As I write this, it is the NHL trade deadline. This is that day of the year when teams with a chance at winning the Stanley Cup trade away draft picks and prospect players for coveted great players on struggling teams. There’s always loads of interviews with emotional players, managers and owners about “the business side of hockey.”
Well, music is a business, too — but we sure don’t see many trades. I can only think of one. Toronto bands The Dinner Is Ruined and The Rheostatics swapped drummers in 1995, with Don Kerr going to the Rheos and Dave Clark heading to the Dinners.
That’s not to say “player movement” isn’t incredibly common in the music business. Some bands have had an absurd number of members over the years. I thought I would go through some of the more ridiculous ones.
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Years active: 21
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 2
Total members over time: 14
Fleetwood Mac
Years active: 53
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 18
Simple Minds
Years active: 48
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 2
Total members over time: 20
Yes
Years active: 50
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 0
Total members over time: 21
King Crimson
Years active: 28
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 23
Black Sabbath
Years active: 45
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 23
Iron Maiden
Years active: 50
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 23
Guns N’ Roses
Years active: 40
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 23
The Cramps
Years active: 33
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 2
Total members over time: 24
Weather Report
Years active: 15
Number of members in first lineup: 6
Number who stayed throughout: 2
Total members over time: 25
Jethro Tull
Years active: 52
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 25
Fairport Convention
Years active: 52 years
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 25
Gwar
Active: 41
Number of members in first lineup: 6
Number who stayed throughout: 0
Total members over time: 26
Alan Parsons Project
Years active: 15
Number of members in first lineup: 7
Number who stayed throughout: 2
Total members over time: 30
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Years active: 35
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 32
Pere Ubu
Years active: 45
Number of members in first lineup: 6
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 32
Megadeth
Years active: 42
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 33
The Oak Ridge Boys
Years active: 82
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 0
Total members over time: 35
The Detroit Cobras
Years active: 31
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 36
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Years active: 54
Number of members in first lineup: 8
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 38
Hawkwind
Years active: 56
Number of members in first lineup: 6
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 41
Menudo
Years active: 40
Number of members in first lineup: 5
Number who stayed throughout: 0
Total members over time: 42
The Fall
Years active: 42
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 43
Mothers Of Invention
Years active: 7
Number of members in first lineup: 6
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 51
Savoy Brown
Years active: 57
Number of members in first lineup: 6
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 69
Santana
Years active: 59
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 77
The Waterboys
Years active: 37
Number of members in first lineup: 3
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 87
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
Years active: 37
Number of members in first lineup: 4
Number who stayed throughout: 1
Total members over time: 95
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Years active: 55
Number of members in first lineup: 8
Number who stayed throughout: 0
Total members over time: 164
• • •
Area Resident is an Ottawa-based journalist, recording artist, music collector and re-seller. Hear (and buy) his music on Bandcamp, email him HERE, follow him on Instagram and check him out on Discogs.
