Long Runner Lineup

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    This is a band trope, when a specific line-up of musicians within a band lasts for a total of 10 years or more, as per the traditional definition of Long Runner. Obviously, every band that qualifies for this is itself a Long Runner.

    There are 5 categories:

    1. A band reaches its 10-year anniversary with no breakups, hiatuses or line-up changes. Often crosses with True Companions.
      • Bands of this type can eventually become the Logical Extreme of this trope: a Long Runner band with only one lineup from formation to breakup (Bands that are still together don't qualify--yet).
    2. Various lineups but one or more noted as being long enough to qualify, no breakups or hiatuses after the lineup stabilized. This can look like (or sometimes arguably is) Type 1 when previous lineups are mere blips on the Radar (see ZZ Top).
    3. Original members, at least one breakup and/or hiatus, but no other lineup.
    4. Various lineups but one or more noted as being long enough to qualify, at least one periodic breakup and/or hiatus after the lineup stabilized.
    5. The group went back to a previous lineup. If this lineup lasts 10 consecutive years, it becomes Type 2 (even if it's the original lineup).

    Note: For types 3-5 to qualify, that particular lineup has to total 10 active years.

    These bands can also fit under Revolving Door Band, especially types 3-5, and can even fit this trope more than once, if multiple lineups have each lasted over 10 years (The Statler Brothers, REM, The Moody Blues, Van Halen. The Oak Ridge Boys fit twice with the same lineup.)


    Examples of Long Runner Lineup include:

    Type 1: (Ten consecutive years from their formation with their first lineup)

    • Ace of Base was Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg and Jonas, Malin and Jenny Berggren from 1993 - 2007.
    • Asian Kung-Fu Generation has been Masafumi Gotoh, Kensuke Kita, Takahiro Yamada, and Kiyoshi Ijichi since their formation in 1996.
    • Canadian punk/alt rock band Billy Talent has had the same lineup since 1993, when all four members were still in high school.
    • Blind Guardian had the same formation between 1987 and 2005, with Hansi Kürsch, André Olbrich, Marcus Siepen and Thomas "Thomen" Stauch. But with Stauch leaving the band and being replaced by Frederick Ehmke in 2005, the band has already 7 years with the new formation, so it's close to being also a type 2.
    • Coldplay has been Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion since 1996.
    • Aside from being "The Blue Velvets" and "The Golliwogs," Creedence Clearwater Revival consisted of John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford from the band's formation in 1959 to Tom's departure in 1971.
    • Daft Punk has been only Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo since they started the band in 1993.
    • Elbow has only been Guy Garvey, Mark Potter, Pete Turner, Craig Potter and Richard Jupp since their formation in 1990.
    • The Four Tops, which were Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton from 1953 (when they started) to 1997 (when Lawrence Payton died) -- 43 years. So far, they hold the record for the longest-running lineup.
    • Franz Ferdinand has been Alex Kapranos, Nicholas McCarthy, Robert Hardy, and Paul Thomson since 2002.
    • Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson have been performing since 1992. You'd think this would be justified in that they are brothers, but Oasis has shown that brotherhood doesn't mean getting along.
    • The Hives have been Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, Nicholaus Arson, Vigilante Carlstroem, Dr. Matt Destruction and Chris Dangerous (and Randy Fitzimmons, who is apparently their songwriter) since 1993.
    • Hootie and the Blowfish has been the same four guys since 1994. They're only semi-active now, owing in part to Darius Rucker's highly successful solo Country Music career.
    • Korn kept its original formation of Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and David Silveria from 1993 to 2005, when Head left. (they remained as a four-piece, with Silveria leaving one year later but being replaced)
    • Mötley Crüe was Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, and Tommy Lee from 1981-1992 (about 11 years), then from 2004 onwards. They might fit this trope twice with the same line-up (as The Oak Ridge Boys do, see below)--if they all survive.
    • Muse has been only Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard since they formed in 1993.
    • New Found Glory has had the same five guys since their formation in 1997 and are still going.
    • Pet Shop Boys has only consisted of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe since they formed in 1981.
    • Radiohead has always been Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway. It can be either since 1985 (when they started the band "On a Friday") or 1991 (signed a recording deal and renamed themselves).
    • Rammstein has the same lineup from the beginning in 1994: Till Lindemann, Richard Kruspe, Paul Landers, Ollie Riedel, Doom Schneider and Flake Lorenz. They've stated that if any of them quit or die, the band will break up permanently. Oomph!, another, less well-known, German metal band that played a large role in inspiring Rammstein, have had the same line-up since their formation in 1989.
    • Rascal Flatts has been Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney since 1999.
    • Metal band Sevendust has had the same lineup for a total of 14 years. The only member of the band who ever left was guitarist Clint Lowery, and he ended up returning shortly.
    • SHeDAISY has been Kassidy, Kelsi and Kristyn Osborn (sisters) since 1999.
    • Brazilian band Skank has had the same four guys since its formation in 1991.
    • Slade consisted of Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill and Don Powell from their inception as the N'Betweens in 1966 up until 1991, when both Noddy Holder and Jim Lea withdrew from the band.
    • Sloan has been Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, and Andrew Scott since they formed in 1991
    • U2 has been Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen, Jr. since their founding in 1976.
    • "Weird Al" Yankovic's back-up band hasn't changed since 1982 (though guitarist Jim West is absent from the Self-Titled Album).
    • The vast majority of duos, from Simon and Garfunkel to Brooks and Dunn.

