I looked it up.. not a single original band member is even alive anymore.. and yet, we still have a group touring under that banner. Why is this?

If you have to replace every part on a car over several decades is it still the same car? Do you quit driving it?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

One of my favorite thought experiments of all time

Lynyrd skynyrd is America's best rock band. I agree with op that they're essentially just a cover band now.

Honestly, skynyrd didn't exist without RVZ

I assume you're looking for an answer other than people still pay lots of money for this cover band to perform?

I had this discussion with my son, regarding bands and original members. At what point does a band cease to be the actual band? What if one member is replaced every five years? After 30 years you may have a key member who was not original, but had been with the band for 25 years. Is it still not the same band?

So any time you go see Lynyrd skynyrd, you're really seeing a Lynyrd skynyrd cover band. And any time you go see a Lynyrd skynyrd cover band, you're really seeing a Lynyrd skynyrd cover band cover band?

Ricky Medlock wasn't an original member but he was on an album and tour long ago and was also in Blackfoot, so it's good enough for me.

ThunderCougarFalconBird said:

---

So any time you go see Lynyrd skynyrd, you're really seeing a Lynyrd skynyrd cover band. And any time you go see a Lynyrd skynyrd cover band, you're really seeing a Lynyrd skynyrd cover band cover band?

---

If theyre playing stuff from before 1978 its just a cover band. If theyre playing skynyrd post the plan crash its a cover band of a cover band. I cant think of a single post plane crash lynyrd skynyrd song.

White people love "Sweet Home Alabama"

white people

Moral High Horse said:

---

white people

---

People

It's about money!

Warrant doesn't have Janie Lane and Skid Row doesn't have Sebastian Bach.

Foreigner has no original members on stage.

Yes has no original members on stage, and only one "classic era" member in Steve Howe.

Little River Band has no original members.

Big name bands grow basically into corporations, or maybe like a broadway act where actors get changed out over time. Or Cirque du Soleil with changing talent over the years.

To me, the heart and soul of a band is the lead vocal/lead guitar. It varies from band to band how this dynamic works, evolves, whatever.

If either or both are gone, it ain't the same band.


Edit autocorrect

The Emotions is checking into this thread, probably from a dance hall in New Taiton.

and then fans argue over the best era or brag that they've seen all 4 lead singers live, etc.

An L of an Ag said:

---

To me, the heart and soul of a band is the lead vocal/lead guitar. It varies from band to band how this dynamic works, evolves, whatever.

If either or both are gone, it ain't the same band.


Edit autocorrect

---

Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

---

An L of an Ag said:

---

To me, the heart and soul of a band is the lead vocal/lead guitar. It varies from band to band how this dynamic works, evolves, whatever.

If either or both are gone, it ain't the same band.


Edit autocorrect

---

Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite

---

You used chat gpt for this, didn't you?

If the people calling themselves Lynyrd skynyrd called themselves anything else then nobody would pay to see them.

superunknown said:

---

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

One of my favorite thought experiments of all time

---

interesting. following this logic, alot of modern women are no longer human but instead, mimetic polymers.

Serious Lee said:

---

superunknown said:

---

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

One of my favorite thought experiments of all time

---

interesting. following this logic, alot of modern women are no longer human but instead, mimetic polymers.

---

I think every cell in the human body is replaced every 10 years or something like that.

An L of an Ag said:

---

To me, the heart and soul of a band is the lead vocal/lead guitar. It varies from band to band how this dynamic works, evolves, whatever.

If either or both are gone, it ain't the same band.


Edit autocorrect

---

Santana?

Quote:

---

You used chat gpt for this, didn't you?

---

Weeaaaaak.

maroon barchetta said:

---

The Emotions is checking into this thread, probably from a dance hall in New Taiton.

---

They were playing the wine garden at HLSR last night

DustysLineup said:

---

Quote:

---

You used chat gpt for this, didn't you?

---

Weeaaaaak.

---

that loser could never get a reservation at dorsia

NoahAg said:

---

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

---

An L of an Ag said:

---

To me, the heart and soul of a band is the lead vocal/lead guitar. It varies from band to band how this dynamic works, evolves, whatever.

If either or both are gone, it ain't the same band.


Edit autocorrect

---

Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite

---

You used chat gpt for this, didn't you?

---

Artimus Pyle played drums on all but the first two Skynyrd albums. He's still alive and does not tour with the band. With Gary Rossington's death, the rest of them are gone.

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

---

I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece.

---

it's certainly not undisputed. You can think it's their best album all day long, as opinions are subjective.

But I'd dispute it all day long. From the Peter Gabriel era, Selling England by the Pound is my favorite. From the Collins-led era, Duke, Abacab and the self-titled album are all leaps and bounds better than Inivisible Touch, IMO.

Aggie87 said:

---

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

---

I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece.

---

it's certainly not undisputed. You can think it's their best album all day long, as opinions are subjective.

---

Your opinions are subjective. Mine are objective reality.

maroon barchetta said:

---

Ricky Medlock wasn't an original member but he was on an album and tour long ago and was also in Blackfoot, so it's good enough for me.

---

Ricky Medlocke was a member before they released thier first album. He left to form Blackfoot and they picked up another member and recorded.

He's about as close to "original" as they come.

Still...not Skynyrd.

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

---

An L of an Ag said:

---

To me, the heart and soul of a band is the lead vocal/lead guitar. It varies from band to band how this dynamic works, evolves, whatever.

If either or both are gone, it ain't the same band.


Edit autocorrect

---

Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite

---

Sabrina, don't just stare at it. Eat it...