The Continuing Quandary Over When A Band Is Not That Band Anymore Even If They Still Call Themselves That Band
It's a question that we classic rock fans argue over all the time; is a band that band anymore if there are no original members left in the band or maybe if such an integral member, who was such a specific piece of their image and sound, is not playing in
With the Canadian rock trio (well they used to be a trio) RUSH currently selling-out arenas across the US on their Fifty Something Tour, I was faced, once again, with what has become one of my most recent quandaries. It's a question that we classic rock fans argue over all the time; is a band that band anymore if there are no original members left in the band or maybe if such an integral member, who was such a specific piece of their image and sound, is not playing in that band?
I expound on the RUSH roll out specifically on the US-based vintage rock website, Vintage Rock: see here. My query with RUSH is that in losing their drummer/lyricist Neil Peart (he died) and them being a trio (although not live this time around, they've added a keyboardist to fatten out their life sound presently) and Peart being arguably one of the greatest and most distinctive rock drummers ever, when replacing Peart (with the wonderful Anika Nilles) is what folks are hearing live during Fifty Something shows actually RUSH?
I know how I feel about this, but that's just one man's opinion, I know.
The US concert season is well under way. Across the continent plenty of bands, classic/vintage and brand new both are out trying to make money on either a package tours (with more than one band on the bill) or on their own. The concert business is pretty much up-ended to what it used to be when bands would release a record than tour it and make money from both. So, unless you are Taylor Swift, it is damn hard to make money making/playing music. So, a legacy act, like RUSH, CHIGACO, any number of bands that really don't even have any original members in them anymore, are on the road trying to drum up business once again for fans wanting to hear the band's classic songs. And these bands are counting on the fact that the music matters more to those fans than seeing original members.
I get it. And everybody should be able to make a living if they can.
It's just that what the fan is seeing with many of the older bands is very few of any OG members left in the band anymore or even, in many cases a multiple turn-over of members, that the band out presently seems more like a cover band. If you get what I mean.
So, the RUSH question. Answer it yourselves, if you like. Me, I'll keep on wondering. But I certainly am not seeing any live shows, that for sure!