Band members should continue to work together....

["Michael_Lorette" <Michael_Lorette@xxxxxxx>]

This is merely a thought I have from time to time but I thought I'd try and
put it down in writing.

If a band loses a member due to a death I think that they should keep
working together.  That is if they are still all good friends and can still
stand each other.

I'm mainly talking about bands that have really great chemisty together.

Let's take Led Zeppelin for example.  John Bonham passed away in Sept of
1980 (Rip).  Plant Page & Jones take some time to mourn John but at some
point would look to creating music again.  Even with Bonzo being gone the
remaining three members of Zep most likely would have still been able to
create brilliant music together.  I just think when you have people who work
so well together that it's a crime to split them up.  To me it would have
been the coolest thing if Page, Plant and Jones found themselves a new
drummer (preferably a gifted unknown drummer) and possibly a 5th member
(rhythm guitarist or maybe bass or keyboards so Jonesy could concentrate on
one or the other) and they would not have called themselves Led Zeppelin
anymore but essestially become a new band with a new name which would create
new albums.  When it comes to live shows I think they would still have
wanted to acknowledge their roots and their past by playing maybe 2 or 3 Zep
tunes a concert along with their new material...maybe different Zep tunes on
different nights.  Yes yes I know it's to late but I just wanted to throw
that out there...

Other examples that come to mind:

The Doors.  I think the Doors did the right thing by attempting to continue
on after Morrison died...except they shouldn't have called themselves The
Doors anymore ;).   They still had a good songwriter in Kreiger and worked
well together as musicians.  I don't know if they added any other musicians
for those two additional albums they did after Jim died or if they played
any concerts.  But they could have added a bassist/singer possibly, or kept
Manarek singing or whatever.  And changed their name to something else in
effect becoming a new band.  And as above they could have kept the past in
perspective by throwing in a Doors tune here and there live along with new
material.

Queen.  Another group of guys who really seemed to enjoy playing and working
together.  Same thing applies.  New singer different band name.  New
material.

The Who...umm...well...perhaps when Moon died they could have done something
as mentioned above.


I'm sure there are other good examples.  And there are probably a number of
bands who have accomplished this successfully.  I know it's easier said than
done.  Maybe it is just to painful to look around on stage and see those
familiar faces and the fact that somebody is missing.  Also maybe it just
seems easier to continue on with the old name otherwise with a new name and
look you would have to prove yourself all over again (which seems like it
could be a good thing as it might light a fire under somebody to be creative
rather then resting on their laurels).


Ok done babbling,

Mike
Seattle, USA