What would you define as “original” members of a band?

This would have to be decided on a case by case basis. Probably by the band members.

I think we're talking about two different things. The "original" members of the band are those who were there when it was formed. The "iconic" members of the band are those we think of when we think of the band. So no, Ringo was not an original Beatle, just like Grohl was not an original member of Nirvana, but they are both iconic members of those bands.

Pink Floyd
Queen (Deacon wasn’t original). Was Freddie even original or does a name change come into play?
Eagles
Fleetwood Mac (picture them without Buckingham, C. McVie and Nicks)

There are probably 3 broad categories of "what constitutes the band":

1. No shite original members - there on Day 1

2. The lineup when the band got signed/became famous/had breakout hit

3. The "classic" lineup or the folks there when the band had their most production/popularity

Let's take Def Leppard for example - there are 2 "no shite" original members left - Elliot and Savage. However, I doubt even purists wouldn't consider Rick Allen a founder, despite the fact that Tony Kenning AND Frank Noon were behind the kit of a band loosely being referred to as "Deaf Leopard" or some such thing before he took over (at age 15, BTW).

So, despite there being this thing called Atomic Mass that only had Rick Savage in it (of current members), the "original" founding members of the rock and roll outfit known today as Def Leppard would widely be considered: Elliott, Willis, Clark, Savage and Allen. This was also the lineup of the first 2 albums. (Even though Frank Noon played drums on The Def Leppard EP, few hardcore fans would consider him an "original" member over Rick Allen, particularly as he replaced Kenning.)

One would consider the "classic lineup" of this "original" founding, with a slash between Willis and his eventual replacement Phil Collen (which then becomes the lineup for Pyromania and Hysteria). If High n' Dry had not been such a successful album and launching point, Willis would likely not be included in the "classic" lineup debate.

So, like a lot of stuff in this music thing, it is, to a degree, subjective, depending on how one defines things.

(Another example - do we consider Heart a successor outfit to White Heart? Do any Heart fans really consider any iteration of the band before the Wilson sisters an "original" lineup?)

quote:

---

Steve Perry

---

Say what one would say about Journey, but have any of you ever heard some one try to Karaoke a journey song.

Perry was a helluva vocalist.

By your buddy’s definition, Dave Mustaine was never really in Metallica.

I'll go with members when you made the Ed Sullivan Show or some other international acclaim.

quote:

---

1. No shite original members - there on Day 1

2. The lineup when the band got signed/became famous/had breakout hit

3. The "classic" lineup or the folks there when the band had their most production/popularity

---

I agree with this.. When I look at Wilco there are only two members left from #1 (from the ashes of Uncle Tupelo)

#2 was the Jay Bennet era

#3 is the Nels Cline era

quote:

---

The answer is album. Before that a lot of bands are doing mostly covers.

---

So, for Foo Fighters the only original member is Dave Grohl?