Looks like Queen isn't the only one doing it..
 

I got this tidbit of information from a newletter i'm subscribed to. They're usually pretty accurate, so i'd be surprised if this was false.

Worst. Idea. Ever.

The Doors of the 21st century started it.

I told my fiancee that the Outfield guy had some Sting characteristics in his voice, but she didn't think so! But I agree. This has got to be one of the worst ideas in the past decade of music. I do think it'd be great to see the trio back together, but it's not the Police without all three of them.. to me it was odd hearing backing vocalists on the Live Synchronicity disc.

If Sting doesn't want to do it, then fine. I wish he would though.. The funny thing about this story is, in the past, it's never been about money, at least to Stewart. He's said that if they just did a few shows and gave all the money to charity, he'd be delighted to be playing with Andy and Sting again in the group. The "New Police" idea just sounds... off.

even worse, since the original lead singer (sting) is STILL ALIVE,... just stupid

Well as far as band's reforming with new singers, I believe there were other before them. The Misfits..... Dead Kennedys...... Journey.....

Guess it's 'cuz he's too busy making AC music..

Styx is missing Dennis DeYoung, Iron Maiden had a new singer for a while, and who can forget Sammy Hagar replacing Dave in Van Halen?

The WORST idea is actually what INXS is doing... finding a new singer using an American Idol-type talent show on TV

and Gary Cherone replacing him ....

I heard that due to a lot of lineup changes, the Thin Lizzy that toured a few years ago had no original members.

I actually preferred the 'new' Misfits to the 'old' Misfits. I won't deny the Danzig 'fits had a greater impact on music/punk/alternative, but to me, the new Misfits were better musically and just more fun to listen to.
But it is kind of weird, to think of a 'band' that is missing some or all of the members of the band. Where do you draw the line?

AC/DC had Bon Scott and Brian Johnson [who did sound like Bon, at least at first.]
the Rollins Band [currently] is basically Henry and whatever musicians he can find for that album.
And of course GWAR changes members all the time; the roles stay the same, but not the inhabitants of those roles.

That INXS thing is pretty bad. Will the band still be called INXS? Then again, I'd rather have actual musicians do some sort of open casting thing like that and give opportunity to some nobodies, than the 'real' American Idol show.

As bad as this sounds, I'm sure it'll be far better than most of Sting's solo work.

Much as I love those first two albums, I'm not sure whether Paul DiAnno would really cut the mustard these days.

[;)]

well, there was "The Heads" without david byrne...

Yes, but they were "Just Heads, No Talking". This would be like hiring the lead singer from Survivor to take over his vocals. It's just wrong.

Or like the "reunited" Journey that tours now without Steve Perry. Seriously, what's the point? Who does that appeal to?

I know a thousand middle-aged white women who are going to kick your ass for that.

ok ok, what about CCR(evisited)?

Am I the only person alive who loves the Police and Sting's solo work?

I could never quite get into Andy's solo stuff, granted I only tried two albums, and I'm not familiar with anything Stewart's done outside of the one Animal Logic cd I've got.

As far as new members in old bands go, it usually only feels right (or more okay I guess) if the band has a long history of changing members. The easy example being Fleetwood Mac, who's gone through what, like 16 line-up changes?

There's a lot of people out there who couldn't care less about the personalities in a band. All they want to do is get stoned and go to a concert to hear some party tunes, dude. Speaking of Steve Perry and Journey anyone see their induction into the walk of fame. Steve Perry and Neil Schon and the new lead singer were there. Not a comfortable situation.

You guys are overlooking the worst offenders in the music business as far as "replacements" go...Motown and other "oldies" groups.

Groups like The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Platters and others send out these groups on tours with maybe one old original member (who is barely alive and has to sit in a rocking chair or use a walker onstage while breathing oxygen) or a grandson of the original member and then 2 or 3 other normal singers who call themselves The Temptations or whatever group they are singing in this week.

These groups are truly pathetic and are even worse if you see them live.

Nope, I'm a big fan, since every Police AND Sting tour since 1981.

What's the NEW lead singer doing there? He had NOTHING to do with that accomplishment. :hscratch:

That's great for Stew and Andy, but whose songs are they going to perform? Sting was the primary songwriter in the group.

