Bands that lost just one player and lost their way

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers after Tom Petty.

 

Van Halen after Sammy Hagar

 

I know it‘s a controversial opinion, but Genesis also made great records in the 80s, not only in the 70s

 

The Genesis one is interesting and I'm sure there are different views about whose departure had the biggest impact but for me they lost the most when Steve Hackett left, although they still produced some decent stuff. It was never quite as special without him though.

 

Ramones without Tommy, then Dee Dee.

 

Maybe we shouldn't count super obvious subtractions like losing your frontman. The VU after Lou left or The Doors after Jim died are just zombie bands that don't count.

 

Smashing Pumpkins after D'Arcy, for example

 

The Rolling Stones without Brian Jones

 

Nice try. But 60 years of rolling kinda defeats your argument

 

I know the Elemental and Raoul and the Kings of Spain-era has its fans, but for me...

... Tears For Fears without Curt Smith.

 

I like the post-Mike albums so I might argue that they changed, rather than lost, direction.

 

Yeah, the feel was all wrong after John Coghlan left. He swung, the drummers afterwards were stiff sounding.

 

Agree re Dave Abbruzzese however I don't think Pearl Jam produced a good album after Vitalogy. Yield was ok and some of their albums after then have been abysmal.

 

Pink Floyd after Rick got fired.
And you thought I was gonna say Syd.

 

fountains of wayne.....with the passing of "adam"

 

The Hold Steady after Franz Nicolay was let go.

They really struggled for about five years until he came back.

 

Suede after Bernard Butler left. Coming up was great, but Head Music and A New Morning were patchy. Of course the decline was due to Anderson's drug problems as much as Butler's departure. Luckily they found their way again after their hiatus and their latest albums have been terrific.

 

Pink Floyd after Waters quit.

 

CCR after Tom Fogerty left. They ended up releasing one of the most criticised last studio albums in history (though I am among the few that quite like the record). I don't know how much the direction of Mardi Gras had to do with Tom's leaving, but it was the last record. It makes for interesting speculation. With only 2 other guys in the band, John certainly had an easier time pushing the agenda he did. Had Tom gone along with it, the idea that all the band members write and sing songs on the record, would it have been any better with his contributions? I don't recall being too impressed with Tom's solo work.

 

He left them twice, so they became somewhat uninteresting twice.

 

I would agree with this, but "Who Are You" was a purdy lesser album already. The title track is okay, it's been airplayed so much that I've grown to like the energy even if it's not the greatest of Pete's melodies. There may be one other almost worthwhile track on the record and that is indeed more than I can say for the non-Keith Who albums. But I think the losing of the way for The Who was quite clear with Who Are You, before Keith left us.

 

LOL...

the golden period by nearly ALL accounts was after he 'left'...

 

The House Of Love after Terry Bickers left. Mercifully, the 2nd album was in the can and they recovered themselves in time to make Babe Rainbow but they were an absolute shambles for the whole of 1990. Poor Simon Walker was in and out like the hokey-cokey and everyone else was drunk, cheesed off or both.

 

Depeche Mode after Alan Wilder left.

 

Nah! The Who have continued for nearly 40 years since Keith died. Some may not like the direction they took but they certainly aren’t lost.