The Christian Science Monitor

Are singers or songs most important for a tour?

OK, be honest. Would there be any satisfaction in seeing the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger? Would you fork over big bucks to see U2 minus Bono? If Debbie Harry were missing, would Blondie still be Blondie? And who could survive without Roger Daltrey? I mean Who?

As classic rock and pop bands age, they inevitably lose members. Some of those original members are so indelibly the band itself. Two such “heritage bands,” Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles, both with about a half-century of recordmaking and touring behind them, are or will be on the road with brand-new members to seemingly attempt to ensure they’ll keep on rocking into the future. But when iconic frontmen (or frontwomen) are replaced, are they still the same bands? More important, will fans remain loyal and keep buying tickets?

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