List of pre-fame band departures

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While many notable bands go through several lineup changes throughout their careers, this list of artists who left right before their bands became famous only lists members who quit or were fired from a band shortly before the band achieved mainstream commercial success.

Contents

Artists who were only meant to be temporary stand-ins in their bands should not be included in this list. The bands the listed artists left must be notable, can be from any genre of music, and include vocal groups whose members do not play instruments. Because these artists left before their former bands' mainstream breakthrough, they should not be considered part of their former bands' "classic" lineups.

Notable examples

Ex-Beatles drummer Pete Best in 2006. Best was fired from the Beatles a year before "Beatlemania" started. Pete Best drumming.jpg
Ex-Beatles drummer Pete Best in 2006. Best was fired from the Beatles a year before "Beatlemania" started.

Of these "nearly-men", [1] drummer Pete Best, who was fired from the Beatles in 1962, [2] just a year before "Beatlemania" started, has been cited as the best-known archetype. [3] [4] [5] [6] Best has since become "famous for not being famous". [7]

Jason Everman left two bands that went on to become famous: he was fired from Nirvana in 1989 and Soundgarden in 1990. According to The New York Times , Everman "wasn't just Pete Best ... He was Pete Best twice." [8]

Some of these artists eventually went on to find mainstream success in another band or as a soloist. For example, Metallica's original lead guitarist, Dave Mustaine, formed his own thrash metal band Megadeth in 1983 after he was fired from his former band. While Metallica went on to achieve massive commercial success, Mustaine's Megadeth also enjoyed commercial success, [9] [10] selling 50 million records worldwide. [11]

Alphabetic list

Dave Mustaine in 2010. Mustaine formed the successful Megadeth after being fired from Metallica. Megadeth @ Arena Joondalup (12 12 2010) (5272639661).jpg
Dave Mustaine in 2010. Mustaine formed the successful Megadeth after being fired from Metallica.
Mark Wahlberg in 2012. Wahlberg became a famous actor, singer and model after he quit New Kids on the Block. Mark Wahlberg at the Contraband movie premiere in Sydney February 2012.jpg
Mark Wahlberg in 2012. Wahlberg became a famous actor, singer and model after he quit New Kids on the Block.
Heidi Range in 2006. Range quit Atomic Kitten shortly before the release of their debut single and later joined another girl group, the Sugababes. Heidi Range 2.jpg
Heidi Range in 2006. Range quit Atomic Kitten shortly before the release of their debut single and later joined another girl group, the Sugababes.

