Get the latest gossip

11 Times Bands Replaced One of Their Own: Notable & Notorious Departures

Rock bands that replaced members and weathered departures and exits in music history.

But producer George Martin was unhappy with Best’s playing during the Beatles’ first recording sessions for EMI in June of 1962; as it happened the other three members were already considering a change, so they deputized manager Brian Epstein to deliver the bad news and two months later brought in Ringo Starr from Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. No fewer than 18 musicians have been part of the band, including the likes of Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan, Bob Welch, Billy Burnette, Rick Vito and, for a brief time, Dave Mason and Bekka Bramlett. Reasons for the schism varied; one version said he frustrated his bandmates by asking to delay an upcoming tour, while another report indicated that Stevie Nicks would not work with him after she felt he disrespected her during Fleetwood Mac’s MusiCares Person of the Year honor in January 2018.

Get the Android app