    Logical Extreme (One lineup from start to finish)

    • Led Zeppelin consisted of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John-Paul Jones, and John Bonham from their start in 1968 until they broke up after Bonham died in 1980.
    • Queen was Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor from 1971 until Mercury's death 20 years later—which was pretty much the end of Queen. (Queen+Paul Rogers is concidered a different band)
    • Argentine 80s legend Soda Stereo remained a Power Trio (Gustavo Cerati, Charly Alberti and Zeta Bosio) from 1984 all the way up to their break-up in 1997.
    • A-ha was Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar from 1982 to 2010 (with a reunion concert during a memorial for the 2011 Norway attacks).
    • The vast majority of duos which have since split up, from Simon and Garfunkel to Brooks and Dunn.


    Type 1 + Type 2: (Ten consecutive years from their formation with their first lineup, then 10 consecutive years with another lineup)

    • The Bouncing Souls formed somewhere between 1987 and 1989 (depending on what source you use) and lasted with their original lineup until 2000 when drummer Shal Khichi left. He was replaced by Michael McDermott, and the lineup hasn't changed since
    • REM was Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, and Bill Berry from 1980-1997 (17 years). Then Berry retired for health reasons, and the others soldiered on without him until 2011 (14 years). Even then, there's been a handful of instances of Berry rejoining the band for a song at lower key concerts if they're in his neck of the woods.
    • The Statler Brothers were Harold Reid, Don Reid, Phil Balsley and Lew DeWitt from their foundation in 1955 until 1982, when Crohn's disease forced Lew to retire (27 years). His replacement was Jimmy Fortune. This lineup lasted until the band retired in 2004 (22 years).

    Type 1 + Type 3 (Got to ten consecutive years from their formation on their first lineup, broke up, then got back together with the original lineup.)

    • Aqua was Lene Nystrøm, René Dif, Søren Rasted, and Claus Norreen from their foundation in 1989 until they broke up in 2001 (12 years). They reunited in 2007.
    • Garbage has always been Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker since their founding in 1994. Their first run lasted 11 years (1994-2005), after which they put the band on hiatus. They briefly reunited for a few months in 2007 to release a greatest hits project, then went back on hiatus until 2010, when they got together again to start working on a new studio album.
    • Luna Sea was Inoran, J, Ryuichi, Sugizo and Shinya (1989-2000). Then they broke up and reformed in 2010.
    • Stone Temple Pilots was Scott Weiland, Rob and Dean DeLeo and Eric Kretz from 1986 to 2003, and after a hiatus reunited in 2008.

    Type 1 + Type 4 (Got to ten consecutive years from formation on their first lineup, changed lineups, but totaled at least another ten years with the original lineup after the first lineup change.)