Artists are listed alphabetically by their surname, followed by the band they left, their former role in the band, the year they left, and the year their former band achieved mainstream success. Additional comments on the way the artist left (fired or quit) and their replacement, if any, may be added at the end. All entries are referenced with reliable sources.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
ArtistBand
the artist left		RoleYear
the artist left		Year
of band's commercial breakthrough		NotesRef
George Baldi Boyz II Men Vocalist19881991Quit
Syd Barrett Pink Floyd Guitarist, vocalist19681973Fired and replaced by David Gilmour [12]
Tina Barrett Mis-Teeq (then known as Face2Face)Vocalist19982001Left to join S Club 7 who also gained success, scoring 11 top 10 singles. [13] [14]
Ole Beich Guns N' Roses Bassist19851988Either quit [15] or was fired. [16] Replaced by Duff McKagan. [15] [16]
Pete Best The Beatles Drummer19621963Fired and replaced by Ringo Starr [2] : 2 
[5]
Josh Brainard Slipknot Guitarist19981999Replaced by Jim Root. Recorded for some tracks of Slipknot but left the band before the album's release. [17]
Elbridge Bryant The Temptations Vocalist19631964Fired and replaced by David Ruffin [18] : 12 
Tanya Candler Kittie Bassist19992000Played on debut album Spit and appeared on the cover of its original release, but quit Kittie two months before its release. She was replaced by Talena Atfield, who appears on the cover of all reissues of the album since 2000.
Maddy Chan Steps Vocalist19971997Quit and replaced by Claire Richards and Faye Tozer [19] [20]
Chad Channing Nirvana Drummer19901991Fired and replaced by Dave Grohl [9] [3]
Tony Chapman The Rolling Stones Drummer19621963Quit and replaced by Charlie Watts [2] : 4 
[5]
Simon Colley Duran Duran Bassist19791981Quit and replaced by John Taylor, who was already a member of the band, switching from guitar to bass guitar.
Anders Colsefni Slipknot Vocalist, percussionist19971999Replaced as vocalist by Corey Taylor and switched to percussion, then left the band and was replaced by Greg Welts. [21]
Jason Cropper Weezer Guitarist19931994Fired and replaced by Brian Bell [22]
Alan Curtis Duran Duran Guitarist19801981Quit and replaced by Andy Taylor
John Curulewski Styx Guitarist19751975Left and replaced by Tommy Shaw
Támar Davis Destiny's Child (then known as Girl's Tyme)Vocalist19931997Fired and replaced by LeToya Luckett [23] [24] [25]
Bob Debank Coast to Coast Guitarist19791980Quit
Stephen Duffy Duran Duran Vocalist/bassist/
drummer		19791981Quit and replaced by Andy Wickett [3] [5]
Jason Everman Nirvana Guitarist19891991Fired [8]
Soundgarden Bassist19901992Fired and replaced by Ben Shepherd
Frank Farrell Supertramp Bassist19701972Left and replaced by Dougie Thompson
Jason Galasso NSYNC Vocalist19951997Quit and replaced by Lance Bass [26]
Pete Garner The Stone Roses Bassist19871989Quit and replaced by Mani [5]
Michael Garrett Westlife Vocalist19981999Fired and replaced by Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden [27]
Terry Glaze Pantera Vocalist19861990Quit and replaced by Phil Anselmo
Peter Griesar Dave Matthews Band Keyboardist19931994Quit [28]
Mike Grose Queen Bassist19701974Quit, replaced by Barry Mitchell, then Doug Bogie, then John Deacon [29]
Tracii Guns Guns N' Roses Guitarist19851988Quit and replaced by Slash [5]
[18] : 5 
Dale Hibbert The Smiths Bassist19821983Fired and replaced by Andy Rourke [30] [31]
Kim Hill Black Eyed Peas Vocalist20002003Quit and later replaced by Fergie
Doug Hopkins Gin Blossoms Guitarist19921993Fired and replaced by Scott Johnson [2] : 2 
[32]
Crystal Jones TLC Vocalist19911992Fired and replaced by Rozonda Thomas [33]
Jeff Jones Rush Vocalist, bassist19681974Left and replaced by Geddy Lee
Graham Keighron Westlife Vocalist19981999Fired and replaced by Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden [27]
John Kiffmeyer Green Day Drummer19901994Replaced while at college by Tré Cool
Stella Kim Girls' Generation Vocalist20072007Quit [34]
