Relationships are a complex thing, no matter what the situation. People and circumstances change with time. Challenges can take their toll on even the strongest of foundations and bands are notoriously fractious regardless. Very few last the distance beyond those initial bursts of excitement and adrenaline. Fewer still manage to stay the course over decades. Keeping the same line-up together over a long period of time without drafting in replacement members or just plain breaking up? That’s almost unheard of, frankly. Whether it’s the breakdown in communications, capitulation of friendships, the dreaded “artistic differences” driving people apart or even worse, someone sadly passing away, holding things together in a band long term is a tough business.
That’s why we set ourselves the maddening task of paying tribute to those rare few who have managed to keep the same set of players involved from back in their earliest stages in the ’90s. If we’ve forgotten someone, please don’t tell us. It won’t make up for all those lost hours trying to think of artists who might qualify for this…