Mark Andes of the original Spirit auditioned to replace bassist Berry Oakley in the Allman Brothers Band.
I once read that JOHN(ROTTEN)LYDON Auditioned for DEVO after the PISTOLS broke up.....not sure if true or not.....
Courtney Love was also in the running to take over for Moseley. Not sure if the band actually considered her for a permanent replacement, but she performed with them in the 80s. In the 1994 “The Real Story” by Steffan Chirazi’s biography of the band Bill Gould commented on why her stage presence was so perfect for their band. He said, “This girl Courtney came along, she saw us play, and made the huge pitch about knowing what we wanted and being able to do it.She was good because she was as annoying as hell…and really aggressive.”
Clem Clempson of Humble Pie auditioned for Deep Purple after Ritchie Blackmore left, but Tommy Bolin got the gig. I think there were a few others in the frame as well.
I auditioned for The Charlatans in late 1989 I think. They made the right choice. I was a terrible fit for them. I wanted something with a little more bite.
Couple of dozen "name" bass players auditioned for the job replacing Wyman. Kenny Aaronson (Derringer) is one, John Ciambotti (Clover) is another.
Clem Clempson for the Stones (in 1975) Elton John for King Crimson Bob Kulick for Kiss Andy Latimer for Roger Waters’ touring band
Paul Kossoff, guitarist with the band Free, auditioned for the Rolling Stones in 1969 when they were looking to replace Brian Jones. It wouldn't have gone smoothly if he'd gotten the gig, considering Kossoff's eventual fatal drug addiction, but it's unlikely he would have been chosen. Kossoff's first cousin was Linda Keith, fashion model and music fan (who played a major part in the discovery of Jimi Hendrix), as well as first serious girlfriend of Keith Richards, who had not only had his heart broken, but had felt compelled to alert Linda's father to her own snowballing drug use, creating years of animosity between Keith and Linda. Considering this backstory, Keith is hardly likely to have been open to the idea of Linda's teenage cousin becoming the other guitar player for the Stones.
Mike Joyce of the Smiths supposedly auditioned for Suede after seeing an and in the Melody Maker, and played on some of their early recordings. Personally, though, I don't think he would have been responding to Melody Maker ads. I reckon it was just too uncool in the era of fake indie to admit they had the resources to just hire him as a session player.
John Sykes auditioned for Steve Clark's position in Def Leppard Mickey Thomas auditioned for Chicago after Cetera left. George Lynch auditioned for Ozzy a couple of times and actually toured and played soundchecks, but lost the gig to Jake E Lee Slash in Poison before CC joined. Vangelis in Yes to replace Wakeman. Geoff Tate auditioned for Journey post Steve Perry. Jimi Jamison auditioned for Deep Purple after Ian left in the late 80s and the band wanted him, but Jamison's record company wouldn't let him. Ansley Dunbar, Clive Burr, and Ed Cassidy all auditioned for Alcatrazz.
Vangelis auditioned for Yes before Patrick Moraz got the gig. Clem Clemson auditioned for Deep Purple but Tommy Bolin landed the job. Trevor Rabin auditioned to be the fifth member of Asia.
Rick Kemp (Steeley Span, Michael Chapman) auditioned for King Crimson in 1970 and got the gig but eventually decided not to get it. One of the tried out bassists roughly at the same time (before Boz Burrell was "taught") was ex- Brian Auger's Trinity Dave Ambrose.