    • Black Sabbath was Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward from their founding in 1969 through 1979. They then returned to the original lineup in 1997-1998, 1999-2005, and since 2011.
    • The Andrews Sisters (LaVerne, Maxine, and Patricia Andrews), who had an initial run from 1925 - 1951 (26 years), were briefly a duo, reunited in 1956, and split after Maxene died in 1967 (11 years).

    Type 2 (A lineup other than their first lasted 10 consecutive years)

    • ZZ Top has been Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard since 1969 (closing in on 43 years so far), and The Other Wiki lists these three as being the only members of ZZ Top. However...
      • When Billy Gibbons rechristened The Moving Sidewalks as ZZ Top, the other members were Lanier Grieg and Dan Mitchell, and in 1970 they recorded their first single "Salt Lick". Grieg was replaced by Bill Ethridge, then Ethridge and Mitchell were replaced by Hill and Beard soon after. The band's first paying gig was performed by the classic lineup.
    • Golden Earring was founded in 1961, but have played with the same line-up since 1970, a total of 42 years.
    • Aerosmith (founded 1969) had Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer for eight years from 1971 (when Whitford joined) to 1979 (when Perry left), and 1984 onwards—36 years total, which places that lineup here rather than Type 5 (where, technically, it would also fit).
    • Marillion was founded in 1979, had a revolving door until 1984, had three different lead singers in 1989, and has remained stable ever since.
    • The Oak Ridge Boys have done this twice—with the same line up. They were Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban from 1973-1987 (fourteen years). That lineup returned in 1995 and has remained stable since (seventeen years so far, a total of 31 years).
    • The Grateful Dead were Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Brent Mydland, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart for 11 years, from 1979-1990, when Mydland died.
    • Alabama: Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook and Mark Herndon from 1979 until the late 2000s. Before Herndon joined, three different drummers had been in the group. Herndon has since quit in the wake of the band's semi-retirement (and a lawsuit filed against him by the other three members), but Owen, Gentry and Cook continue to record occasionally without him.
    • Barenaked Ladies: Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart, and Steven Page from the time Hearn joined in 1995 until Page left in 2009–14 years.
    • The Who went through a couple of rosters and a name change before they finally stabilized as Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon from 1964 to 1978.
    • The Moody Blues were Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge, and Mike Pinder from 1966 to 1978, when Pinder left and was replaced by Patrick Moraz. The Hayward/Lodge/Thomas/Edge/Moraz lineup then lasted from 1978 to 1991, when Moraz left. The Hayward/Lodge/Thomas/Edge lineup lasted from 1991 to 2002, when Thomas retired. The Hayward/Lodge/Edge lineup is ongoing, so the Moodies have four different lineups which fit this trope.
    • The Bee Gees (founded 1958) consisted of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. Other members came and went between 1967 and 1970. Robin left in 1969, but returned in 1970. The lineup of Barry, Robin, and Maurice then lasted continuously for 33 years, from 1970 to 2003, only ending when Maurice passed away.
    • Depeche Mode had two lineups that qualify: Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher and Alan Wilder from 1982 to 1995, and Gore, Gahan and Fletcher from 1996 onward. The core three members have been Depeche Mode since 1980.
    • Iron Maiden qualify under this category since the current line-up has been stable since 1999. Because guitarist Janick Gers remains in the band even though Adrian Smith returned, it is not a Type 5 'previous' line-up.