Abigail Kis Spice Girls (then known as Touch)Vocalist19941996Quit and replaced by Emma Bunton [35]
Bob Klose Pink Floyd Guitarist19651967Quit [36]
Derrick Lacey Westlife Vocalist19981999Fired and replaced by Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden [27]
James Lilja The Offspring Drummer19871994Quit and replaced by Ron Welty
Jonathan Lippmann 98 Degrees Vocalist19961998Quit and replaced by Drew Lachey [37] [38]
Bob Livingson Santana Drummer19681969Quit and replaced by Michael Shrieve [39]
Robin Lynn Macy Dixie Chicks Guitarist19921995Quit [40]
Barbara Martin The Supremes Vocalist19621964Quit [41] : 2 
Jim Masdea Boston (band) Drummer19751976Quit and replaced by Sib Hashian
Ron McGovney Metallica Bassist19821986Quit and replaced by Cliff Burton [42]
Zena McNally Mis-Teeq Vocalist20012001Quit
Alan Mills Coast to Coast Vocalist19801980Quit and replaced by Sandy Fontaine
Lianne Morgan Spice Girls (then known as Touch)Vocalist19941996Quit and replaced by Melanie C [43]
Dave Mustaine Metallica Guitarist19831986Fired and replaced by Kirk Hammett [5]
[18] : 4 
Marc Nelson Boyz II Men Vocalist19891991Quit [18] : 13 
Derek O'Brien Steps Vocalist19971997Quit and replaced by Lee Latchford-Evans [19] [20]
Henry Padovani The Police Guitarist19771979Fired and replaced by Andy Summers [44] [45]
So-yeon Park Girls' Generation Vocalist20072007Quit [46]
Matt Pelissier My Chemical Romance Drummer20042004Fired and replaced by Bob Bryar
Anthony Phillips Genesis Guitarist19701972Quit and replaced by Steve Hackett [2] : 6 
Justin Quinn Another Level Vocalist19971998Left and became a solo UK garage singer known as JJ, appearing on two top 10 hits by DJ Luck & MC Neat in 2000. [47]
Niall Quinn The Cranberries Vocalist19901993Quit and replaced by Dolores O'Riordan [45]
Heidi Range Atomic Kitten Vocalist19991999Quit and replaced by Natasha Hamilton, Range would later find success with Sugababes. [48]
Scott Raynor Blink-182 Drummer19981999Fired and replaced by Travis Barker [49] [12]
Richie Rock Boyzone Vocalist19941994Fired and replaced by Mikey Graham [50] [51]
John Rutsey Rush Drummer19741974Left and replaced by Neil Peart [52]
Chris Salih Twenty One Pilots Drummer20112015Quit and replaced by Josh Dun [53]
Doug Sandom The Who Drummer19641965Fired and replaced by Keith Moon [54]
Kate Schellenbach Beastie Boys Drummer19841986 [55]
Jon Shoats Boyz II Men Vocalist19881991Quit
Eric Stefani No Doubt Keyboardist19941995Quit [2] : 7 
[44]
Michelle Stephenson Spice Girls Vocalist19941996Quit and replaced by Abigail Kis, prior to Emma Bunton [35] [56] [57]
Mitch Stevens Steps Vocalist19971997Quit and replaced by Claire Richards and Faye Tozer [19] [20]
Ian Stewart The Rolling Stones Keyboardist19631963Fired, but retained as studio and touring member [45]
Scott Sundquist Soundgarden Drummer19851992Quit to spend time with his family and replaced by Matt Cameron
Stuart Sutcliffe The Beatles Bassist, vocalist19611963Quit to pursue a career as a painter
Nikki Taylor Destiny's Child (then known as Girl's Tyme)Vocalist19931997Fired and replaced by LeToya Luckett [23] [24] [25]
Nina Taylor Destiny's Child (then known as Girl's Tyme)Vocalist19931997Fired and replaced by LeToya Luckett [23] [24] [25]
Jeff Thomas Duran Duran Vocalist19801981Quit and replaced by Simon Le Bon
Nick Thomas Twenty One Pilots Bassist20112015Quit [58]
Mark Wahlberg New Kids on the Block Vocalist19851988Quit and replaced by Joey McIntyre [59]
Marguerite Walker Boyz II Men Vocalist19881991Quit
Mark Walton Boyzone Vocalist19941994Quit [50] [51]
Greg "Cuddles" Welts Slipknot Percussionist19981999Replaced by Chris Fehn
Andy Wickett Duran Duran Vocalist19801981Quit and replaced by Jeff Thomas, prior to Simon Le Bon [60]
Hye-rim Woo Miss A Vocalist20102010Left and joined Wonder Girls instead [61] [62]
Hiro Yamamoto Soundgarden Bassist19891992Quit and replaced by Jason Everman [63]
Annette Zilinskas The Bangles Bassist19831986Quit and replaced by Michael Steele; Zilinskas later rejoined the band in 2018.

