Author Topic: Bands whose non-classic lineup you like more (Read 8143 times)

erwinrafael · « **on:** April 10, 2016, 08:54:50 AM »

While I was playing music while writing my thesis, I realized that a lot of my favorite music are from the non-classic lineups of my favorite bands. I don't know if I just have a contrarian streak or something

but anyway, here are the bands:

Dream Theater - as can be seen in my posts in the main DT board, I love the current lineup.

Van Halen - I am Sammy Hagar-era fan. I love how the music sounded more like a super-group rather than just fun rock and roll songs.

Yes - I think I am one of the few who loved the Trevor Rabin era more than the classic YES. Especially when they captured that sound in Talk which is one of my favorite albums.

Motley Crue - they are just one of those bands for me, but the lone album with Corabi is a gem.

Zantera · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2016, 09:27:47 AM »

Anathema - Started out as a pretty great Doom/Death metal band, but it was after a few changes that they found the more classic line-up (which has also changed), but mainly Vinny taking over vocals. I think their current lineup is their best.

Between the Buried and Me - first two albums (especially The Silent Circus) have enjoyable shit on them, but Alaska was the start of something special and the lineup they've had since is great.

Faith No More - Mike Patton joining made all the difference.

Porcupine Tree - I may be the biggest Chris Maitland fan on the forum and I honestly think pre-Gavin Harrison PT was just as good, but I also think Gavin joining was the final piece of the puzzle and it was smooth sailing from the band after that.

Swans - their current lineup is their best IMO. Jarboe-era lineup was pretty great too, but the current one is my fav.

erwinrafael · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2016, 09:42:41 AM »

Agree with FNM and PT, but isn't FNM with Patton and PT with Gavin considered THE classic lineup, not the original lineup, but the lineup that first pops in the minds of many and associates with their songs? Just trying to make the distinction, otherwise DT with Dominici might be considered classic.

I have a more controversial lineup. I love the Revenge-era Kiss than the classic Kiss. Bruce Kulick gets more love from me than Ace Frehley.

Zantera · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2016, 10:09:55 AM »

I guess. I could just as easily make an argument for prefering Maitland-PT over Gavin-PT, but with FNM there's not much to say.

ozzy554 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2016, 10:24:20 AM »

For me the classic line-up is the lineup that appears on the debut album. Excluding the obvious ones like Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Dream theater, Ect. These are a few that I was able to think of.

Metal Church: I prefer the Mike Howe Era.

Ozzy Osbourne: My favorite line-up he had was the touring lineup for the no rest for the wicked tour with Zakk Wylde, Geezer butler, and Randy Castillo

King Postwhore · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2016, 10:27:10 AM »

ozzy554, we don't even know who the real original lineup was for Ozzy.

Kidding!

ozzy554 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2016, 11:22:27 AM »

Quote from: kingshmegland on April 10, 2016, 10:27:10 AM

ozzy554, we don't even know who the real original lineup was for Ozzy.

Kidding!

Rob Trujillo and Mike Bordin of course

TheCountOfNYC · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2016, 11:24:02 AM »

Dream Theater: Jordan > Kevin
Metallica: Cliff > Jason

Those are the only two I can really think of off the top of my head and some people may consider JLB, JP, JM, JR, MP and JH, KH, LU, CB to be the classic lineups of their respective bands.

Architeuthis · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2016, 11:41:46 AM »

Yes. I like the Rabin Era more than the classic line-up. I would like to see Rabin, Anderson, and Wakeman back in the Yes line up.
Dream Theater's current line-up is awesome!
Rush - when Neil Peart joined the band.. Lol

jakepriest · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2016, 12:22:08 PM »

Haken - I prefer the line-up with Connor a whole lot more
Killswitch Engage - Howard > Jesse
Nightwish - While Tarja was objectively a better singer, the two albums with Anette are my favourite so that would my prefered lineup
TesseracT - One Dan > Ashe > Polaris Dan
DT - Rudess and Portnoy lineup

KevShmev · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2016, 12:31:15 PM »

Van Halen is close for me. The original lineup with Roth is considered the classic lineup, but there are definitely times when I prefer the Hagar lineup; it changes from year to year for me, really.

Enigmachine · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2016, 12:51:09 PM »

Wouldn't classic mean 'most popular line-up' in this case?