    • Motörhead also now qualify even though they're also listed in I Am the Band, as the current line-up of Lemmy, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee has been constant since 1992.
    • Uriah Heep - a band once notorious for its Revolving Door policy- maintained the same line-up from 1986 to 2007 when ill-health forced drummer Lee Kerslake to retire from touring.
    • Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz first performed with "Weird Al" Yankovic in late 1980. Jim West and Steve Jay joined around '82 or '83. Nearly (or in Schwartz's case, over) 30 years later, they're still with Weird Al. Ruben Valtierra still gets called "the new guy" by Al in interviews, because he's only been with them for around 20 years. This is an unusual example in that "Weird Al" Yankovic almost completely overshadows them.
    • The Rolling Stones has had a constant line-up since 1995 (when original bassist Bill Wyman left), with the rest of the members (besides Ron Wood who joined in 1975) remaining constant.
    • Green Day has had the same lineup since 1990, when drummer Tré Cool joined the band.
    • The Levellers have had a constant lineup from 1991, when they brought in Simon Friend, to roughly 2005 when they started listing their touring piano player as a part of the regular band.
    • Pearl Jam has had the same line-up since 1998, when current drummer Matt Cameron joined them. (Cameron's other band, Soundgarden, is almost there, with a line-up that lasted from 1991 to 1997, and reunited in 2010)
    • Metallica was James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted from 1986 to 2001. The current lineup is almost there, since Newsted's replacement Rob Trujillo joined in 2003.
    • The Offspring was Dexter Holland, Noodles, Greg K and Ron Welty from 1987 to 2003—which was the duration of the last one's time in the band.
    • Bon Jovi have had one change since their first album in 1984: bassist Alec John Such left in 1994, and the current line-up (officially without a bassist although Hugh McDonald played on every album since 'These Days' and appears with them live) is the same ever since. (It's not Type 1 because Dave Sabo, later of Skid Row, was guitarist before Richie Sambora)
    • ACDC has changed a few members (Bon Scott most famously because of Author Existence Failure), but since original drummer Phil Rudd returned in the early 90's, it has remained the same (bassist Cliff Williams joined in 1977 and Brian Johnson in 1980).
      • To put it in numbers, the current lineup has played together 32 years - 1980-1983 and 1994–present.
    • Jethro Tull, infamous for having a Revolving Door Band lineup, has had two consistent lineups in 43 years—the lineup of vocalist/flautist Ian Anderson, guitarist Martin Barre, bassist Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, keyboardist John Evan and drummer Barriemore Barlow, from 1972 to 1975. A better qualifier would be Anderson, Barre, bassist Jonathan Noyce, keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer Doane Perry, who lasted from 1995 to 2007. (Anderson, Barre, and Evan were the nucleus of the band from 1970 to 1980.)
      • Tull had a fairly consistent lineup between 1980 and 1995. Besides Ian Anderson and Martin Barre, Dave Pegg held the bass slot for that period, and of course Doane Perry joined in during the Under Wraps tour and has been with them since (with the exception of Dave Mattacks who toured with them as the drummer in 1992). Other than that the only position that changed was the keyboardist for that period.
    • Supertramp kept the lineup of Rick Davies (vocals/keyboards), Roger Hodgson (vocals/guitars/keyboards), John Helliwell (woodwinds/synthesizers/vocals), Dougie Thomson (bass) and Bob Siebenberg (drums) from 1972 to 1983, then Davies/Helliwell/Thomson/Siebenberg for the next five.
    • Brazilian band Os Paralamas do Sucesso have been the same Rock Trio since 1982, when drummer João Barone joined the band as the original drummer couldn't attend a gig.
