Top 12 Classic Rock Bands With the Highest Total Members

Most bands don’t make it decades with their original lineup intact—U2 and Aerosmith are rare exceptions. But while some groups stayed tight, others turned into revolving doors of musicians. Sure, a few had no choice—losing a bandmate is tragic, and continuing meant bringing in someone new. Still, some lineups changed so often that it’s hard to keep track!

The list below rounds up classic rock bands with the most member swaps over the years. We’re only counting official members—not guest musicians or one-off tour players. So buckle up, because these bands have definitely kept things interesting.

AC/DC (20 Members)
AC/DC has had plenty of lineup changes over the years—20, to be exact. The most well-known shifts came after the tragic death of Bon Scott in 1980 and Malcolm Young’s retirement in 2014 due to dementia, which led to his passing in 2017. But even before that, the band had gone through a revolving door of early members. Today, Angus Young is the only original member still rocking. Phil Rudd’s legal troubles and Brian Johnson’s vocal issues added more uncertainty, though rumors suggest both are back. Still, neither were founding members, so the count stands either way.

King Crimson (22 Members)
Since 1968, King Crimson has been a revolving door of talent with guitarist Robert Fripp as the constant force behind it all. The band’s progressive sound earned them a cult following, even if mainstream radio didn’t always catch on. Despite the ever-changing lineup—22 official members and counting—they’ve kept their creative spark alive. Notable names like Greg Lake, Adrian Belew, Bill Bruford, Mel Collins, and Tony Levin all brought something unique to Crimson’s long, legendary run.

Blue Öyster Cult (22 Members)
Blue Öyster Cult didn’t just give us “Don’t Fear the Reaper”—they also made the umlaut in band names a thing. Without them, we might not have had Mötley Crüe or Motörhead looking so metal. Buck Dharma, guitarist and singer, is the last original member still rocking since the band started in 1967. Eric Bloom joined in 1969 and has stuck around ever since, making him nearly original in our book.

Jethro Tull (23 Members)
We’ve all heard someone say, “I love that guy Jethro Tull!”—but fun fact: he’s not a guy, he’s a band. Formed in 1967 by frontman and flute-wielding powerhouse Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull has seen plenty of lineup changes over the years. Guitarist Martin Barre deserves serious props for sticking around from 1968 to 2011. Even more impressive? Anderson wrote almost every song across the band’s 21 studio albums. Talk about staying power.

Megadeth (24 Members)
After getting the boot from Metallica in 1983, Dave Mustaine wasted no time starting his own band—Megadeth—teaming up with bassist David Ellefson. Although Ellefson had a six-year break in the early 2000s, he’s been a key part of the band’s legacy. As one of thrash metal’s “big four” (alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax), Megadeth helped turn Mustaine’s fierce attitude and guitar chops into full-blown rock stardom.

Black Sabbath (27 Members)
Formed in 1968 with Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, Black Sabbath laid the foundation for heavy metal. Over the years, only Tony Iommi remained a constant. The original lineup reunited in 2011, but toured without Ward—he claimed contract issues, while Ozzy cited health concerns. Though the band says they’ve played their final show, a full original-member reunion isn’t expected. Other standout members include Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen, and Cozy Powell.

Lynyrd Skynyrd (27 Members)
Lynyrd Skynyrd started back in 1964 but officially took on their famous name in 1969. Sadly, the devastating 1977 plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines changed everything. It wasn’t until 1987 that the band regrouped, this time with Ronnie’s brother Johnny Van Zant stepping in as lead singer. Over the years, the lineup kept shifting—and today, the last original member was guitarist Gary Rossington, who passed away in 2023.

The Cult (27 Members)
Originally known as Southern Death Cult, this English band kicked off in 1983, blending punk, alt, and hard rock. Over the years, The Cult has seen a revolving door of musicians—25 in total—but singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy have stayed steady at the core. No matter who else is onstage, that signature sound always comes back to the duo’s chemistry.

Quiet Riot (27 Members)
Formed in 1973 by guitar legend Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelli Garni, Quiet Riot exploded in the ’80s with frontman Kevin DuBrow, bassist Rudy Sarzo, guitarist Carlos Cavazo, and drummer Frankie Banali. Banali, who joined in 1982, led the group for years—especially after DuBrow’s passing. Rhoads left early in the band’s history to team up with Ozzy Osbourne, but his legacy still looms large in Quiet Riot’s wild, ever-evolving lineup.

Heart (29 Members)
Heart has always been driven by powerhouse sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. Ann kicked things off in the early ’70s, with Nancy joining shortly after—and briefly stepping away in the mid-’90s. The band’s history includes a long list of lineup changes (27 to be exact), often tangled with personal relationships. Guitarist Howard Leese had the longest run outside the sisters, sticking around from 1975 to 1998. Through it all, the Wilsons kept the heart of Heart beating strong.

Whitesnake (41 Members)
Whitesnake ruled MTV in the ‘80s and had a revolving door of rock royalty pass through. Formed in 1978 by former Deep Purple frontman David Coverdale—still the band’s only constant—Whitesnake became a glam rock staple, selling over 20 million records. With iconic videos (yes, those Tawny Kitaen cartwheels on a Jaguar), the band left a lasting mark on the hair metal era while cycling through more members than most bands see in a lifetime.

Santana (68 Members)
With 68 members rotating through the lineup, Santana might be the most musically flexible band in rock history—or a one-man institution featuring an all-star cast. Since forming in San Francisco in 1966, the band has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, all anchored by the legendary Carlos Santana himself. The original six members who shaped the first three albums were honored with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1998. These days, Santana rocks a long-running residency at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.