Classic Rock Bands That Doesn’t Have Any Living Original Members Anymore

We’re entering a bittersweet chapter in rock history. Many of the bands that helped define classic rock now have no surviving original members. As time marches on, reunions with the true OG lineups become impossible—but that doesn’t mean their music has faded. These bands may no longer have the original crew, but their sound still echoes through every guitar riff and lyric. Here’s a look at four iconic groups that no longer have any living founding members.

1. Motörhead
Motörhead was formed in 1975 and brought a gritty, high-speed energy to heavy metal that was unmatched. The original trio—frontman Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis, and drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor—set the foundation for a band that rocked well into the 2010s. Sadly, Lemmy and Taylor passed away in 2015, and Wallis followed in 2019.

Lucas Fox, who played drums briefly in the band’s earliest days, is still alive. However, he left within six months and wasn’t on their major early recordings. Because of this, Motörhead is widely considered a band with no living original members.

2. The Band
The Band blended rock, folk, and Americana into something timeless. You can hear their impact in the music of many artists, such as Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and many more. Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, and Robbie Robertson were the band’s first members, and they helped create a sound that defined an age.

Robertson died in 2023, and Danko in 1999, and Manuel in 1986. In January 2025, Garth Hudson died. He was the last founding member to still be alive. Songs like “The Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” will always be remembered.

3. Emerson, Lake & Powell
This short-lived but beloved prog-rock trio featured Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Cozy Powell. A spin-off of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the group only released one self-titled album in 1986—but it was enough to earn them a loyal fanbase.

Cozy Powell died in 1998. Then, in a sad twist, both Emerson and Lake passed away in 2016, just months apart. With all three members now gone, Emerson, Lake & Powell remains a one-of-a-kind moment in prog history.

4. Sweet
Hit tracks like “Ballroom Blitz” and “Fox on the Run” made Sweet (sometimes billed as “The Sweet”) the biggest name in glam rock in the 1970s. The original group, which included Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, and Mick Tucker, brought a lot of energy, showmanship, and catchy songs to the stage. Connolly died in 1997, Tucker in 2002, and Priest in 2020.

Andy Scott, who joined in 1970 and is often considered part of the classic lineup, is still alive. However, he wasn’t in the band’s original 1968 lineup, which released early singles like “Slow Motion” and “The Lollipop Man.”

These legendary groups may no longer have any original members, but their music still rocks the world.