Bands That Survived Without Their Original Singer

Singers are the front person of bands. They leave a mark on it and are the people associated with a particular band in the audience’s mind. So when they leave/get fired, or die, most of the time, it causes a collapse in those bands. Yet there are cases in these bands that have survived and even thrived with two or multiple vocalists.

 

AC/DC

 

They are an Australian rock band formed in 1973 and one of the most influential bands of all time. Their music can be described as hard rock with blues elements. 

AC/DC was founded by the guitarists and brothers Young (Angus and Malcolm). Dave Evans was their first singer, but they rose to fame with Bon Scott, who, after iconic albums like High Voltage and Highway to Hell, died in 1980.

The band, with the blessing from Scott’s family, looked for another singer. They were lucky enough to find another notable singer, Brian Johnson, who, since the release of the album Back in Black, gained the hearts of fans. Although I love and prefer Bon’s era, I also love Brian’s because he has recorded many rock anthems with AC/DC.

 

With Dave Evans:

 

With Bon Scott:

 

With Brian Johnson:

 

Nightwish

 

They are a Finnish symphonic metal band formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. Tarja’s voice, in my opinion, was the main reason they gained popularity and success, but after many albums and years, they fired her in 2005 and were replaced by the Swedish singer Anette Olzon in 2007. Yet she wasn’t permanent either, and in 2013, the Dutch singer, Floor Jansen, became their current singer.

After all the drama, they are still one of the biggest symphonic metal bands to date. I like their three singers. I have known them since the year 2000 and became a huge fan. I love Tarja’s and Anette’s albums. However, with Floor, I love her performance of the older songs. Yet I don’t like the albums with her very much, because of the direction the band took, too bombastic, intricate, orchestral, and less metal.

 

With Tarja Turunen:

 

With Anette Olzon:

 

With Floor Jansen:

 

Alice in Chains

 

They are an American rock band, alternative metal, grunge, formed in 1987. The band had problems due to their singer, Layne Staley’s, substance abuse, which resulted in his death in 2002 and caused the band to go on hiatus.

Alice in Chains reunited in 2005, with William DuVall joining in 2006 as rhythm guitarist and sharing vocals with their lead guitarist, Jerry Cantrell. Harmonizing together, as Jerry used to do when Layne was in the band.

I think they are the best band in the grunge movement, and I love their albums with Layne as well as with William, because for me, the real brain, voice, and genius that leads everything has always been Jerry Cantrell.

 

With Layne Staley:

 

With William DuVall:

 

Arch Enemy

 

They are a Swedish melodic death metal band formed in 1995. The band was originally fronted by Johan Liiva, who was replaced by German vocalist Angela Gossow in 2000.  Angela left the band in March 2014 to become the group’s manager, and was replaced by Canadian vocalist Alissa White-Gluz.

Recently, on 23 November 2025, Arch Enemy announced the departure of vocalist Alissa, and they still haven’t announced their new singer.

I got to know the band when Angela was the singer; she was brutal, and I loved her singing right away. Angela is still my favorite. But we’ll see who’s going to take the microphone now.

 

With Johan Liiva:

 

With Angela Gossow:

 

With Alissa White-Gluz:

 

Linkin Park

 

They are an American rock, alternative, and nu metal band formed in 1996, a super popular group until their vocalist, Chester Bennington, died in 2017. After that, they were in hiatus until 2024 when Linkin Park’s reformation was announced along with the addition of Dead Sara vocalist Emily Armstrong. They released an album, From Zero, in 2024 and then embarked on a very successful world tour.

I’ve never been a great fan of Linkin Park, but I think Emily sings well, and the new songs with her rock, yet there are still fans who don’t like her. I think that if the band wants to continue, good for them, and we have to respect that and enjoy their new era and music.

 

With Chester Bennington:

 

With Emily Armstrong:

 

Final Thoughts

 

Replacing a member is never easy, especially when it’s the singer. Yet if the band decides to continue, that’s ok, because a band is a group of people, not just the singer. They all form a marvelous collective that, for a special and magical period of time, gets together and creates amazing melodies and lyrics. We, as fans, if we really enjoy the band and their music, should support their decision and appreciate their art as long as they exist as a band.