00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for those active
00:08musical groups that hit the road without any of their founding members.
00:17Number 10, Asia.
00:27They were a powerhouse of progressive rock royalty, a group including John Whetton from
00:32King Crimson and Karl Palmer from ELP, together with both Steve Howe and Jeff Downs from Yes.
00:37A look forward through decades of breakups and reunions, however, would see the lineup
00:41of Asia completely transformed.
00:50The passing of John Whetton in 2017, and the subsequent retirement or departure of the
00:55other founders, left the band's touring legacy in a fascinating spot.
00:59Downs has occasionally anchored various iterations, while other recent touring versions of Asia
01:03have frequently hit the stage, completely devoid of the original 1981 four-piece lineup.
01:13Instead, talented legacy members and fresh recruits carry the torch.
01:17Number 9, Smokey.
01:27Unless you're a die-hard fan of 1970s British glam and soft rock, you might only know Smokey
01:32for their massive international hit, Living Next Door to Alice.
01:34Originally formed in Yorkshire under the name The Yen, the classic lineup featured Chris
01:39Norman, Alan Silson, Terry Utley, and Ron Kelly.
01:43They conquered European charts with their signature acoustic-heavy harmonies and gritty, accessible
01:57rock sound.
01:57However, time and the grueling nature of the music industry eventually took their toll.
02:09Key members departed for solo careers, or stepped away from the spotlight, and the tragic
02:13passing of bassist Terry Utley in 2021 marked the definitive end of the original era.
02:18Despite having zero founding members left on stage, Smokey remains a touring juggernaut
02:22across Europe, Asia, and Australia.
02:25A great collection of well-known classics, recorded once more, featuring the new lead singer
02:32Pete Lincoln.
02:35Number 8, The Platters.
02:43The Platters were one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era, delivering
02:47timeless hits like Only You and The Great Pretender.
02:50The classic lineup featured Herb Reed, David Lynch, no not that one, Paul Roby, Tony Williams,
02:55and Zola Taylor, while their smooth and sophisticated harmonies broke down racial barriers and topped
03:01charts worldwide.
03:09Because the vocal groups operate a bit differently than the traditional rock bands, the brand name
03:13often outlives the individuals.
03:15Over the decades, a dizzying web of lawsuits, competing iterations, and the eventual passings
03:20of all original members, with founder Herb Reed being the last to leave us in 2012, left the
03:24group entirely populated by newer generations of singers.
03:33Number 7, The Drifters.
03:43If you thought the lineup changes in other bands were confusing, welcome to the ultimate
03:47masterclass in musical musical chairs.
03:50The Drifters were formed in 1953 by Clyde McFadder, but over the course of their monumental
03:54career, they've employed dozens of different singers, including icons like Benny King.
03:59The Drifters' management famously owned the trademark to the name, viewing the actual musicians
04:03as employees who could be rotated in and out.
04:13By the time the classic eras concluded, and the original founders passed away, the group
04:17had morphed into a permanent, self-sustaining franchise.
04:20The modern touring lineups feature incredibly talented vocalists, who weren't even born when
04:24the hits were recorded, keeping the smooth, soulful doo-wop tradition alive for generations
04:29of fans.
04:29And we have such a great following of the older generation, and they've taught their
04:37kids what good music is.
04:39Number 6, Gwar.
04:45According to the band's elaborate, gore-soaked lore, the members of the heavy metal shock rock
04:50outfit Gwar, or immortal alien scum dogs who have existed for millions of years.
04:55In reality, the satirical metal band was formed in Richmond, Virginia, with the heart and
04:59soul of the project being frontman Dave Brockie, aka Odorous Erungus.
05:03Apocalypse becomes creation, gore-gore shine, erase the nation.
05:09Brockie passed away in 2014, leaving the band with no original founding musicians.
05:19However, because Gwar performs entirely in elaborate, grotesque latex monster costumes,
05:24the band was uniquely suited to survive the loss of its creators.
05:27Bassist Mike Bishop stepped into the frontman role as Blothar the Berserker, and the collective
05:32of artists and musicians known as the Slave Pit kept the train rolling, to the delight of
05:36Gwar's fanatical co-following.
