General Music Chat

Yes, Queen, and Boston are just three recent examples of rock legends that have toured and/or recorded with musicians filling in for absent/deceased vocalists. Led Zeppelin may or may not join in on this trend with a replacement for lead vocalist Robert Plant.

In the case of Yes, the (remaining) hardcore fan base is split over Benoit David - lead vocalist for a Canadian Yes tribute band 'Close to the Edge' - filling in for the ailing Jon Anderson.

Have you seen one of these shows - either Yes, Queen, or Boston?
Would you see Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant?

What are your thoughts about this trend in general...

Steve S-N

I have not seen anny of the shows , but a coworker told me the YES show was great. If you want to keep performing your own death or physical impairment should be the only thing that stands in your way. I feel your deceased band mates would want you to move forward. I know I would.

Man, that's a tough one. In the cases of Queen and Boston, the original vocalist is obviously not coming back...I don't mind the band going on in that scenario.
With Zep, on the other hand, I feel that Plant is a vital part of the band (and the possibility of him being there still exists). To me, it feels like the fans are getting shortchanged somewhere...
Then again, (and I realise I'm talking in circles), I think back to the situations of bands like Journey. New album, band ready to tour, lead singer breaks a hip and tries to cancel the tour. Band goes on without him, after he spends a serious amount of time playing prima donna. In that case, I thought "Good for them." I would have paid to see them.
Then there is the case of Styx. A similar situation (the lead singer becoming ill and unable to perform), but what was different was this: The band fired him, stating that they "did not like the direction his music was taking the band." That statement would have been fine (IMO), IF they had just finished their third album and were still on the verge of success. Instead, they waited until "his" music made them all very rich-and created income for them through at least three decades. After that success, it just seemed petty. I would NOT pay to see Styx now.

I guess it depends on the situation-and how much I actually know about it.

Nah, I won't pay $500+ to see em anyway. But yea, replacing deceased band members is okay as long as there's still respect for those who contributed to the band but are gone.

That's a good point, Andragon...I wouldn't pay that hefty price to see replacements either, regardless of the reason for said replacement.

I don't go to large concerts anymore, I prefer to support local artists. Fill-ins reduce the act to karaoke in some ways, however I did see INXS a few years ago with a fill-in for Michael Hutchence and it was great. So I guess there's nothing wrong with it.

Everybody that has contributed to this thread so far has made some good points.

I guess that a Led Zep tour without Plant - if that is what they end up doing - would be the ultimate test of this concept of replaceable lead singers.

I wonder what the cost of a Zep show would and should be if Plant is not there. The same...discounted 1/3 (since Bonzo is not coming back and his son is as close as you are going to get - and he reportedly did a fine job at the London 02 Ertugen tribute show)...I'm really not sure....

Steve S-N
aka Tuxedo Cat Sings!
http://www.myspace.com/tuxedocatmusic

I wouldn't pay the going ticket prices to see the original line up!

I've seen yes and they were incredible....that was $28

I wouldn't pay to see Zep in any circumstances. Not even if someone else paid for the tickets. I have zero respect for Page. The lil Allister Crowley wannabe can't play any of his signature licks anyway, so why bother?

I'd love to see The Who with their fill-ins, or Yes. I love Tull no matter who's in the band. Same goes for Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.

Queen never did much for me. Ditto Styx & Boston.

I remember having that feeling that I'd been ripped off when I saw Deep Purple 6 months after they released Made In Japan, only to find that Ian Gillian had left before I got to see them. Boy did they miss those vocals!

I wouldn't pay to see Zep in any circumstances. Not even if someone else paid for the tickets. I have zero respect for Page. The lil Allister Crowley wannabe can't play any of his signature licks anyway, so why bother?

I've been waiting for YEARS for someone besides me to say that

You're absolutely right Philby, he never could play any song the same way twice. He was never capable of it, and I never understood why he's been so revered for so long. Love many of their studio albums, but never seen a live performance worth remembering. He's one of the sloppiest players I've ever seen.

What have you boys been smokin'?
Although I don't regard Page as the mother of all git fiddlers, saying he could never play any song the same way twice is a vast generalization, to say the least!

Check out this performance of "Dazed and Confused" with The Yardbirds in 1968! Keith sucked on the vocals, but Jimmy was on! (Try to bear with it at least to the part where Page attacks that Telecaster with a friggin' fiddle bow!

enjoy,
Howlin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58mQvW0ROag

Man, whys Philby always picking on Zep?

Just kidding. I would like to see someone like Chris Cornell fill in for Plant. I really think Zep should stay retired. Ive watched videos of Page for years and he could rip it better than anyone on here could think of playing including me. He used the studio as an altogether different effect than he played live. I love that contrast.

Of course I dont guess I can say much lst year I went and saw Meatloaf in a casino.

I wouldnt want to pay some super premium to see any band.

Man, I know I'm gonna be throwing a big ol' rock at a big ol' hornets' nest, but what about...(wait for it)...Van Hagar??!!

Personally, (and I KNOW I'm a minority on this subject) I prefered the Van Halen output during the Sammy Hagar Era much more than during their DLR days. For me, it was an upgrade...and I would have paid to see them. With Diamond Dave, on the other hand, I would have saved my cash. I just didn't care for the guy, what can I say?

My wife just paid $188 per ticket for our son to take a date to that damned Ozz-Fest again this year. I just looked at her like she was ridin' the crazy train. Sheesh! Coulda bought him a premium night with quite a few dates with all that, imo.