      • Also from Brazil, Capital Inicial has had the same line-up since 2002, when guitarist Yves Passarel joined (though the previous one is under Almost Made It, below), and O Rappa is the same since 2001 (not counting extra musicians), as their drummer/lead composer was shot and replaced with the keyboardist.
    • Dream Theater had the same line-up of John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, John Myung, James LaBrie and Jordan Rudess from 1999 until 2010, when Mike Portnoy left. The three core members (Myung, Petrucci and Portnoy) had been together since 1985.
    • Country music band Sawyer Brown has kept 80% of its membership since founding in 1984. The only change was guitarist Bobby Randall, who left after only 7 years and was replaced by current guitarist (and former Amazing Rhythm Aces member) Duncan Cameron.
    • The Dells started in 1952 as the El-Rays with founding members Marvin Junior, Johnny Funches, Verne Allison, Mickey & Lucius McGill, and Chuck Barksdale. The group continued as a quintet when Lucius McGill left (and changed their name to the Dells not long after that), and initially broke up in 1958. They re-united 2 years later minus Funches, who was replaced by Johnny Carter. This lineup stayed intact until Carter's death in 2009 (49 years).
    • NRBQ started in 1967 and went through various membership changes over the next 7 years, with founding members Terry Adams (keyboards) and Joey Spampinato (bass—he used the stage name Jody St. Nicholas on the early albums) as the only constants. But the lineup that was finalized in 1974—Adams, Spampinato, Al Anderson (guitar) and Tom Ardolino (drums)--stuck together for 20 years, until Anderson left for a successful country songwriting career. Spampinato's brother Johnny replaced him and they kept going for another decade until they went on hiatus after Adams came down with cancer. Adams recently reactivated the NRBQ name but none of the others were involved.
    • Sade was formed in 1983 with Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Spencer Denman, and Paul Anthony Cook. In 1983, Andrew Hale joined the band and in 1984 Cook left. The band has been the same for the past 28 years.
    • Status Quo (band) have been around for so long that they qualify for Type 2 with three different line-ups: the classic 'Frantic Four' consisting of Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan lasted from 1968 to 1982 (although keyboard player Andy Bown slowly became integrated into the group from 1975 onwards); the post-Live Aid version with Rossi, Parfitt, Bown, bassist Rhino Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich lasted from 1986 until 2000; the present line-up with Matt Letley taking over drums from Jeff Rich has been in existence since 2000.
    • Manic Street Preachers have now been a trio for far longer than Richey Edwards was with them. In fact it's highly likely that people getting into them now may not even be aware that they were ever a four-piece.
    • Slayer has only ever changed drummers, and the classic lineup with Dave Lombardo on the drums lasted from 1982 to 1992 (save for a break around 1986 after recording Reign In Blood) and finally from 2001 on (twenty-two nonconsecutive years).
    • Weezer has had the same line-up since 2001, when bassist Scott Shriner joined (though only two are founding members per se, Face of the Band Rivers Cuomo and drummer Patrick Wilson).
    • The Beastie Boys have been Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock from 1983 to MCA's death in 2012.
    • The Pogues never actually qualified in their original period of activity from 1982-1996, but some of the more prominent members of the "Classic" Lineup(s) reformed in 2001 as Touring-only and are still going, thus now qualifying.
    • Dixie Chicks have been Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison since 1997. Originally they were a quartet consisting of Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy along with Martie and Emily. Lynch and Macy left when the band went from straight-up bluegrass for a more mainstream sound.
    • Lacuna Coil has been Andrea Ferro, Marco Biazzi, Marco Coti Zelati, Cristiano Migliore, Cristiano Mozzati and Cristina Scabbia since 1998.