05:45Number 5, Little River Band.
05:55Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, the Little River Band achieved massive global success
06:00in the late 1970s and early 80s, with their impeccably polished harmony-drenched soft rock.
06:05The founding core consisted of Glenn Schirach, Graham Goebel, and B. Bertels.
06:16Yet, what followed is perhaps one of the most notorious legal and structural battles in rock history.
06:22Over the years, every single original member left, or was pushed out, and control of the band's name
06:27eventually fell into the hands of guitarist, Wayne Nelson, who joined the band a few years after its inception.
06:40This led to a bitter feud, where the actual founders were legally barred from even billing themselves
06:44as original members of their own band, when performing independently.
06:47Number 4, Kansas.
06:57The prog rock titans in Kansas rode into the classic rock pantheon on the strength of sweeping violin solos,
07:03complex time signatures, and massive anthems like Carry On Wayward Son.
07:07The original six-man line-up included Steve Walsh, Carrie Livgren, and Robbie Steinhardt.
07:17Decades of relentless touring, creative shifts, and health issues gradually altered the band's roster, however,
07:23with drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Rich Williams holding down the fort.
07:27However, in recent years, serious health challenges forced both Ehart and Williams
07:31to step back from full-time active touring duties.
07:41While they still remain involved behind the scenes, or make sporadic guest appearances,
07:46the day-to-day touring line-up of Kansas now relies entirely on highly capable legacy members.
07:51Number 3, Quiet Riot.
08:00Quiet Riot earned their place in rock history by spearheading the 1980s LA hair metal explosion,
08:06with their 1983 album, Metal Health, becoming the first album of its kind to top the Billboard charts.
08:12The band was originally founded in 1975 by guitar legend Randy Rhodes and bassist Kelly Garney,
08:17but the line-up most fans remember featured frontman Kevin Dubrow and powerhouse drummer Frankie Benalli.
08:31Tragedy repeatedly struck the band, with Dubrow passing away in 2007
08:35and Benalli tragically succumbing to cancer in 2020.
08:38Before his passing, Benalli made it clear that he wanted the music to live on.
08:42Now time is running out, my back's against the wall.
08:48With the blessing of Benalli's estate, veteran bassist Rudy Sarzo
08:51returned to anchor the group alongside a powerhouse line-up of legacy metal veterans.
08:56Number 2, Foreigner.
08:57I've gotta take a little time.
09:01Foreigner was a hit-making factory throughout the late 1970s and 1980s.
09:06Songs like Cold as Ice, Urgent, Jukebox Hero, Feels Like the First Time,
09:10and the monumental ballad I Wanna Know What Love Is solidified founding guitarist Mick Jones & Co.
09:15as classic rock royalty.
09:22Yet, as the years rolled on, original singer Lou Graham departed,
09:26and Mick Jones became the sole remaining founding member keeping the Foreigner banner flying.
09:30Jones himself would also face health issues that limited his ability to endure rigorous touring schedules however,
09:36eventually forcing him to step away from the live stage.
09:44Instead of calling it quits, Jones handed the live performance keys over to an incredibly talented group of musicians,
09:50fronted in 2026 by Luis Maldonado.
09:53Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour livestream.
09:57All of your favorite videos in one place, 24-7.
10:01Always on, always live.
10:02Are you not entertained?
10:05Number 1. Yes.
10:11These progressive rock legends were formed in London by bassist Chris Squire and singer John Anderson,
10:17and helped redefine the boundaries of popular music.
10:20Squire was the undeniable heartbeat of the band,
10:22appearing on every single studio album and anchoring the lineup through dozens of roster changes.
10:35So when Squire tragically passed away in 2015, it marked a massive turning point.
10:40For the first time in history, Yes had no original founding members left.
10:44Legendary 1970s-era guitarist Steve Howe took the reins of the band,
10:47and today leads an officially sanctioned touring version of Yes,
10:51that features musicians from various eras of the band's long history.
11:01Have you seen any of these legacy acts in concert?
11:04Let us know in the comments.
11:05We'll see you soon.
11:08Save hope Otien playing
11:09Because you will try and win.
11:10Don't die against olv hits.ashes
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