Top 10 Vocalist Changes That Saved Bands — Full Breakdown & Transcript

[00:00] Welcome to WatchMojo. And today, we're counting down our picks for the best times that a new vocalist came along to revive, help, and or keep a group going.

[00:21] Number 10, Warnashore. As the Deathcore band, Lorna Shore created a name for themselves with a heavy output.

[00:34] They also went through several lineup changes in the late 2010s. When Tom Barber left in 2018, C.J. McCreary from Signs of the Swarm joined as the new singer.

[00:50] His time in the band was cut short after he was accused of misconduct. The group then pivoted to another replacement in Will Ramos.

[01:05] His work on songs like To the Hellfire helped the crew kickstart another successful era. With his deep vocals and confident style,

[01:20] Ramos has since recorded albums like Pain Remains that have earned positive reviews. Number 9, Three Days Grace Before joining the band, Matt Walsh already had experience with Three Days Grace.

[01:39] He wrote some songs for them dating back to the self-titled debut in the early 2000s. The decision also made sense considering he's the sibling of Bassist Brad.

[01:53] Original frontman Adam Gauthier left in 2013 for other ventures, leaving an opening for someone like Walsh to take over. The time has come!

[02:05] The time has come! It looked like Three Days Grace was heading in a different direction until Gauntiet returned. In a rare move for any music collective, both vocalists stayed in the band.

[02:24] This positive step opened the group up to a renewed sense of self in the 2020s. Number 8, Judas Priest.

[02:37] More than just leather and studs, Rob Halford left a big hole after he exited Judas Priest for side projects like Fife. This created an opening for someone like Tom the Ripper Owens.

[02:54] After his time in a priest tribute band, the artist was able to put his fandom to better use. The younger singer took over for Halford in the 1990s later making two records with the group

[03:11] Once the 2000s rolled around, Priest's original vocalist returned to the act that made him famous. The metal band later entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as continuing to make music.

[03:28] Owens contributed to the group's lore, providing an important link in a musical chain. Number seven, the Doobie Brothers.

[03:43] Many fans of these guys likely recognized them for two distinct eras. In the early to mid-1970s, the Doobie Brothers were known for their foot-tapping tunes like Listen to the Music.

[04:00] Singer and guitarist Tom Johnston is often associated with a California act's early success. There was enough material for an oldies playlist, but then came Michael McDonald to change things up.

[04:14] He started as a touring vocalist during Johnston's illness. With the latter leaving in the late 1970s, McDonald formally became the main singer and songwriter until the early 1980s.

[04:30] I'll be holding on His angelic voice added more of a pop flair to the group's sound. Some listeners might know their second era even better,

[04:43] with hits like What a Fool Believes becoming music staples. His verses are cold He's got a few feet Number 6, Alice in Chains

[04:56] As grunge architects, Alice in Chains became one of the big four of the genre. They were led by a fierce combination that included Lane Staley's soaring vocals.

[05:18] The latter made everything from Man in the Box and Wood into classics. Fighting his own demons, Bailey gradually retreated from public life after the band's third album.

[05:35] His death in 2002 seemed like the end of the group until a revival several years later. This time around, singer William Duvall arrived to fill an impossible slot.

[05:52] His amazing vocal abilities surprised some and supported a new direction. Check My Brain and other songs revealed the band hadn't lost their touch. Come back and check my brain California With Duvall voice Cantrell and the others found a way to keep going Number five ACDC

[06:24] During their ascent in the 1970s, ACDC featured the exciting singer Bon Scott. His intense vocals powered songs like Let There Be Rock and Highway to Hell. Scott tragically died in 1980, leaving the band in a complicated state.

[06:43] They then recruited Brian Johnson for their follow-up, Back in Black. Banshee! Banshee! Their new phase came with some of their biggest successes,

[06:55] leading to more hits like You Should Be All Night Long, all the way to Thunderstruck. Johnson's Banshee-like voice delivered an adrenaline shot to their music. While acknowledging the foundation laid by their former singer,

[07:13] the Australian act pressed on and into hard rock legend. Number four, Fleetwood Mac. I can't yell about the shit I mean, I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin.

[07:25] Some people might not know Fleetwood Mac's initial output featured more of a blues rock focus in the 1960s and early 1970s. The likes of Peter Green might as well have been in a different band altogether,

[07:37] considering where the group ended up in 1975. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham both joined the band for a revolutionary self-titled album,

[07:51] bringing their own personal battles and musical abilities. The group further explored a pop-rock direction with the follow-up Rumors. This cemented the newer lineup as far more successful and resonant with the general public.

[08:11] Many classic songs followed, while the inner turmoil and personal drama festered. Number 3, Black Sabbath.

[08:25] For most metal fans, they first think of Ozzy Osbourne when they imagine Black Sabbath.

[08:37] His impact during the band's first decade can't be overstated. Find out I'm the chosen one Along with his awesome voice, the vocalist had a history of substance use disorder and toxic outbursts.

[08:55] This eventually led to the frontman being fired in the late 1970s. Faced with having to replace the preeminent metal vocalist, Sabbath went for the Rainbow member, Ronnie James Theo.

[09:07] Holding a powerful instrument himself the replacement was no slouch in the singing department The audio The three of the band studio albums starting with Heaven and Hell

[09:24] While Osbourne went solo and later reunited with the core lineup, Dio gave the group a sonic boost in the 1980s.

[09:36] Number 2, Van Halen From their breakout in the late 1970s,

[09:48] Van Halen fused different elements of classic and hard rock into one fun-loving package. Their first decade was full of big singles and bombastic vocals from David Lee Roth. In a divisive split, Ross went solo and left the band with an open slot.

[10:11] I Can't Drive 55 singer Sammy Hagar then took over for even more success. Their late 1980s and early 1990s career included massive hits,

[10:27] but not everyone loved the addition of more ballads. Hagar's high-powered vocals completely differed from Roth's more acrobatic performances.

[10:43] Some people felt that the early days had more edge, while the Hagar years opened up the musicians to more emotional tracks. Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour livestream.

[10:55] All of your favorite videos in one place, 24-7. Always on, always live. Wait a second, Dave! Number one, Genesis. Watch your own side of the world!

[11:10] In the early 1970s, Peter Gabriel was the prominent frontman for Genesis. He was one of the leaders of their more progressive rock beginnings. When he decided to leave for a solo career, the remaining members explored other sub-genres.

[11:25] They ultimately had drummer Phil Collins add vocalists to his list of jobs.

[11:37] The latter helped guide the group through their most commercial albums. Pursuing more of a pop direction, the multi-talented musician found time to write hits for both a band and a separate singing career.

[11:53] Collins had a tremendous influence on the charts throughout the 1980s as a result. While they largely abandoned the complexity of the Gabriel era, the band expanded their reach as Collins assumed more control.

[12:10] Did we forget another band that got an overhaul with a new vocalist? Let us know in the comments below.