    • Lonestar has danced all around it. They were Richie McDonald (lead vocals/guitar/piano), Keech Rainwater (drums), Dean Sams (guitar), Michael Britt (keyboards) and John Rich (bass, occasional lead vocals) from 1992 to 1998, when Rich was fired. (He later went on to found Big & Rich with "Big" Kenny Alphin.) From then until 2007, they carried on with Robbie Cheuvront and later Michael Hill as unofficial bassist, plus a revolving door of backing band members. McDonald left in 2007 and Cody Collins replaced him, only for McDonald to return 4 years later.
    • King's X has consisted of Doug Pinnick, Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill since 1983, after two Pete Bests (Dan McCollam and Kirk Henderson) left.
    • Cheap Trick's classic lineup of Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos only lasted from 1973 to 1980, when Petersson left the band and was replaced by a series of bass players. He returned in 1987 and the band has since achieved Long Runner status by never changing their lineup permanently again. Carlos has recently stopped touring with the band for an indefinite period, replaced in concerts by Nielsen's son Daxx, but remains an official band member.
    • Since 1989, The 69 Eyes has had just one change in their line-up - in 1992.
    • Although not the classic lineup of their commercial heyday, Def Leppard have remained unchanged since 1992, when Vivian Campbell was hired to replace the late Steve Clark on guitar.
    • Fleetwood Mac spent its first eight years as a prototypical Revolving Door Band, right up to the New Sound Album that introduced Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham. This line-up would remain stable for more than a decade, and would so define the band's sound that few people are even aware of its early albums and original blues-based aesthetic.
    • NOFX started as a three-piece in 1983, became a bit of a Revolving Door Band starting in 1985, became a four-piece in 1986, and then stabilized in 1991 and has featured the same lineup since. Bonus points for still featuring all three original members (the original drummer left for about a year at one point and then came back).
    • Rancid, formed in 1991, lasted for 13 years without any changes, from 1993 (when they added a second guitarist) through 2006 (when the original drummer left)
    • Anti-Flag started as a three-piece, went through a few bassists, became a four-piece in 1997 and finally settled on a bassist, Chris #2, in 1999 and has featured the same lineup since.
    • Linkin Park has been Chester Bennington, Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn and Mike Shinoda since 2000.
    • The Foo Fighters spent four years as a Revolving Door Band (only founder/frontman Dave Grohl and bassist Nate Mendel never left), but it started to get stable in 1999, when guitarist Chris Shiflett joined. The band remained Grohl, Mendel, Shifflet and drummer Taylor Hawkins until 2010, when guitarist Pat Smear (who was part of the band's first formation, and had been part of the touring band since 2006) rejoined as a full-time member.
    • Kamelot had the same line-up from 1998, when Roy Khan joined Thomas Youngblood, Casey Grillo and Glen Barry, until Barry's departure in 2009. In 2005, long time tour keyboard player Oliver Palotai was also admited as a full-time member, though the other four remained.
    • The Cranberries was Dolores O'Riordan, Noel and Mike Hogan, and Fergal Lawler from 1990 to a hiatus in 2003, then reunited in 2009. (not Type 1 because O'Riordan replaced a short-lived original singer)
    • Paul McCartney's back-up band has been the same since 2001.
    • TLC was Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas from 1991 (when Chili entered instead of the one who started the band) to 2002 (when Lopes died).
    • The J. Geils Band was J. Geils, Peter Wolf, Magic Dick, Danny Klein, and Stephen Bladd in 1967. In 1968, Seth Justman joined, and this lineup lasted until the band called it quits in 1985. They've reteamed a few times since.

