When is a band not a band? Is a band the same band when one or more of its members have left? Michael Stipe addressed the issue when Bill Berry left R.E.M. Was this still R.E.M., he was asked? “A three-legged dog is still a dog,” he replied. “It just has to learn to run differently.” Stipe was still there, with Peter Buck and Mike Mills. To me, nothing much had changed. But last night I saw a typical social media squabble on this subject, this time about Status Quo. Francis Rossi suggested that the current tour could be their last one. Many fans questioned whether the current line-up, with only Rossi of the original line-up remaining, was really Quo at all.
I saw the classic line-up of Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan, the Frantic Four, several times in the early 1970s and the Parfitt/Rossi and three other blokes version in the 2000s. I enjoyed the latter version, but for me it did not feel the Quo I knew. I saw a band called The Beach Boys in the early 2000s, too, with Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, but not a single Wilson. Palpably not The Beach Boys, more a heritage act, a touring jukebox, more of a tribute act. Perfectly competent but in no way was this the band I knew and loved.
I reckon this could be a matter of opinion as to what constitutes an authentic band. My favourite band ever, Steely Dan, died to my eyes and ears when Walter Becker died. Though Donald Fagen continued to tour with the band’s name, this was basically Fagen touring solo with a band of stellar musicians. Yet, when the Dan released the best Dan album, Aja, only Becker and Fagen remained of the original line-up. It didn’t matter to me. Becker and Fagen wrote all the songs. As long as they were together, they were the Dan.
The same applies to The Doobie Brothers. Only two originals remain, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmonds. But again, they wrote the songs. If they are there, it’s the Doobies. And The Rolling Stones. if Mick and Keith are there, it’s the Stones. End of. But then it gets murky.
There was talk of The Beatles touring, way back in the late 1960s, without Paul McCartney. Ridiculous. To my mind, The Beatles are not The Beatles without George and Ringo, never mind Macca. The Who came back without Keith Moon and John Entwistle. Pete Townshend wrote all the songs and Roger Daltrey sang them. This was still The Who, right? Not to me, it wasn’t. To me, The Who peaked in 1971 with the magnificent Who’s Next, a band at the peak of its powers. They never got close to this level again and I could look at Daltrey and Townshend and say, “That’s The Who!” but in my heart of hearts, I have my doubts.
More recently, we have seen The Eagles on their long farewell tour. The Eagles? Really? Don Henley is the only original Eagle, Joe Walsh joined later and Timothy B Schmit later still. Deacon Frey’s only purpose in the band is that he has the same surname of his brilliant late father, Glenn. No way is recent recruit Vince Gill a real Eagle, nor is the excellent guitarist Steuart Smith. The current line up sings (and lip syncs?) Eagles songs, but no way is this the real deal. It’s almost as if we still love the songs and we don’t care much who sings them. I’m afraid it matters to me.
Clearly, there is nothing wrong with musicians touring the name. In the UK, glam rockers The Sweet still bang out 50 year old hits, despite having only one original member, the wonderfully bewigged Andy Scott. Rock and Roll revivalists Showaddywaddy still play the nostalgia circuit with drummer Romeo Challenger the sole original. And Dr Feelgood are still gigging with a magnificent no original members. But guess what? They’re brilliant.
There is no science behind my views on what constitutes a real band and what doesn’t. My feeling is that you can’t mess with The Beatles and to a lesser extent The Who, but a much changed Doobies and a slightly changed R.E.M. is just dandy. Fagen without Becker isn’t Steely Dan, The Eagles with just Henley is a con job.
It was Status Quo that made me think most of all. Francis Rossi, who really should have ‘Sir’ before his name in my opinion, is a national treasure. It is his voice you hear on most Quo Songs and his lead guitar. And if he wants to tour under the name of Status Quo, just let him. A Quo fan knows exactly what they will get. If there is no Rossi, there can be no Quo. End of.
You will note that until now, I have made no reference to Queen. Are Queen really Queen without Freddie Mercury? The answer to this question is simple. Queen were shit with Freddie Mercury, they are still shit without him and if I could take a sledgehammer to their mastertapes, I’d smash them to smithereens in a heartbeat and do everyone who loves music a big favour.
When is a band? Well, it’s how you feel about it. I’ve overthought this far too much as it is. And I’ll overthink it all again in the future. In the end, it’s all about the music. I’ve got an idea of when a band is still a band, but it’s not a consistent idea. And one thing is for sure: it’s not worth worrying about, although you all know that I will.