Anyway, Queensryche for me. TLT era above the 80s stuff. I think La Torre is a much better singer than 80s Geoff Tate and I think the material is more nuanced, mature and interesting.

King Postwhore · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2016, 01:09:02 PM »

Wow, that's controversial Enigmachine.

For me, the loss of Chris DeGarmo has been the slow bleeding death of QR. I do like the last 2 albums and they did sound great live.

Enigmachine · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2016, 01:41:58 PM »

Quote from: kingshmegland on April 10, 2016, 01:09:02 PM

Wow, that's controversial Enigmachine.

For me, the loss of Chris DeGarmo has been the slow bleeding death of QR. I do like the last 2 albums and they did sound great live.

I'll agree that from 1997 to 2012 they sucked (apart from Tribe and parts of Hear in the Now Frontier), when Rising West became Queensryche, it felt like a band that had learned from past mistakes and was passionately driven to undo them. The 2013 self-titled release is really one of the best comback albums I can think of (if not the best, apart from the loudness war damage) and I believe it eclipsed the early material due to more intricate musicianship, more emotional songs and way more energy. The clipping is probably its only issue. Thankfully, Condition Human has fixed that and though I've only listened to it once, it seems to be better than any other QR album IMO.

erwinrafael · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2016, 03:44:30 PM »

Quote from: Enigmachine on April 10, 2016, 12:51:09 PM

Wouldn't classic mean 'most popular line-up' in this case.

Well, sort of. When I started with this thread, I was not imagining The Beatles classic lineup to be with Pete Best.

sneakyblueberry · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2016, 04:48:39 PM »

I prefer the Dianno/Stratton/Burr era of Iron Maiden over Dickinson/Smith/McBrain.

haha nah I don't.

425 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2016, 04:59:07 PM »

Iron Maiden immediately comes to mind for me. Janick Gers has been a great addition (writing some of the best songs on the last five albums) and the reunion era lineup is definitely the best lineup the band has ever had.

Stadler · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2016, 08:50:07 AM »

I guess it all depends on what is "Classic".

I like the three-man Genesis over the Gabriel years.

I like Rabin-era Yes as much (or more) than most of the "Anderson Years".

I like the JLT Rainbow as much (or more) than the Dio years.

I like the Morse-era Purple almost as much as the Blackmore years (and more than the Bolin years).

I like the Warren Haynes-era Allman's much more than the original years.

I like the Keith/Donna-era of the Dead WAY more than any other era.

masterthes · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2016, 12:25:14 PM »

I still do prefer the Ian Gillan line up of Deep Purple, but Burn is my second favorite Purple album

OpenYourEyes311 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2016, 07:35:17 AM »

Two of my favorite Styx albums are not classic DeYoung-Shaw-Young-Panozzo-Panozzo albums

1990's Edge of the Century (DeYoung-Young-Burtnick-Panozzo-Panozzo)
2003's Cyclorama (Shaw-Burtnick-Young-Gowan-Panozzo-Sucherman)

But, in fact, my favorite Styx line-up only happened for a brief moment in 1999, just before Dennis DeYoung was kicked out. The band played one show at a telethon with a line-up consisting of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James Young, Glen Burtnick, and Todd Sucherman. Pretty much a Styx All-Star Band right there. THAT was the band that was supposed to continue on after Brave New World came out. Unfortunately, Dennis got sick and was replaced by Lawrence Gowan, and eventually Glen left the band to be replaced with Ricky Phillips. Sad, cuz that 1999 band would have been amazing to see live.

Sir GuitarCozmo · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2016, 07:39:23 AM »

Quote from: Stadler on April 11, 2016, 08:50:07 AM

I like the JLT Rainbow as much (or more) than the Dio years.

As awesome as Dio is, yeah, this.

Nekov · « **Reply #21 on:** April 12, 2016, 08:08:41 AM »

Van Halen - Sammy Haggar era is way better in my opinion.
Deep Purple - I also like the Morse years better
King Crimson - Do they even have a classic lineup?

The Wetton - Brufford era is the best for me.
Yes - I like the Anderson, Brufford, Wakeman, Howe, Squire formation.
AC/DC - The Bon Scott era rules

Mladen · « **Reply #22 on:** April 12, 2016, 08:46:46 AM »

Quote from: Nekov on April 12, 2016, 08:08:41 AM

Yes - I like the Anderson, Brufford, Wakeman, Howe, Squire formation.