    Type 3 (The band broke up at some point, but lasted 10 total years with the original lineup; no intervening lineups)

    • The Backstreet Boys were Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson from 1993-2002 (9 years), split in 2002, reformed in 2005, then Richardson left in 2006. (he announced a return in 2012, but how long it'll last is yet to be seen)
    • New Order's original lineup of Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert lasted from 1980 until Gilbert's retirement in 2005 (she was replaced by Phil Cunningham, although she has since returned to the band), with a hiatus between 1993 and 1998 (20 years total) Counting their years in Joy Division, Sumner, Hook and Morris performed together from 1976 until 2007. (31 years total - When the band reunited in 2011, Hook was not involved)
    • Peter Paul And Mary (Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers) lasted from 1961-1969 (8 years), broke up, reunited in 1978, and then Mary died in 2009 (31 years). They're here because they didn't hit the 10 year anniversary before their breakup.

    Type 4 (The band broke up at some point after changing lineups, but lasted 10 total years with the changed lineup with no intervening lineups)

    • Punk/Post-hardcore band Fugazi started as Ian MacKaye, Joe Lally, and Colin Sears in the summer of 1987. Sears left the band before they ever played a show and was replaced by Brendan Canty. Guy Picciotto was a glorified roadie/backup vocalist before becoming the official fourth member in less than a year. This lineup continued unchanged until 2002, when the band went on hiatus.
    • No Doubt (founded 1986) has been Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Adrian Young, and Tom Dumont from 1995 - 2004, then 2008 onwards, a total of 15 years (it would have been 19 except for a 4-year hiatus).
    • Rush was founded in 1968 and has been Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart since 1974. From 1997 - 2001, the band was on hiatus due to Peart losing his wife and daughter.
    • Madness was Graham "Suggs" McPherson, Mike Barson, Lee Thompson, Chris Foreman, Mark Bedford, Daniel Woodgate, and Carl Smyth from 1979 until they broke up in 1987 (8 years). In 1993, they started doing reunion tours. In 2005, Foreman left, but patched things up near the end of 2006.
    • Napalm Death, despite being such a Revolving Door Band during their early years that no founding members are left in the band (nor are any of the members from their first recording, which was a significantly different line-up - in fact, the two sides of the LP had completely different line-ups except for the drummer), has had a stable lineup since 1997 (and, had Barney Greenway not departed briefly in 1996-1997, would have been stable since 1991).
    • Pink Floyd had two line-ups that qualify: from 1968 to 1979, plus a reunion concert in 2005, was Roger Waters, David Gilmour (who replaced original leader Syd Barrett), Richard Wright and Nick Mason - ending when Wright was fired during the recording of The Wall; from 1986 (recording of A Momentary Lapse of Reason) to 1996 (end of The Division Bell tour, band went on hiatus afterwards) it was Gilmour, Wright and Mason (who decided to not listen when Waters said the band was finished when he left in 1985).
    • Van Halen was David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, and Alex Van Halen from 1974-1985, then Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, and Alex Van Halen from 1985-1996. After a Dork Age, a hiatus from 1999 to 2003, then a reunion of the Hagar lineup in 2004. They've been David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Alex Van Halen since 2006.
    • Blur was only Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree from 1989 to 2002, when Coxon left the band. After going on hiatus in early 2004, the original lineup reunited in 2009 and has remained together since.
    • The Eagles' current incarnation of the band (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy Schmit) has been touring since 2001, and just passed the 10-year threshold in February 2011. The previous and most well-known line-up almost qualified themselves, see "Almost Made It" below.
    • Slipknot from 1999 to 2010 were Corey Taylor, Joey Jordison, Mick Thompson, Shawn Crahan, Craig Jones, Paul Grey, Jim Root, Chris Fehn, and Sid Wilson, with various hiatuses between albums as the various members worked on other projects. This lineup came to an end after Paul Grey died of an accidental overdose. Slipknot has since returned to the stage, with former band member Donnie Steel returning to the group to provide bass, though how long this lineup will last is anybody's guess.
    • Kiss' original formation of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss played for 13 non-consecutive years - 1972 to 1980, then from 1996 to 2001 (both times being interrupted by Criss leaving).
    • Legendary Kraut Rock band Tangerine Dream has also been legendary for its revolving door lineups almost from the day of its founding in 1967, with at least 16 former full members to its credit (this in a band that rarely had more than two or three active members at any given time). They did, however, manage to hold one of their numerous lineups together long enough to qualify for this list: their 1990-2005 incarnation, which consisted of Edgar Froese, his son Jerome, and Linda Spa.
    • Mexican band Maná has been stable since 1995 (though only the singer and the bassist are founding members).
    • Blink-182 was Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker from 1998 (when Barker joined) to 2005 (break-up). They reunited in 2009, completing 10 non-consecutive years.

    Type 5: (A lineup that lasted 10 total years despite intervening lineups)

