14 fantastic rock bands that can possibly revive their prime lineups

Man, bands are a dime a dozen, right? Some pop up, have a moment, and then just disappear. But the really good ones? Those are the bands you remember. Even after they break up or stop making music, people still want to listen to their stuff – I totally get that. It’s like, a great band’s music just stays with you.

It’s always disappointing when members of a group are no longer with us, and audiences rarely embrace their replacements. The Rolling Stones are a prime example of this – fans often struggle to accept anyone new joining the band.

However, bands often split due to “artistic differences,” which can range from minor disagreements to serious conflicts, even including physical altercations or opposing political views.

These 14 rock bands still have all their prime members around, with studios and stages awaiting

Over time, band disagreements often get resolved – members might decide they still have creative chemistry, fans might continue to ask for them to get back together, or they might simply need the money. Sometimes it’s a combination of all these things, and old conflicts fade away. But that doesn’t always happen, as David Gilmour and Roger Waters demonstrate.

Out of the fifteen bands mentioned, fourteen still include either all of their original members or those who played with the band during its most successful years. Remarkably, two of those fifteen bands still perform with their complete original lineup.

U2 – No changes since 1976

Regardless of what you think of Bono, his bandmates – The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. – clearly appreciate him. The four of them have been playing together since U2 formed in 1976.

Even though it’s been a while since we’ve heard from them, and not all of their recent albums have been great, they created some truly meaningful music during their best years. It’s possible they still have something good to offer.

Poison – Still being heavy

Poison went through a few guitarists early on – first C.C. DeVille, then Ritchie Kozen and Blues Saraceno – but DeVille eventually returned. Since then, the core lineup of DeVille, Bret Michaels, Rikki Rockett, and Bobby Dall has stayed together for many years. Like U2, they haven’t been very active lately; their last album, Hollyweird, came out in 2002, but there’s talk of a tour happening in 2026.

Guns N’ Roses – The prime late 1980s lineup

Many hard rock fans still remember the classic Guns N’ Roses lineup – Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, and Izzy Stradlin. After Adler left in 1990 and Stradlin in 1991, the band struggled to stay consistent, and for many years, Axl Rose was the only remaining original member, until 2016.

Slash and McKagan rejoined the band for good, and their subsequent tours were very successful. Steven Adler briefly returned as well, but he famously stated he was only motivated by money, which meant his time with the group didn’t last.

Aerosmith – Two rounds with original lineup

Formed in 1970, it’s understandable that the band Aerosmith needed periods of rest. After performing together for nine years, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer first took a five-year break. They then continued with the same members until 2020, when Tom Hamilton stopped touring, followed by Joey Kramer in 2023.

After Tyler’s vocal problems that year, the band announced that they would not tour anymore.

The Strokes – Can solo acts become one again?

The Strokes burst onto the music scene in the late 1990s with their first album, and many compared them to the Velvet Underground. While their later albums didn’t receive the same critical acclaim, the band continued to create music – even taking a five-year break at one point. Their most recent album, The New Abnormal (2020), was once again highly praised.

While the band is currently on hiatus, its members have been pursuing individual projects. Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammond Jr. have been particularly active.

Iron Maiden – Two possible lineups

Iron Maiden has two iconic lineups: the original from 1982 to 1990, and a later, long-lasting lineup from 1999 to the present. Most of the band members – Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson, and Janick Gers – continue to perform. Sadly, drummer Nicko McBrain retired from touring in 2024 after suffering a stroke in 2023.

However, McBain also mentioned he’s now feeling well enough to rejoin the band for studio work and make appearances on stage from time to time.

Rage Against the Machine – The players one way, the singer the other

Rage Against the Machine formed in 1991, but the current lineup—Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk—has only played together for 18 of those 34 years. The band has split up on three different occasions, most recently in 2023 when vocalist Zack de la Rocha suffered a broken leg.

When Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine weren’t actively touring, the musicians involved formed the bands Audioslave and Prophets of Rage. While not with Rage Against the Machine, Zack de la Rocha worked with other artists, co-writing songs and appearing on three albums by the hip-hop duo Run the Jewels.

R.E.M. – Possible, but not so probable

After drummer Bill Berry left R.E.M. in 1997, the band – Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills – continued for another 14 years before finally breaking up in 2011. While some believed Berry wasn’t essential, it became clear he played a vital role in the band’s success, as their music wasn’t as strong in the years after he left.

The band briefly came together for a couple of song performances, but a full reunion or any extended collaboration seems highly unlikely.

Cheap Trick – The original lineup is only formally around

So, back in 2010, I heard Cheap Trick’s drummer, Bun E. Carlos, had a falling out with the band over tour dates. It’s kinda weird though – he hasn’t actually played with them since then, but they still pay him like he’s part of the group. It’s like he’s still technically in the band, even though he’s not actively performing with them. Pretty strange, right?

Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, and Tom Peterson continued to perform as a group, with Rick’s son, Daxx, playing drums. But what happened with Carlos? He sued the band in federal court in 2014, making a full reunion unlikely.

Genesis – Doing their own things

As a longtime Genesis fan, it’s amazing to think about how successful all their different phases were! They weathered some big changes, losing Peter Gabriel in ’75 and Steve Hackett a couple of years later. But Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford kept the band going strong – unbelievably, all the way until 2022!

The band had a single reunion concert in 1982. They were most successful as a three-person group, and all members are currently active with their own projects. There are no plans for them to reunite as a full band again.

The Police – Lawsuits, lawsuits

I remember being super excited when The Police reunited for a tour back in 2007-2008. It was awesome to see them back together after Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers had been doing their own thing, and Sting had become a huge solo star. We all thought it meant more Police music might be coming, but it was still a really great time seeing them play again.

After that initial tour, things remained quiet until 2025, when reports surfaced that Summers and Copeland were taking legal action against Sting over unpaid royalties. It doesn’t seem likely there will be any resolution soon.

Pearl Jam – The drummer question

The discussion about Pearl Jam’s drummers has come up again. Dave Abbruzzese played on two of their most famous albums, Vs. (1993) and Vitalogy (1994). However, he was later fired after significant disagreements with the other band members – Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Jeff Ament.

Frank Abbruzzese wasn’t included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. After Matt Cameron, who played with the band for many years, departed in 2025, it’s highly unlikely Abbruzzese will be chosen as the next drummer.

Talking Heads – Defrosted relations may not be enough

Even at their most successful, it was clear that David Byrne was the driving force behind Talking Heads. He’s hinted that this imbalance of power may have contributed to the band’s split in 1991.

It was cool seeing the band start talking again after years of silence, especially when they were all working on re-releasing old albums and movies. We fans got really excited when we heard they were offered a massive $80 million to do around six to eight festival shows and headline some events. But then, bummer – they turned it down. It was a huge letdown after all the hype!

Sonic Youth – The divorce ends it all

Close relationships within a band can be a positive force, leading to great creativity and teamwork. However, when those personal connections fall apart, it can cause significant conflict and damage the band. Sonic Youth exemplifies this – their most successful period coincided with the strong marriage of Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore.

After Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon divorced and their relationship fell apart, Sonic Youth also disbanded, including its other members Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley, and briefly, Jim O’Rourke. Now, each member is focused on their own projects, and while Moore, Ranaldo, and Shelley did perform together once, a full reunion seems unlikely.

2025-11-14 14:01