...but this is the classic line up.

I'm having a hard time thinking of a perfect pick here, but there are a couple of bands that went through some serious changes over the last several years and that have promising new line ups which might even surpass the "classic" ones. Dream Theater and Slipknot come to mind.

Nekov · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2016, 09:03:15 AM »

Quote from: Mladen on April 12, 2016, 08:46:46 AM

Quote from: Nekov on April 12, 2016, 08:08:41 AM
Yes - I like the Anderson, Brufford, Wakeman, Howe, Squire formation.
...but this is the classic line up.

I'm having a hard time thinking of a perfect pick here, but there are a couple of bands that went through some serious changes over the last several years and that have promising new line ups which might even surpass the "classic" ones. Dream Theater and Slipknot come to mind.

Really? Wakeman and Brufford were together for 2 albums before Brufford left for King Crimson. I would think the Classic formation includes Alan White

Outcrier · « **Reply #24 on:** April 12, 2016, 09:12:24 AM »

Really. It's the line up who did Fragile and Close to the Edge after all.

Stadler · « **Reply #25 on:** April 12, 2016, 09:40:28 AM »

I'm with Outcrier on this. Many consider "Close To The Edge" to be the greatest prog album ever, and Bruford left because he felt there was nothing more to accomplish.

SoundscapeMN · « **Reply #26 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:39:29 AM »

My top 2 Yes albums:

Relayer
Drama

granted those 2 lineups only existed for 1 album and tour each (and I recall the Drama tour was not extensive).

MirrorMask · « **Reply #27 on:** April 12, 2016, 11:58:54 AM »

Very surprised that no one mentioned Black Sabbath yet. Give me Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Dehumanizer and The Devil You Know over anything with Ozzy, Tony Martin or the other singers.

Outcrier · « **Reply #28 on:** April 12, 2016, 12:07:17 PM »

Quote from: Nekov on April 12, 2016, 08:08:41 AM

AC/DC - The Bon Scott era rules

Isn't the Bon Scott era the classic line up though?

Ok, Brian Johnson era has their biggest album but it's that against Highway to Hell, Powerage, Let There Be Rock, Dirty Deeds and TNT.

Enigmachine · « **Reply #29 on:** April 12, 2016, 12:09:01 PM »

Quote from: MirrorMask on April 12, 2016, 11:58:54 AM

Very surprised that no one mentioned Black Sabbath yet. Give me Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Dehumanizer and The Devil You Know over anything with Ozzy, Tony Martin or the other singers.

Bolded: my favourite Black Sabbath album. So yeah, I agree. IMO the Tony Martin era is underrated though.

splent · « **Reply #30 on:** April 12, 2016, 05:58:28 PM »

Fleetwood Mac, if you consider the 60s incarnation their classic era. Obv the 1974-1997 (and 2014-) is the best version

gazinwales · « **Reply #31 on:** April 12, 2016, 06:47:27 PM »

Yes - Rabin era
Black Sabbath - Iommi/Martin/Powell/Murray/Nichols
Pink Floyd - Without Waters
ELP - Emerson/Lake/Powell
Spock's Beard - Without Neal Morse

Accelerando · « **Reply #32 on:** April 12, 2016, 07:16:22 PM »

Faith No More immediately comes to mind.

Also Red Hot Chili Peppers, both eras with John Frusciante on guitar

Outcrier · « **Reply #33 on:** April 13, 2016, 06:48:59 AM »

Quote from: Outcrier on April 12, 2016, 12:07:17 PM

Quote from: Nekov on April 12, 2016, 08:08:41 AM
AC/DC - The Bon Scott era rules

Isn't the Bon Scott era the classic line up though?

Ok, Brian Johnson era has their biggest album but it's that against Highway to Hell, Powerage, Let There Be Rock, Dirty Deeds and TNT.

No answers?

BlobVanDam · « **Reply #34 on:** April 13, 2016, 06:50:10 AM »

I love both eras, but since both are highly regarded, I don't see why the Bon era wouldn't be referred to as a classic lineup of the band.

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Author Topic: Bands whose non-classic lineup you like more (Read 8143 times)