Wikipedia

List of pre-fame band departures

While many notable bands go through several lineup changes throughout their careers, this list of artists who left right before their bands became famous only lists members who quit or were fired from a band shortly before the band achieved mainstream commercial success.

Artists who were only meant to be temporary stand-ins in their bands should not be included in this list. The bands the listed artists left must be notable, can be from any genre of music, and include vocal groups whose members do not play instruments. Because these artists left before their former bands' mainstream breakthrough, they should not be considered part of their former bands' "classic" lineups.

Notable examples

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Ex-Beatles drummer Pete Best in 2006. Best was fired from the Beatles a year before "Beatlemania" started.

Of these "nearly-men",[1] drummer Pete Best, who was fired from the Beatles in 1962,[2] just a year before "Beatlemania" started, has been cited as the best-known archetype.[3][4][5][6] Best has since become "famous for not being famous".[7]

Jason Everman left two bands that went on to become famous: he was fired from Nirvana in 1989 and Soundgarden in 1990. According to The New York Times, Everman "wasn't just Pete Best ... He was Pete Best twice."[8]

Some of these artists eventually went on to find mainstream success in another band or as a soloist. For example, Metallica's original lead guitarist, Dave Mustaine, formed his own thrash metal band Megadeth in 1983 after he was fired from his former band. While Metallica went on to achieve massive commercial success, Mustaine's Megadeth also enjoyed commercial success,[9][10] selling 50 million records worldwide.[11]

Alphabetic list

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Dave Mustaine in 2010. Mustaine formed the successful Megadeth after being fired from Metallica.
 
Mark Wahlberg in 2012. Wahlberg became a famous actor, singer and model after he quit New Kids on the Block.
 
Heidi Range in 2006. Range quit Atomic Kitten shortly before the release of their debut single and later joined another girl group, the Sugababes.