References

  1. ↑ Lister, David (8 April 2011). "David Lister: The lucrative business of being a nearly-man of rock music". The Independent . Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pous, Terri (22 August 2012). "Gone Too Soon? Artists Who Left Bands Before their Prime". TIME .
  3. 1 2 3 "The nearly men of pop music: I'm (not) with the band". The Independent . 9 August 2005. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Runtagh, Jordan (9 August 2013). "Pete Best Syndrome: 10 Dudes Who Left Big Bands To Wallow In Obscurity". VH1 . Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Horton, Matthew (29 July 2015). "Bad Timing – 31 Musicians Who Quit Bands Right Before They Became Famous". NME . Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Perry, Andrew (28 September 2006). "Beatles behaving badly: what John and I got up to, by the drummer who was booted out". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  7. ↑ Dover, Robert M. Cook (10 May 2008). "Ex-Beatles drummer Pete Best rocks on". fosters.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  8. 1 2 Tarver, Clay (2 July 2013). "The Rock 'n' Roll Casualty Who Became a War Hero". The New York Times . Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 Alexandra, Rae (17 January 2013). "Almost Famous: Five Musicians Who Left Before Their Bands Blew Up". SF Weekly . Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  10. ↑ Willman, Chris (10 July 2013). "Almost Famous: Musicians Who Just Missed Their Shot". Yahoo! Music . Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  11. ↑ McPhate, Christian (July 11, 2013). "Megadeth Bassist Dave Ellefson on the Metal Aging Process". Dallas Observer . Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  12. 1 2 Rutan, Ayron (25 July 2022). "Rockers Who Were Replaced Before Their Band Got Famous". Loudwire . Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Emma (December 12, 2020). "S Club 7's Tina on that red carpet dress: 'I thought, Where's the rest of it?'".
  14. ↑ Byrnes, Lana (March 4, 2021). "Tina Barett was in Mis-Teeq before S Club 7 and nobody knew". OK! Magazine.
  15. 1 2 Lerch, Otto. "Historien om Ole fra Guns N' Roses" [The story of Ole from Guns N 'Roses]. Politiken (in Danish). Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  16. 1 2 Cue, Raz (2019). The Days of Guns, & Raz's (2nd ed.). Raz Cue. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022. After that second practice, another rehearsal was set for a tentative "in a few days." Ole neglected to tell anyone of his newest girlfriend, so when the next practice got scheduled, there was no way to get ahold of him. After three days of no one hearing from him, and rehearsal scheduled for the following evening, Izzy said, "If Ole doesn't want to be in the band, there's a guy who lives across the street from me who'll do the show."
  17. ↑ Crampton, Mark (2001). Barcode Killers: The Slipknot Story in Words and Pictures. UK: Chrome Dreams. p. 35. ISBN   1-84240-126-2.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Porter, Joseph (21 August 2015). "People Who Left a Band Right Before Fame Hit". guff.com. Retrieved 20 April 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  19. 1 2 3 "The Original Steps". generationsteps.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. 1 2 3 "Steps Reunion on Sky Living HD - Here the band reveal how they got together at the first audition - Sky Living HD". Skyliving.sky.com.
  21. ↑ Arnopp, Jason (2001). Slipknot: Inside the Sickness, Behind the Masks. UK: Ebury. pp. 71–74. ISBN   0-09-187933-7.
  22. ↑ Valania, Johnathan (7 May 2016). "PHAWKER.COM – Curated News, Gossip, Concert Reviews, Fearless Political Commentary, Interviews….Plus, the Usual Sex, Drugs and Rock n' Roll » Blog Archive » EXCERPT: The Complete Oral History Of Weezer". Magnet Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  23. 1 2 3 Beyonce: All New. E! Online.
