Here’s an interesting question to think about: are there any bands that lost a band member and went on to improve and get better?
My first submission for this topic is JILUKA. They had a different drummer JAIL for their first single and then he departed the band. They went silent for a year and came back stronger with Zyean. That’s impressive considering that I treat drums as the center of the band and quite hard to replace. And Zyean is a MONSTER on drums.
What about you?
Unless it’s about objective improvement in technical ability (including vocals), it doesn’t matter because we are outsiders. We don’t know how much an individual brings to the table behind the scenes (connections, leadership, marketing, creative input, fandom, etc).
Zean is a good example, though. He’s tough.
That was the intent.
DIMLIM, when Issei left.
much respect to yune, but gazette after he left
A tidbit that is obscure these days:
PIERROT used to have a vocalist different than Kirito - who initially played guitar(s) for the band:
With their initial vocalist (HIDELOW) - 1994
Kirito went on to become their vocalist a year after HIDELOW left the band (1996-ish).
I have nothing against HIDELOW, but Kirito made PIERROT for me in addition to their equally talented instrumentals.
Rentrer en soi (no more preggy gya drama after og guitarist left, excellent run since)
Matenrou Opera (rejuvenated their very stale sound following member change)
ZORO (had one short but brilliant electronic era after guitarist and drummer departed for nothing particularly impressive, ended up with all members hitting a wall for like ten years after)
Buck Tick when their first vocalist left and decided that their drummer Atsushi Sakurai should replace him - best decision in the history of vkei
also Malice Mizer when Gackt replaced Tetsu and made them and himself widely known worldwide (no shade on Tetsu btw, he’s living his best life too)
Unite ……
I guess you could say Jiluka based upon who was originally set to be the original lineup.
Totally. I doubt the band would’ve continued as long as they did if HIDELOW remained the frontman. Kirito’s iconic voice cemented the band’s legacy forever.
zoro as a duo was super fun, lovedddd their music. idk if they would ever do music as a quartet again after their reunion but i’d surely welcome anything they put out lol
Nightmare replaced Zannin with Ruka and he’s been the main composer and writer for Nightmare ever since. Iirc he’s also the one that deals with management stuff the most but if not him, then Sakito.
Might be weird or offensive to mention The Piass since 3/4 of the founding members are dead but their work after the unfortunate departure of the initial 2 deaths were light years better than their first album. Thinking about あの時のように which to this day is one of my favorite VKei songs ever. I believe the bassist was still around when that song in particular was released.
The departure of Shio and the arrival of Kaoru from La:Sadie’s. And the departure of Kisaki from La:Sadie’s which will lead to the creation of DIR EN GREY and the arrival of their fifth member, Toshiya.
definitely another historic decision in vkei
MUCC with Yukke…is not like Hiro had much time to create a lot of music with them…but after Yukke got in, everything “started”.
I love Codomo Dragon but I feel they’ve gotten so much better (and heavier) since Kana left, Zombie when they gained Kanata as a vocalist, the same when Hitone joined Damned
Dezert when Kira left, Jasmine You-era Versailles is nostalgic and I love him but Masashi really changed their sound when he joined, I’ve seen Hitchcock live several times and the drumming is much better when Loa is supporting compared to their “trainee” drummers
absolutely love that song from The Piass! Ugh I loved them and still have hopes they can release more material or at least a compilation of sort
Even though I have a soft spot for Natsu (Vo.), Neverland was objectively better after Ryota (Vo.) joined.