Music's Best — and Worst — Lineup Changes

Published Oct 26, 2015
Putting together a band is not an exact science. Instead, it's like alchemy: a quest to turn something raw and imprecise into solid gold. Sometimes you hit on the right recipe from the start, but odds are a band will have to a bit of tweaking before truly coming into their own. In some cases, this means even after an act has established itself well within the public's consciousness.
For instance, just check out the recent addition of Floridian six-stringer Sulynn Hago to Winnipeg punks Propagandhi. Though it's still too early to determine how her entry into the outfit will play out in the long run, the band told Exclaim! they're plenty happy to "shake up the little boy's club that Propagandhi has always been."
As we wait for the end result of that roster swap, Exclaim! is taking a look at a number of notable lineup changes that made a dramatic impact on their respective bands. Some, thankfully, helped steer the groups into a new, more successful direction. Other times, though, the loss of a key player or the arrival of a new member led to certain doom. You can check out both sides of the coin below.
The Best:
Bruce Dickinson joins Iron Maiden
Nirvana get Dave Grohl
Can you imagine "Smells Like Teen Spirit" without Dave Grohl's unforgettable drum fill during the intro? Can you imagine In Utero without his thundering rhythms? Of course not! While 1989's Bleach was a perfectly enjoyable album, it wasn't until Dave Grohl joined on drums that Nirvana's classic threepiece lineup fell into place, and they went onto define the altrock explosion of the '90s. Not only did Grohl lock in with bassist Krist Novoselic to give Kurt Cobain's songs the muscle they deserved, but joining Nirvana helped launch Grohl's own very successful subsequent career as a Foo Fighters frontman and allaround champion of oldfashioned rock. (AH)
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham join Fleetwood Mac
Black Flag enlist Henry Rollins
AC/DC Bring on Brian Johnson following Bon Scott's death
AC/DC were already a worldwide sensation when frontman Bon Scott passed away in 1980. Just a couple of months after his tragic death, the band rebounded to record Back in Black with new singer Brian Johnson. While stemming from great misfortune, the move proved to be a triumph for the band.
Ringo Starr joins the Beatles
Now head to Page 2 for the worst.