Heartbreaking tales of these fleeting stars
The Brazilian metal band is best known for the albums released with the original vocalist Max Cavalera. Derrick Green joined Sepultura in 1997 and has been with them ever since. In March 2024 the band announced their farewell tour.
Glenn Danzig was the original lead singer of the horror-punk outfit. Michale Graves joined the band in 1995. Danzig reunited with the original members in 2016.
The first album of Exodus features the band's original lead vocalist, Paul Baloff. He left the thrash metal band in 1986 and Steve Souza joined in his place.
Sources: (CBS News) (Ranker) (Loudwire) (Kerrang)
See also: Unlucky musicians who left famous bands just before their success
Rainbow is best known for front man Ronnie James Dio, but he was replaced by Graham Bonnet in 1979.
Linkin Park is coming back together seven years after the death of front man Chester Bennington. The band's new singer is Emily Armstrong.
Chuck Mosley was the first man to front Faith No More. Then in 1988, singer Mike Patton joined the band.
Michael Hutchence died in 1997 and will always be remembered as the singer of INXS. The Aussie band reinvented themselves in 2007 with a new vocalist named J.D. Fortune.
For years, the New York City thrash metal band was fronted by Joey Belladonna (who replaced the original vocalist Neil Turbin. This changed in 1992 when John Bush joined Anthrax. Belladonna eventually returned in 2005.
Slipknot found great success when vocalist Corey Taylor replaced Anders Colsefni in 1997.
Former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger reunited years after the death of Jim Morrison. The new version of the band was called The Doors of the 21st Century and it featured The Cult's singer Ian Astbury on vocals.
Freddie Mercury is irreplaceable, but in 2004 fans had the chance to hear Queen songs live again with Paul Rodgers, and then in 2012 with Adam Lambert.
The 'I Want to Know What Love Is' band is best known for having Lou Gramm as their lead vocalist. Johnny Edwards did, however, replace Gramm for a period of time.
From 1982 until 2012, Geoff Tate was the man fronting Queensrÿche. He was then replaced by Todd La Torre.
Alice in Chains went on hiatus following the death of vocalist Layne Staley in 2002. William Duvall joined the band four years later. In 2009 AIC released the first album with Duvall on vocals, 'Black Gives Way to Blue.'
Steve Perry may be the most famous singer in Journey, but the band has had a few other lead vocalists, including Steve Augeri (pictured), Jeff Scott Soto, and Arnel Pineda.
Priest fans never dreamed of their favorite band without Rob Halford on vocals. But there was a time when the English heavy metal legends were fronted by Ripper Owens. Halford left Judas Priest in 1991 and rejoined the band in 2003.
After the death of the singer Ronnie Van Zant in a plane crash in 1977, his younger brother Johnny Van Zant stepped in as the vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Most people associate Phil Anselmo with Pantera, but he isn't the original vocalist. The band was once fronted by Terrence Lee Glaze.
Fleetwood Mac had several vocalists over the years. Bob Welch, for instance, was singing in Fleetwood Mac in 1971, before Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, and Christine McVie joined the band.
Henry Rollins wasn't actually the hardcore punk band's first vocalist. Until 1979, Keith Morris fronted Black Flag.
In 2013, Scott Weiland was fired from STP. Chester Bennington of Linkin Park then joined the remaining members for a few live performances. Bennington left the band in November 2015 and a month later Wieland died. In 2017, vocalist Jeff Gutt officially joined the band.
Deep Purple has had a variety of singers over the years, with Ian Gillan being the most famous. Other front men include Joe Lynn Turner and David Coverdale (pictured).
Vince Neil has always been Mötley Crüe's lead vocalist, except between 1992 and 1996, when John Corabi joined the band.
Pink Floyd's original singer, Syd Barrett, was kicked out of the band in 1968. Then David Gilmour and Roger Waters started to share vocal duties.
The iconic British heavy metal band started off with lead vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who recorded Maiden's first two albums. Then Bruce Dickinson joined the band in 1981, and the rest is history.
Black Sabbath had several vocalists over the years. Ozzy Osbourne was the band's original lead singer, until he was replaced by Ronnie James Dio in 1979. Other Sabbath lead singers include Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, and Tony Martin, to name a few.
When the original Genesis vocalist, Peter Gabriel, left the band in 1975, drummer Phil Collins stepped up and took over the vocals. Then, from 1996 to 2000, it was Ray Wilson's turn to sing with Genesis.
Fans found it hard to imagine Van Halen without the energy and flamboyance of David Lee Roth, but Sammy Hagar was also a force to be reckoned with.
Not many bands manage to become very successful after the death of an iconic vocalist like Bon Scott, but AC/DC did just that with Brian Johnson and their 1980 album 'Back in Black.' Johnson was actually the Aussie rockers' third vocalist. Before Scott, there was Dave Evans.
Some bands have had numerous lineup changes throughout the years, and this includes lead vocalists. Band members come and go; they quit, get fired, and sometimes die. Whatever the reason, many bands have replaced their lead singers. Some of these replacements were the best thing that could have happened to these bands, but others, not so much...
In this gallery, we remember some of the most famous bands that replaced their lead singer. Click on and get to know them.
Bands that replaced their lead singer
For better or worse!
MUSIC Vocalists
Some bands have had numerous lineup changes throughout the years, and this includes lead vocalists. Band members come and go; they quit, get fired, and sometimes die. Whatever the reason, many bands have replaced their lead singers. Some of these replacements were the best thing that could have happened to these bands, but others, not so much...
In this gallery, we remember some of the most famous bands that replaced their lead singer. Click on and get to know them.