    • The following bands would be here if they weren't already Type 1:
    • The following bands would be here if they weren't already Type 2:
    • Deep Purple Mark II (Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice) just barely make it, first lasting from July 1969 to June 1973 (3 years 11 months), then reuniting from April 1984 to April 1989 (5 years), and finally from August 1992 to November 1993 (1 year 3 months), thus totaling 10 years and two months.
    • The "classic" lineup of The Fixx (Cy Curnin, Jamie West-Oram, Rupert Greenall, Adam Woods, and Dan K. Brown) has been together for approximately 13 years total. Brown was the band's bassist for just less than 10 years between 1983 and 1992, and has been back with them since 2008 (4 years so far). The band has had several other bass players both before Brown joined and during his absence; if not for that one revolving door they would qualify for type 3 status. The other four members have all been performing together since 1980, save for a few years' hiatus in the 1990s.
    • Genesis lasted from 1971 to 1975 with the lineup of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Phil Collins, guitarist Steve Hackett and guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford. Gabriel left in 1975, to be replaced with Collins on vocals, the band continuing as a four-piece. Hackett would leave in 1977. Collins, Rutherford and Banks would remain in the line-up from 1978 to 1996, when Collins left. After one album was made with vocalist Ray Wilson of Stiltskin replacing Collins (Calling All Stations in 1997), the band called it quits. Collins, Rutherford And Banks returned for a reunion tour in 2006, but Collins' spinal injuries (which prevent him from drumming) put Genesis on ice.
    • The Hollies lineup of Allan Clarke, Terry Sylvester, Tony Hicks, Bernie Calvert, and Bobby Elliott lasted from 1968 to 1971, split with Clarke for a while, then reformed and lasted from 1973 to 1981, totalling 11 years.
    • Judas Priest, as of 2011, qualify under type 5. The core group of Halford, Tipton, Downing and Hill + drummer Scott Travis. The line up of Tipton, Downing, Hill, and Travis has been constant since 1990, while Halford left for an eleven year period starting in 1992. Of course, with the exception of the change in drummers and vocalist (drummers multiple times, vocalist once), the core guitar and bass group has been together with only a three year hiatus since 1974, and they've spent over 20 years with the same vocalist or same drummer... just not at the same time. Of course, the little known demos before the band's first album feature their first singer Al Atkins, effectively The Pete Best of the band.
    • Limp Bizkit was Fred Durst, Wes Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto and DJ Lethal from 1996 to 2001, when Borland left. After three years with another guitarist, Borland returned in 2004, only for the band to enter a hiatus from 2006 to 2009. Since the last reformation, the line-up has played for 13 years so far.
    • Loudness was founded in early 1981 with Minoru Niihada, Akira Takasaki, Masayoshi Yamashita, and Munetaka Higuchi; this lineup lasted until 1988 when Niihada was fired and replaced with an English-speaking vocalist after their producer suggested this might help them break through in the American market. After two more lineup changes in 1992 and 1994 that left Takasaki as the only original member, the group returned to its original lineup in 2001; this lineup lasted an additional seven-plus years until Higuchi's death from cancer in late 2008, over 15 years total but never even 8 consecutive years.
    • Red Hot Chili Peppers were Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith and John Frusciante for around 15 years, total. This lineup lasted for the following time periods: 1988-1992 (A bit under 6 years), 1998-2006 (8 years), and a few months in 2008. The band had a revolving door until Smith and Frusciante joined in 1988, then Frusciante left in 1992 (being eventually replaced by Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro), rejoining in 1998, the band was on tour with additional member Josh Klinghoffer throughout 2007, then Frusciante left early in 2008 with Klinghoffer becoming his replacement.

    Almost Made It

    These bands are bands that lasted more than 9 years with a single line up, but never made it to 10. These bands may be moved to Types 3-5 if they return to that lineup long enough to finally qualify.

    Type 1

    • They Might Be Giants were John Linnell and John Flansburgh from August 1982 until recruiting a full band in June 1992, lasting 9 years and 10 months with the original line-up.

    Type 4

    • Brazilian band Capital Inicial started as Dinho Ouro Preto (vocals), Loro Jones (guitar), and brothers Fe (bass) and Flávio Lemos (drums) in 1982. In 1988 they added a keyboardist, who left in 1992. Thus the original line-up lasted another year until Dinho left in 1993. In 1998, Dinho returned, and the band had a Career Resurrection. In 2001, Jones left, leading to a line-up lasting 9 non-consecutive years.
    • The most stable formation of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band lasted 9 years, from 1998 to 2007 (when the organist left due to a melanoma - that lead to his death one year later).
    • The most well-known incarnation of the Eagles (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy Schmit, and Don Felder), having recorded The Long Run in 1977 and releasing it in 1979, then having an acrimonious breakup in 1980...and then Hell Freezes Over in 1994...but Felder was booted from the group in February 2001 just short of the 10 year mark. The subsequent line-up got a spot in Type 4 above.
    • Also from Brazil, Titãs had the same line-up for 9 years, from 1992 (when singer - one of many, in fact - Arnaldo Antunes left) to 2001 (when guitarist Marcelo Fromer died).

    Special Award

    • Vera Lynn is a solo singer, so she normally wouldn't qualify for this list - but she had releases chart on the very first singles chart back in 1952 and the UK Album Chart in 2017. As of May 2018, she's still alive, so we might hear more from her.
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