Sadly, Wham! featuring George Michael and The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley aren’t covered in this article.

Fascinating discussion under that post, though I’m not sure anyone involved realizes Steve Perry was NOT an original member of Journey. They just exponentially increased their audience when Perry joined, a la Fleetwood Mac with Buckingham and Nicks. (Anyone remember the pre-reunion incarnation of Mac with a bunch of hired guns replacing America’s favorite ex-couple? Didn’t think so.)Another frustrating bit of the discussion — Roger Waters’ presence at Live 8 made Pink Floyd’s show memorable. And pretty cool. But it was cool because they reunited, not because Waters give the band more of an edge on stage. He is, by most accounts, a fairly mediocre bass player. I saw Floyd twice on the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour, and musically, they were pretty danged good. Where Waters would’ve made a difference was in the studio. Or perhaps a small caged room next to the studio."Hey Roger, what should we write about?""OPPRESSION OF THE MASSES!!""OK, we’re on it. Thanks. Here’s your veggie curry."Longevity should give you a pass. Tommy Shaw wasn’t an original member of Styx, but he’s been in the band for what, 30 years? The "new" drummer — I happen to work with his brother — has been in the band close to a decade.Yes was down to two original members by 1973, and yet the most recent touring version is considered the classic lineup.

Clearly, you’ve identified a corrollary (or postulate, or math-like-rule-thingy) of your own — Longevity counts. I’d take it a step further, and say Longevity + Contribution. L+C means non-original members may still tour under the Group name provided they have a quorom of surviving members alongside them.

Tommy was not an original member, but nor was Styx popular (or as good) before he joined. Ditto for Steve Perry. Ditto for the “new” guy in Marillion (Steve Hogarth). And frankly, if I went to see Def Leppard play and the only guy onstage was Mutt Lange, I’d feel I got my money’s worth.

By the way, Todd Sucherman is amazing.

DAVID MENTIONED MARILLION!! AWESOME!(For the record, I’m a huge Anorak. Marbles is in my top 10)There is a lot to be said about perception. Journey was, wait for it, Gregg Rolie’s offshoot of Santana, and no one really cared much. While Steve Perry was not a founding member, the common perception is that he IS Journey. "Raised On Radio" had only him, Jonathan Cain and Neil Schon (and some black dude on bass named Randy "American Idol" Jackson), but is generally recognized as Journey.Which is all well and good. My only point, and I made it on the RS blog, is this:(ahem)The ghost of Benjamin Orr should come back and kick Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes in their shameful, collective asses.(cough).Thank You.DwD

Funny thing about Elliot Easton — he was also in one of the most pointless "reunion" bands around, CCR. That’s "Creedence Clearwater Revisited," since the fraction rule should in no way in apply to the bass player and drummer of a band that was the singular voice of John Fogerty.
 
Since the "New Cars" have two ex-Cars and two former members of Utopia, maybe they should be "Cartopia." Or maybe "Hybrid."

Or how about Barenaked Ladies? The drummer used to be Andy Creegan (Jim’s brother) until 1991, and then they got Tyler Stewart. When Andy came back, he moved to keyboards for a while, but ultimately left. They’ve had Kevin Hearn on keyboards (and whole helluva lot else) for years now… and I think the majority of fans don’t know about "The Brothers Creegan", and think that Kevin was the only one, and so was Tyler… they probably don’t care either. Wait, am I allowed to mention a band that is popular now? Or are we only allowed to talk about stuff from 3 decades ago? :p

The Barenaked Ladies are still popular?

Not cool, DwD. Not cool.Karma is going to get you… you’re going to listen to smooth jazz today and find yourself liking it. And the instantly feeling shame. If not today, then someday. Sooooonnn…..

DwD, I love that you’d ask such a question on a blog that primarily focuses on unpopular music.

If the karma doesn’t get you, the rhythm will.  You hear me?  The rhythm is gonna get you.

Come on & shake your bodies people – do that karma – Raggin’ on the Ladies, man it may just harm ya -  find yourself in baggies at the organ farm – ya never wanna mess with others , you’ll get karma beat!