Halen's two periods are rather distinct; no one imagines Roth singing "Right Now," or, worse, Hagar singing "Hot for Teacher." It's impossible to shake the mantle of an original singer.
Iron Maiden and Genesis are perhaps the only bands I can think of immediately who have rotated lead singers and maintained a constant, consistent sound, while maintaining an ability to perform their older material with little fan or professional criticism.
Therefore, it is my hypothesis that, with few exceptions, once a notable frontman has departed the band, it is no longer the same band: it is inherently changed. (Songwriting aside, can you imagine Type O Negative without Peter Steele?)
This topic came to mind while listening to new Killswitch Engage on the radio. KSE has returned to their original singer, letting go of Howard Jones. The problem is that Jones is a dramatic singer (and screamer); the new KSE is like listening to a post-Ozzy Black Sabbath. The fact that Leach is the original singer is irrelevant; Jones was the singer for 9 years, including the entirety of their popular catalog.
It's even more important with KSE than with other "grindcore" bands. Shadows Falls is guitar-driven scream metal. Phil Labonte is extremely important in All That Remains, but Oli's guitar work is front-and-center. Of these three nearly-identical bands (stylistically), it's the guitar that separates these two from KSE. Jones has a smooth, almost operatic singing style, alternating frequently with harsh screams, that forges a very distinctive style in a bland genre.
Thus, the "new" KSE just sounds...different. Different enough, on the radio, that I tend to change the station, as I'm not familiarized with this different sound being associated with the same name.
Changing a singer is the most dramatic departure a band can make from a previous sound, and the more dynamic and powerful the singer, the more drastic that difference becomes. Some bands can carry on, albeit with a completely different persona (Van Halen; Black Sabbath); very few can pull it off and remain essentially the same (Maiden; Genesis).