Fox Reviews Rock

What Band Do You Think Successfully Re-Invented Themselves?

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I think I have to go for a band that started life (rather surprisingly now…) as a Glam metal band. They were more of a poor imitation of Motley Crue. They then metamorphosised into this heavy metal monster! That band was Pantera.

Pantera – Cowboys From Hell (All Rights Are Retained By Pantera)

The band clearly went the full hog in this transformation as the Glam metal albums are not even Spotify, or actually available anywhere as far as I am aware…

Pantera – Walk (All Rights Are Retained By Pantera)

The shift was so severe that I honestly didn’t even know about it till much later in my musical education. The “Cowboys From Hell” album was the first experience I had with the band and I laughed when I was first told. Thinking it was a joke…

Pantera – Floods (All Rights Are Retained By Pantera)

I think you would be fairly hard pressed to find someone who didn’t think this re-invention was a success. They have gone on to sell countless records, and are once again back playing shows. Granted without 2 of the original members. I want to know though what band do you think had a better re-invention?

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24 responses to “What Band Do You Think Successfully Re-Invented Themselves?”

  1. missparker0106 avatar
    missparker0106

    Southern Death Cult/Death Cult/Cult, Ian Astbury being the common denominator. After fronting the first two listed bands, Astbury went on to form The Cult, which found great long-term success as a crossover hard rock/post-punk/goth band.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Whoa I had forgotten about this completely , that is a great shout!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. richardbist avatar
    richardbist

    Off the top of my head, Rush changed their sound over the decades, adjusting to the times. From 2112 to Grace Under Pressure, to Clockwork Angels, they evolved.

    Bowie would be another one. He was constantly experimenting with musical influences and personas.

    Also, Robert Plant. From heavy metal frontman to world music crooner.

    Oh, and Tom Waits. Went from piano bar jazz to experimental to Americana.

    Liked by 5 people

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    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Some great examples here! 🙂 Of all of these though who do you think had the wildest transformation?

      Like

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      1. richardbist avatar
        richardbist

        I think Tom Waits. If you listen to his first couple of albums, then some of his later work, you may not realize it’s the same person. Even his voice changed, got rougher and deeper.

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          I’ll have to give them another listen! 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
    2. rebuilding rob avatar
      rebuilding rob

      These are all great examples! Ones that I wouldn’t necessarily thought of myself.

      But I don’t know if it’s really fair to include Bowie on this list only because, as you said, he was constantly tinkering with his style.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. richardbist avatar
        richardbist

        Good point!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  3. Tansy Gunnar avatar
    Tansy Gunnar

    Shinedown

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Are you a fan of the new Shinedown?

      Personally I am firmly in the old Shinedown style (was also my first ever live music show)

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Tansy Gunnar avatar
        Tansy Gunnar

        Shinedown’s image and sound has changed over the years. From an industry perspective, they’ve successfully reinvented themselves as a band and continue to grow a fan base. They make efforts to reach out to their fans (which is cool to see in label artists/bands). It’s a bit disturbing to hear them on pop stations, but I’d rather listen to them than some of the current pop artists. So… it is what it is. I still consider myself a fan (I guess). That’s a strange band for me, I was never really into their music but always have had an appreciation for it. More so now, because they are taking over pop charts.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Ahh so the new exposure has elevated how much you like them 🙂 I look forward to more bands making the cross over to mainstream music.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  4. S.Bechtold avatar
    S.Bechtold

    I remember that old Pantera! It was why I didn’t listen to them for years. Good call they definitely reinvented themselves for the better.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Oh yeah it is absolutely night and day the change! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Radio Faux Show avatar
    Radio Faux Show

    I’ll go Journey. From Prog Rock to pop rock to adult contemporary.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Very good selection 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. zootsims1 avatar
    zootsims1

    Doobie Brothers
    Doctor Hook and the Medicine Show

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Absolutely!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Danny*Fantod avatar
    Danny*Fantod

    Aerosmith. They were big in the 70’s. Iconic in the 80’s.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      That is a fantastic point 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. robjtriggs avatar
    robjtriggs

    Radiohead would be the most obvious/popular example. Blur did it too, but mostly by degrees and by stealth. AC/DC – nah, only kidding. But I’m surprised no-one’s mentioned The Beatles yet – I mean, they changed from a rock and roll covers band to earnest singer-songwriters to psychedelic trailblazers to whatever you’d call them at the end.

    Perhaps even more so, I’d throw in Pink Floyd. There were albums in-between a (but for god’s sake erase Ummagumma) but certainly in terms of popular impact, the shift from Saucerful of Secrets to Dark Side of the Moon is enormous

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      I think out of all your selections Id go Pink Floyd or Radiohead I’d agree less about the beatles 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Green Fedora avatar
    Green Fedora

    The Rolling Stones’ transition to the ’80’s was profound. They went from primarily R&B Rock to a much wider pallet of sounds that made them almost unrecognizable to me, but which also showcased their versatility and willingness to adapt to new musical trends.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Would you say that from the 80s onwards you lost touch with them ?

      Like

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