Bands named for a less prominent member

Sam Gopal — Lemmy was the singer and songwriter but the band is named for the tabla player
Brinsley Schwarz — Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm wrote and sang; Schwarz was the guitarist but it’s hardly a Van Halen or Montrose situation where the guitar is the prominent feature

There must be others but that’s what I’ve got for now. I guess a group like J Geils fits though I assume he was the original “leader” forming the band.

 

Fleetwood Mac

 

J Geils was there but not the focus...

 

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

 

Kool & The Gang?

 

Phish

 

Paul Revere and the Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay

 

Morris Day and the Time?

They had Jellybean Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis!

 

Phish

Phïsh was named after Fishman the drummer though Trey is basically the frontman

 

Beano era John Mayall & the Blues Breakers.

Guiffria (or however it was spelled)

 

The Dave Clark Five.

 

Buffalo Tom- the "Tom" comes from their drummer's name, Tom Maginnis (and the "Buffalo" comes from Buffalo Springfield)

 

Echo and the Bunnymen - Echo was the original drum machine.

 

Charlie Watts & His Fabulous Rolling Stones
(title of a 1975 tour boot)

 

Billy Ward and His Dominoes – Billy was their manager and played keyboards but did not sing with the group. More than one person thought Clyde McPhatter (or later, Jackie Wilson) was Billy Ward.

Obvious one: The Spencer Davis Group

Not so obvious one: Bob Kuban and the In Men. Bob was not the lead singer; the guy who was later was murdered in a grisly tale.

Then there's The Elvin Bishop Group. Elvin was prominent on guitar, but he wasn't the band's lead singer either.

 

Fat Larry's Band

 

Manfred Mann!

 

John's Children. Although they weren't officially named after their bass player (who was named John), people just sort of assumed that he was the band's namesake.

Also, there was a band in England in the '60s called The Mark Leeman Five. However, Mr. Leeman tragically died in a car accident shortly before their 2nd single was released. They quickly brought on a new vocalist, but decided not to change the band's name -- they soldiered on for another year as The Mark Leeman Five.

 

Van Halen

('cuz of Alex. )

 

Wasn't he the leader?

 

I was thinking the same thing when I read the thread title. Peter Wolf WAS the focus of the band. One of the most dynamic lead singers ever!

But... J.Geils guitar style was such an integral part of their sound, I can't imagine them having the same success with another guitarist. They just wouldn't sound the same. Case in point; Wolf's solo career.

 

They were just "The Time" in the 80s when all those people belonged.

I don't think they added the "Morris Day and..." until sometime in the late 90s...

 

Whether he was or not, that’s kind if immaterial in the public’s eye. It’s only natural they’ll focus on who’s singing the songs.

I don’t know enough about the band to know whether Elvin sang any leads — or sang at all for that matter.

But I do know he didn’t sing on their best-known song.

 

When Chad Mitchell left The Chad Mitchell Trio, they carried on as The Mitchell Trio. John Denver was a member of this latter-day version.

 

Spencer Davis Group