Band changes

[~Mr. Indecisive~]

I have noticed that when some bands change their line up, and usually more importantly their lead singer, some people stop listening to that band. My question is honestly why?

I mean Sirenia has changed their singer 3 times(meaning they are on their fourth), but I still listen to them, because its still Sirenia. I see the changes as the bands evolving, and sometimes it needs to be done. I mean if a member of your band has different opinions on where the band should go, and the majority thinks its the wrong direction, or disagree, and it starts to cause tension then it needs to be done. As pertains to Nightwish, there are going to fans who won't give the new lead singer a chance, but there are fans who will. Now while you have a right to your opinion, but isn't Nightwish still Nightwish. Like I said, I saw it as a chance for the band to evolve, and grow. Sure Anette will never be Tarja, but the band isn't all about one member, its about the whole band. Also I don't think Tarja could sing all the songs on DPP. Just like I don't think Anette could sing all of song on their older albums. Anyways those are my thoughts, and I have a feeling I am going to get a lot of of flak for them, but oh well, that is the risk with this subject.

[Victoria]

To be honest, I can't think of a single band that I stopped listening to after a change in their setup. However, you can't really blame people for feeling that way. After a change in members, especially the vocalist, it's not the same band anymore. It may have the same music and the same general theme, but it's still something altered. And, well, if what you took to be the core of the band changed, there won't be much left that's holding you to it.

[Legendaryking6]

Think that's bad? Try looking at Megadeth's list of lineup changes. Dave Mustaine is the only original member left, and they still sound like Megadeth.

[Spiner202]

That's because Dave Mustaine does 99% of the creative work of that band.

Also I think the reason a lot of people do that (myself included) is because of how much you notice a different singer. For example, take a band that has only had 1 singer. I'll use Slayer as an example. Now if you replace Tom Araya, you would still hear fast thrashing religion bashing music, but you would notice the vocals would be off. Now if you removed say Dave Lombardo, the drumming gets a bit better, but is unnoticeable to most people.

[~Mr. Indecisive~]

That's because Dave Mustaine does 99% of the creative work of that band.

Also I think the reason a lot of people do that (myself included) is because of how much you notice a different singer. For example, take a band that has only had 1 singer. I'll use Slayer as an example. Now if you replace Tom Araya, you would still hear fast thrashing religion bashing music, but you would notice the vocals would be off. Now if you removed say Dave Lombardo, the drumming gets a bit better, but is unnoticeable to most people.

True, I have noticed a difference in vocals, but I still see it as a band evolving, and growing, something bands will do over time. I have noticed the changes in Sirenia, but I still listen to them. I respect your opinion, but there are some out there that won't even give a new singer a chance, or they go in with a mindset that they won't like it. You see it differently, and thats fine. As I said before Sirenia is still Sirenia, they have just evolved and grown, and while their latest album sound different than their first I still listen because, IMO, it they are still Sirenia at the center of it all. Same goes for Nightwish, it is still Nightwish, they have just grown, and evolved, which I believe is necessary for some bands to do. Also while I prefer Tarja's vocals as well, you can't deny Anette's. Also with Nightwish, the other is that it is they have only released one album with Anette as the lead singer, I have a feeling as time goes on, they could improve. The only reason it doesn't bother me as much with Sirenia is like I said they have gone through 3 singers over 3 albums. I think another thing with Nightwish is the not so much the vocalist, but the style, Anette has a heavier voice, which can be hard to get used to, and I have a feeling that some fans who haven't already accepted Anette's style, it will grow on them, like I said they only have one album. Sure each Sirenia singer has only done one album, and it was a little hard at first, but it has grown on me, and I went into each with an open mind.
Now Spiner202, you seem to have an open mind, but there are some out there that don't, and they are the ones that really get to me. The ones that say thing to the effect that if you listen to new Nightwish, you really aren't a Nightwish fan. If thats the case then that must mean I'm not a Sirenia fan. Its ignorance like that that I am really hoping to get an answer for. If you don't like it fine, but don't go around saying that people who listen to it aren't true fans. I'm sure you all can agree with that. Like I said I respect everyone's opinion when it comes to music, but if I disagree, or feel that I need to say something I will.

[Spiner202]

Actually, I've heard a couple songs from the new Nightwish album, but part of the thing that I don't like is that they've taken it in a more Folk direction than past albums. That along with a new singer (who I don't really like) have made me not buy new Nightwish.

[The_virus]

Changing vocalists is arguably the one change that effects a band's sound without a doubt. Everyone's voice is a little different, but a perfectly tuned E on an electric guitar will sound more or less the same, as will a snare drum.

Style can come into play, as musicians like to express themselves. Aggressive solos, or the 'chugga-chugga' riffs of backing guitar are all standardized so long as you can tune your own instrument to the same, and work up the skill. The point being, any talented musician can train themselves to mimic another's instrument style.

Vocals are exponentially harder to imitate, and will never be spot on. That's why changing vocalists alters a band so dramatically. It would be like asking a painter to reproduce "The Scream" without using the colour red.

People are free to like whatever they want. Pre-Black Album Metallica, Post-Beatles George Harrison; whatever. There is no such thing as a "true fan", you just like what you want, or pretend you do because you like the band's other albums.

[Jofish]

Look what happened to Korn. Head left and they lost their edge. See you on the other side was okay but then Dave Silvera left and now they really aren't worth listening to. Fieldy can't really work that well with another drummer. John Davis without Head or Dave isn't korn. Dave was very necessary to korn's sound in my opinion.

[coheed]

Zao has completely replaced all of their original band members . . . twice.

[Jofish]

Is that like the new members take over after the old members leave and then it becomes a generational thing?

[Sigs Minock]

When a band changes a frontman, it changes their sound. point in fact: Toryn Green (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ELjdVwSqY) replacing Brett Scallions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1BQIALVxZ0) in Fuel, and Ripper Owens replacing Matt Barlow in Iced Earth.

you listen to a band because you like their sound, when they change their sound- be it a change in the line up, or hell even a change in sound [Cold for example, from grunge nu-metal of their s/t and 13WtBoS, to the mainstream sound of YotS, to the pseudo-emo sound of ADKoP], unless you like it- you'll drop them like a stone.

[The JoZ]

A great example of this for me is Mnemic. I loved their work on The Audio-Injected Soul in no small part because of their vocalist. He left, and their newest work Passenger has a new singer who I don't feel matches up to the old guy.

Actually, a band did change members on guitar and it really didn't bother me at all, though some people thought it would. Soilwork lost guitarist Peter Wichers before 2007's Sworn to a Great Divide came out, and people worried about the songwriting without him. I really liked the album even without him on it. Of course, he's now rejoined the band, and the other original guitarist Ola Frenning left, so...we'll see how that goes, I guess, haha.

I can say without a doubt that Tool would never be Tool to me again if any of their four members left at this point in their career, heh.

[Fallen Angel]

Would you still listen to System of a Down if They replace Serj?

It really depends on the band.
Blink 182 could have went on without Tom, but it wouldn't have been Blink 182.

I could understand, guitarists or something, but Lead singers make the band.