  24. 1 2 3 "Beyoncé Knowles: Biography". People. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  25. 1 2 3 Kaufman, Gil (June 13, 2005). "Destiny's Child's Long Road To Fame (The Song Isn't Called 'Survivor' For Nothing)". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  26. ↑ "A History Of *NSYNC's Breakup, According To Bandmates Not Named Justin Timberlake". HuffPost . 30 April 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  27. 1 2 3 "Where Are They Now? : Westlife". OutLoud!Culture. June 16, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Interview with Peter Griesar". Nancies . Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  29. ↑ Blake, Mark (2010). Is This The Real Life? The Untold Story of Queen. Arum Press. p. 94. ISBN   978-1-84513-713-7.
  30. ↑ Rogan, Johnny (22 December 2015). "Boy, Interrupted: Memoir Of A Former Smith by Dale Hibbert: a top pop memoir". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  31. ↑ "How we made: Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce on the Smiths' first gig". The Guardian. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "6 Musicians Who Left Bands Right Before They Got Famous". CollegeHumor . 5 August 2009.
  33. ↑ "39 Things You Didn't Know About TLC". Capital XTRA . Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  34. ↑ Luo, Benny (September 29, 2016). "Former SNSD Trainee Reveals the Distorted Reality of Beauty in K-Pop". NextShark. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  35. 1 2 Tonks, Owen (June 7, 2021). "Emma Bunton 'won place in Spice Girls thanks to platform shoes' as she was too short". Metro UK. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Pink Floyd: Official Facebook site". Facebook . Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  37. ↑ Huff, Richard (May 28, 2009). "Ex-98 Degrees singer Drew Lachey set to host HGTV $250,000 Challenge". Daily News . Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Pop group delivers lyrical food for thought". Toledo Blade . July 14, 2001.
  39. ↑ "Live at the Fillmore 1968". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  40. ↑ "Big Twang". 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-03-09.
  41. ↑ Keppler, Nick (12 January 2017), "10 Musicians Who Left Famous Bands (Before They Got Famous)", Myspace :
  42. ↑ "Ron McGovney Interview 1997". 15 January 1997. Archived from the original on 2003-11-07.
  43. ↑ "Spice Girl singer Lianne Morgan's battle with condition that means she cannot speak". Wales Online. June 17, 2012.
  44. 1 2 Bignell, Paul (7 July 2012). "Almost famous: Other members of bands who fell by the wayside". The Independent . Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  45. 1 2 3 Power, Ed (11 June 2007). "I coulda been a contender". Irish Independent . Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  46. ↑ (in Korean) 함은정, "티아라 소연 "소녀시대 탈퇴 후 가장 힘들었다"(인터뷰). Starnews. April 13, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  47. ↑ "Asino & Laurent Wery feat. Justin Quinn releases Embrace | FrontView Magazine".
  48. ↑ Earp, Catherine (22 February 2013). "Ten Things About... Atomic Kitten". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  49. ↑ "10 Artists Who Left or Got Fired Just Before Their Band Became Famous". Paste . 17 January 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  50. 1 2 Kindon, Frances (October 13, 2020). "What happened to Boyzone's forgotten members - heroin, murderous ex and billionaire". Mirror. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  51. 1 2 BOYZONE HISTORY
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  53. ↑ Salih, Chris (May 9, 2011). "Member Change: Chris' Farewell". Facebook . Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  54. ↑ Marsh, Dave; Bernard, James (1 November 1994). "Expelled: 25 People Who Quit or Were Fired Before Their Groups Became Famous". New Book of Rock Lists. Simon and Schuster. p. 265. ISBN   978-0671787004.
  55. ↑ Zwickel, Jonathan A. (4 January 2011). Beastie Boys: A Musical Biography. ABC-CLIO. p. 19. ISBN   978-0313365584.
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