Artists are listed alphabetically by their surname, followed by the band they left, their former role in the band, the year they left, and the year their former band achieved mainstream success. Additional comments on the way the artist left (fired or quit) and their replacement, if any, may be added at the end. All entries are referenced with reliable sources.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Artist Band
the artist left 		Role Year
the artist left 		Year
of band's commercial breakthrough 		Notes Ref
George Baldi Boyz II Men Vocalist 1988 1991 Quit
Syd Barrett Pink Floyd Guitarist, vocalist 1968 1973 Fired and replaced by David Gilmour [12]
Tina Barrett Mis-Teeq (then known as Face2Face) Vocalist 1998 2001 Left to join S Club 7 who also gained success, scoring 11 top 10 singles. [13][14]
Pete Best The Beatles Drummer 1962 1963 Fired and replaced by Ringo Starr [2]: 2 
[5]
Josh Brainard Slipknot Guitarist 1998 1999 Replaced by Jim Root. Recorded for some tracks of Slipknot but left the band before the album's release. [15]
Elbridge Bryant The Temptations Vocalist 1963 1964 Fired and replaced by David Ruffin [16]: 12 
Tanya Candler Kittie Bassist 1999 2000 Played on debut album Spit and appeared on the cover of its original release, but quit Kittie two months before its release. She was replaced by Talena Atfield, who appears on the cover of all reissues of the album since 2000.
Maddy Chan Steps Vocalist 1997 1997 Quit and replaced by Claire Richards and Faye Tozer [17][18]
Chad Channing Nirvana Drummer 1990 1991 Quit and replaced by Dave Grohl [9][3]
Tony Chapman The Rolling Stones Drummer 1962 1963 Quit and replaced by Charlie Watts [2]: 4 
[5]
Simon Colley Duran Duran Bassist 1979 1981 Quit and replaced by John Taylor, who was already a member of the band, switching from guitar to bass guitar.
Anders Colsefni Slipknot Vocalist, percussionist 1997 1999 Replaced as vocalist by Corey Taylor and switched to percussion, then left the band and was replaced by Greg Welts. [19]
Jason Cropper Weezer Guitarist 1993 1994 Fired and replaced by Brian Bell [20]
Alan Curtis Duran Duran Guitarist 1980 1981 Quit and replaced by Andy Taylor
John Curulewski Styx Guitarist 1975 1975 Left and replaced by Tommy Shaw
Támar Davis Destiny's Child (then known as Girl's Tyme) Vocalist 1993 1997 Fired and replaced by LeToya Luckett [21][22][23]
Bob Debank Coast to Coast Guitarist 1979 1980 Quit
Stephen Duffy Duran Duran Vocalist/bassist/
drummer 		1979 1981 Quit and replaced by Andy Wickett [3][5]
Jason Everman Nirvana Guitarist 1989 1991 Fired [8]
Soundgarden Bassist 1990 1992 Fired and replaced by Ben Shepherd
Frank Farrell Supertramp Bassist 1970 1972 Left and replaced by Dougie Thompson
Jason Galasso NSYNC Vocalist 1995 1997 Quit and replaced by Lance Bass [24]
Pete Garner The Stone Roses Bassist 1987 1989 Quit and replaced by Mani [5]
Michael Garrett Westlife Vocalist 1998 1999 Fired and replaced by Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden [25]
Terry Glaze Pantera Vocalist 1986 1990 Quit and replaced by Phil Anselmo
Peter Griesar Dave Matthews Band Keyboardist 1993 1994 Quit [26]
Mike Grose Queen Bassist 1970 1974 Quit, replaced by Barry Mitchell, then Doug Bogie, then John Deacon [27]
Tracii Guns Guns N' Roses Guitarist 1985 1987 Quit and replaced by Slash [5]
[16]: 5 
Dale Hibbert The Smiths Bassist 1982 1983 Fired and replaced by Andy Rourke [28][29]
Kim Hill Black Eyed Peas Vocalist 2000 2003 Quit and later replaced by Fergie
Doug Hopkins Gin Blossoms Guitarist 1992 1993 Fired and replaced by Scott Johnson [2]: 2 
[30]
Crystal Jones TLC Vocalist 1991 1992 Fired and replaced by Rozonda Thomas [31]
Jeff Jones Rush Vocalist, bassist 1968 1974 Left and replaced by Geddy Lee
Graham Keighron Westlife Vocalist 1998 1999 Fired and replaced by Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden [25]
John Kiffmeyer Green Day Drummer 1990 1994 Replaced while at college by Tré Cool
Stella Kim Girls' Generation Vocalist 2007 2007 Quit [32]
Abigail Kis Spice Girls (then known as Touch) Vocalist 1994 1996 Quit and replaced by Emma Bunton [33]