I got it.

....and lynyrd skynyrd

We currently have two original members in the band, an original member who died about 2 years ago that played with the current band, two more originals that are alive and well and doing stuff with their own bands, and the brother of the lead singer singing.

Also, I don't feel AC/DC replacing Brian Johnson with Bon Scott was a bad move....No one that sees AC/DC live ever says, "He's no Bon Scott." To me, Brian is "original" and he is AC/DC (not to disrespect Bon Scott).

Isn't that what Nine Inch Nails/Trent Reznor does??

Actually, I see an important difference. The Police, Talking Heads and CCR were really groups who formed on their own. Singer-songwriters who performed their own materials. As great as The Temptations and The Four Tops were, they were casted into manufactured groups churning out hits written by in-house songwriters. In a way, seeing them get re-cast is no worse, really than recasting N'Sync or The Backstreet Boys. OK, maybe it's worse than that, but it can't compare to seeing "CCR" without Fogerty or The Police without Sting.

Styx is one of those rare bands that's not only missing their original lead singer...they only have one original member left in the band!

Excellent point!

At least with Journey, the new singer is actually better than Steve Perry. He has a much stronger voice.

They actually have 2 original members (guitarists) and the original bassist (I THINK he has AIDS) plays at only special occasions (well the last two times in Cleveland - once at the Rock Hall and once on the tour opener - he was there.)

I don't think the remaining band members had much of a choice when they "replaced" Scott...

I wonder what would have happened if this guy...
http://www.drumnetwork.co.uk/images_...l_peart_04.jpg
...had never replaced this guy...
http://www.weht.net/WEHT/pics/johnrutsey.jpg
...and what these guys ...
http://www.cmw.net/2002/awards/Rush%20w%20Award.jpg
...would be doing now?
(Not that Geddy and Alex would not have had some success, but the difference between Rush and Fly By Night was considerable...due mostly to Neil's writing and much better musicianship compared to Rutsey)

I just knew someone was going to try and say something about two original guitarists. Tommy Shaw, while having been with Styx for quite a long time, is not an original member of the band. They released five albums before Tommy joined the group in 1976 for Crystal Ball. He replaced original member John Curulewski.

But you're right about Chuck Panozzo. He is a founding member, but unless he's playing with the group full time, I personally don't consider him to still be with them. He's more of a "special guest", as their website basically implies.

THEREFORE...James "JY" Young is the only current full-time original member of Styx.

You are right about that....I do admit I was wrong, but to me, with his seniority and status, he is "original" enough for me. When someone sees Journey live they could ponder, "Where is Steve Perry?...This new guy is horrible. I want Perry." I've never heard anyone say that about Tommy Shaw. Also, I'm sure that no one here considers Pete Best the "original" drummer for the Beatles. To me, a "not original member" of a band is someone who joins NOW for a reunion tour.

I just stumbled across this site while looking for any NEW info on QUeen DVD Audio discs, and also have just learned today that they are getting ready to tour again, which brought me to this thread.
Anyway, just had to chime in on this one. I Love Thin Lizzy, TL will never be the same without Phil, he was TL, on the other hand, I happened to catch their show last year when they toured with Deep Purple (who incedentally has 2 original members, Ian Gillan is not original, but is most remembred as the vocalist for DP) but I digress, I was blown away with Thin Lizzy, Gorham or Sykes, whoever was doing the vocals sounds so much like Phil it's amazing they waited so long to start up again. I wouldn't expect anymore great songs out of these guys (In my book Phil was just a master at phrasing lyrics) but at the same time, I wasn't lucky enough to catch them when Phil was around. Same for Queen, same for Journey. Queen without Freddie isnt Queen really, but would I still go, damn right! Journey w/o Perry? Maybe, if tickets were CHEAP, I'd do it. I'd pay good money to see them with Perry though.

I read something about AC/DC - Brian Johnson/ Bon Scott in here too...
and I would be among those that think AC/DC died with Bonn - they havent been the same since. just my .02

I am okay with Back in Black, but I credit it to Bon actually being alive for the concept of the album, and IIRC he wrote some of it, so it is a Bon album with Brian on vocals.