One member leaves, band starts to suck

[ghosty]

Let's think of all the bands who have had one member leave the group and wound up suffering musically.
R.E.M. immediately springs to mind (but then again I'm that one guy in the U.S. who continues to buy their new albums but it's just not the same since Bill Berry left).

[golfer]

Frankly, I think REM have always sucked and continue to. In my mind the biggest change in a band with a member leaving is Genesis after Peter Gabriel left. Or the Carpenters after Karen went!![8D]

[Rubbeet921]

Yikes, I can't stand Genesis![xx(] Crappp! I'd rather listen to the worst songs released by REM than that! (my personal preference only, of course [|)])

[Rubbeet921]

We can count the splitting up of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Awful solo efforts by Curt and lame releases by Roland as TFF! [V] I just hope they can make powerful songs again the way they used to (ie. The Hurting & Songs from the Big Chair)...

[NuWaveRx]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Rubbeet921[/i]
<br>
We can count the splitting up of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Awful solo efforts by Curt and lame releases by Roland as TFF! [V] I just hope they can make powerful songs again the way they used to (ie. The Hurting & Songs from the Big Chair)...
[/quote]

I respectfully disagree. Although some of the late '80s and '90s output by TFF wasen't the best, "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" I thought was a masterpiece. Probably one of the best "concept" albums I've ever heard. I saw TFF on that tour and they (he) were outstanding live.

[Frau_Blucher]

The Attractions haven't done a thing since Elvis left. Ditto for the Heartbreakers without Tom Petty. Of course Midnight Runners without Dexy, The Pan without Flash, The Figures without Gary Myrick, The Blockheads without Ian Drury, The Coconuts without Kid Creole, The Muffins without Martha, The Voidoids without Richard Hell, and The Tears without Sniff.

Also, the Hong Kong Cavaliers were never the same without Buckaroo Bonzai.

The real success story though is how the Bunneymen soldiered on just fine without Echo.

[Rubbeet921]

[quote][i]Originally posted by NuWaveRx[/i]

I respectfully disagree. Although some of the late '80s and '90s output by TFF wasen't the best, "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" I thought was a masterpiece.

[/quote]

Actually, yes, that's the best solo stuff he had ever done, but it's the kind of album that just grows on you. In fact, I do have that album too and almost all the rest...

[bruiser]

i won't go so far as saying that they "sucked", but after alan wilder left depeche mode certainly changed their sound- martin gore still writes great songs, but there's a certain something missing. p.s. i loved "exciter"- i don't care what anyone says.

[Bitter Almonds]

Okay, good, 'cause [i]Exciter[/i] sucked... but not as much as [i]Ultra[/i][:0]

[Natephish]

Haircut 100 with the loss of Nick Heyward.

[scramjet]

Not necessarily new wave, but

9,999 Maniacs w/o Natalie Merchant,
Van Halen w/o DLR
Heart did some good stuff until their guitarist left.

[KYYX4ever]

Good call on the Van Halen w/o DLR, and Genesis w/o Peter Gabriel.

I can picture Temple of Marc coming after me, but after the Taylors all left Duran Duran, they went downhill.[:(]

[geoffolehane]

[b]OMD[/b]. After Paul Humphreys exited to form the Listening Pool, I don't think Andy McClusky has been able to carry it on his own very well.

[ghosty]

Ah, but what about Pink Floyd after Syd Barrett left. Opinions are divided, y'know.

Gotta say I love R.E.M....well, I just love jangly guitar, I guess.

[brock]

Anything that the B-52's released after Ricky Wilson's death (does dying = leaving?) was just not the same, IMHO. Or maybe because Cosmic Thing became so popular.

Gotta agree with REM, but I bought their latest anyway. Now my 4-yr old daughter cues up Leaving New York every night before bedtime.