Bob Klose Pink Floyd Guitarist 1965 1967 Quit [34]
Derrick Lacey Westlife Vocalist 1998 1999 Fired and replaced by Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden [25]
James Lilja The Offspring Drummer 1987 1994 Quit and replaced by Ron Welty
Jonathan Lippmann 98 Degrees Vocalist 1996 1998 Quit and replaced by Drew Lachey [35][36]
Bob Livingson Santana Drummer 1968 1969 Quit and replaced by Michael Shrieve [37]
Robin Lynn Macy Dixie Chicks Guitarist 1992 1995 Quit [38]
Barbara Martin The Supremes Vocalist 1962 1964 Quit [39]: 2 
Ron McGovney Metallica Bassist 1982 1986 Quit and replaced by Cliff Burton [40]
Zena McNally Mis-Teeq Vocalist 2001 2001 Quit
Alan Mills Coast to Coast Vocalist 1980 1980 Quit and replaced by Sandy Fontaine
Lianne Morgan Spice Girls (then known as Touch) Vocalist 1994 1996 Quit and replaced by Melanie C [41]
Dave Mustaine Metallica Guitarist 1983 1986 Fired and replaced by Kirk Hammett [5]
[16]: 4 
Marc Nelson Boyz II Men Vocalist 1989 1991 Quit [16]: 13 
Derek O'Brien Steps Vocalist 1997 1997 Quit and replaced by Lee Latchford-Evans [17][18]
Henry Padovani The Police Guitarist 1977 1979 Fired and replaced by Andy Summers [42][43]
So-yeon Park Girls' Generation Vocalist 2007 2007 Quit [44]
Matt Pelissier My Chemical Romance Drummer 2004 2004 Fired and replaced by Bob Bryar
Anthony Phillips Genesis Guitarist 1970 1972 Quit and replaced by Steve Hackett [2]: 6 
Justin Quinn Another Level Vocalist 1997 1998 Left and became a solo UK garage singer known as JJ, appearing on two top 10 hits by DJ Luck & MC Neat in 2000. [45]
Niall Quinn The Cranberries Vocalist 1990 1993 Quit and replaced by Dolores O'Riordan [43]
Heidi Range Atomic Kitten Vocalist 1999 1999 Quit and replaced by Natasha Hamilton, Range would later find success with Sugababes. [46]
Scott Raynor Blink-182 Drummer 1998 1999 Fired and replaced by Travis Barker [47][12]
Richie Rock Boyzone Vocalist 1994 1994 Fired and replaced by Mikey Graham [48][49]
John Rutsey Rush Drummer 1974 1974 Left and replaced by Neil Peart [50]
Chris Salih Twenty One Pilots Drummer 2011 2015 Quit and replaced by Josh Dun [51]
Doug Sandom The Who Drummer 1964 1965 Fired and replaced by Keith Moon [52]
Kate Schellenbach Beastie Boys Drummer 1984 1986 [53]
Jon Shoats Boyz II Men Vocalist 1988 1991 Quit
Eric Stefani No Doubt Keyboardist 1994 1995 Quit [2]: 7 
[42]
Michelle Stephenson Spice Girls Vocalist 1994 1996 Quit and replaced by Abigail Kis, prior to Emma Bunton [33][54][55]
Mitch Stevens Steps Vocalist 1997 1997 Quit and replaced by Claire Richards and Faye Tozer [17][18]
Ian Stewart The Rolling Stones Keyboardist 1963 1963 Fired, but retained as studio and touring member [43]
Scott Sundquist Soundgarden Drummer 1985 1992 Quit to spend time with his family and replaced by Matt Cameron
Stuart Sutcliffe The Beatles Bassist, vocalist 1961 1963 Quit to pursue a career as a painter
Nikki Taylor Destiny's Child (then known as Girl's Tyme) Vocalist 1993 1997 Fired and replaced by LeToya Luckett [21][22][23]
Nina Taylor Destiny's Child (then known as Girl's Tyme) Vocalist 1993 1997 Fired and replaced by LeToya Luckett [21][22][23]
Jeff Thomas Duran Duran Vocalist 1980 1981 Quit and replaced by Simon Le Bon
Nick Thomas Twenty One Pilots Bassist 2011 2015 Quit [56]
Mark Wahlberg New Kids on the Block Vocalist 1985 1988 Quit and replaced by Joey McIntyre [57]
Marguerite Walker Boyz II Men Vocalist 1988 1991 Quit
Mark Walton Boyzone Vocalist 1994 1994 Quit [48][49]
Greg "Cuddles" Welts Slipknot Percussionist 1998 1999 Replaced by Chris Fehn
Andy Wickett Duran Duran Vocalist 1980 1981 Quit and replaced by Jeff Thomas, prior to Simon Le Bon [58]
Hye-rim Woo Miss A Vocalist 2010 2010 Left and joined Wonder Girls instead [59][60]
Hiro Yamamoto Soundgarden Bassist 1989 1992 Quit and replaced by Jason Everman [61]
Annette Zilinskas The Bangles Bassist 1983 1986 Quit and replaced by Michael Steele; Zilinskas later rejoined the band in 2018.

References

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