1970s Rock legends that rolled on too long
Foreigner
This band is at the wrong end of the scale surely. The original lineup is long behind us, with the exception of Mick Jones, who was popping back up now and again to appear. Illness has restricted that further, but the band continues to play gigs without him. At what point does it become little more than a tribute or covers band,it’s certainly a lot of steps and people away from the original.
Yes
One of the examples is where you need to check who is involved before buying gig tickets. They seemed to have a revolving door for the band as musicians came and went, and came back again. Repeat that over many years, add in different versions of the band touring at the same time, and it gets a bit ridiculous.
The Fragile tour from Yes in late 2025 will have none of the original lineup involved, and only Steve Howe from the classic era.. Fans don't want to be checking the small print to work out who is playing.
The Who
Fans are split on carry on rocking versus just f-f-fade away. Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend can put on great shows, but clearly they miss a lot from not having Keith Moon or John Entwistle alongside. When 50 percent of the members are missing, is it the same band?
Definitely not in this case, but you know what you are getting, and the remaining pair have been playing on successfully for many years. It’s more than they are repeat offenders at saying goodbye with farewell tours that bother many fans.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Perhaps Lynyrd Skynyrd should get a more sympathetic hearing given the tragic circumstances of that 1977 plane crash, which decimated the band. There is also the question of whether they see themselves as the band, or as a tribute to the original; it may even be a bit of both to be fair.
Ten years after the crash, some of the band got together to hold a Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour, which led to a 1991 album, and things carried on from there. Lots of musicians came and went, some with strong connections to the original lineup. Johnny Van Zant, brother of Ronnie, Artemis Pyle, and Garry Rossington, until his 2023 death, were top examples. It may sound much the same, but it’s seen by many as a step too far.
A final mention for KISS, or is it?
I haven't got the time or energy to document all the comings and goings of KISS as a band and the people who played in it, with or without the makeup and masks. But over many years, there were q few changes and comings and goings. The band had two final, last-ever farewell tours, concluding with the End Of The Road Tour in 2003.
Their last show was, perhaps unsurprisingly, also a pay-per-view TV event. They played out in Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023.
Since then, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have announced a reunion at the KISS Army 50th Anniversary celebrations in Las Vegas this November. The pair will return with guest artists on a bill which also includes Bruce Kulick playing his own set. Maybe we could guess a guest?
And then there’s more to come. Simmons revealed the plans for a KISS avatar show, which is expected to land in Las Vegas in 2027. Is that the future too for many of the other top bands above? Maybe there isn't a real end to the era after all.