Long lasting bands

Subject: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 03:32 AM

With the break up of Bellowhead it makes me think that youngsters have very little staying power.
We've been with the same culprits for over 20 years - but I'm sure that many of you can exceed that. OK - we play with others in sessions but who holds the record for longevity?
FloraG

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 03:45 AM

I started a thread about this a few years ago. Seems the winner so far is the Kilfenora Ceili Band, founded 1909 and still going strong.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Mo the caller
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 04:09 AM

How many of the original members, Jack?
I think youngsters have plenty of staying power. But also plenty of creativity - wanting to explore new combinations etc. And smaller groups have more earning potential / member.
It's a whole different game if you are making your living from it.
How many groups has Martin Carthy played in? Tom Kitchen is racking up a few too.

Nice when the old combinations stay together.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 04:18 AM

Not quite folk but certainly many folkies have been in and into Jethro Tull for nearly 50 years.

However, here is a pop group that has been going over 140 years...

:D tG

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 07:21 AM

Cuckoo Oak

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 07:48 AM

Bessie o' th' Barn Brass Band has been going since at least 1818.

There's a 1911 track of them on the John Peel tribute album put together by "The Pig". The sleeve notes claim it was founded in 1790!
No original members still playing as far as I know.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 07:49 AM

Fairport of course - one original member.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 04:27 PM

Long sort of lasting, as you'll see...

Those "Sloop John B"/Cotton Fields"/"Shortenin' Bread" guys who admired the Kingston Trio played their first gig in 1961 (about six months before the Rolling Stones played their first gig).

The Beach Boys, licensing that name from a corporation owned by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, the estate of Carl Wilson, and Al Jardine, and including original member Mike Love and longtime Beach Boy Bruce Johnston, have upcoming concerts in multiple countries. Brian Wilson is also touring in multiple countries and his lineup includes longtime Beach Boy Jardine (e.g. lead vocal on "Help Me Rhonda") and former Beach Boy Blondie Chaplin (e.g. lead vocal on "Sail On Sailor").

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 05:47 PM

The Kings College Choir has allegedly been going since 1441.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 06:27 PM

Bessie o' th' Barn Brass Band has been going since at least 1818.

My uncle was a member long before I was a twinkle in anyone's eye! On Monday I'll be singing "Will you still be sending me a Valentine" to Mrs Steve, so it was a good while ago!

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 12 Jun 15 - 02:13 PM

I think I was meaning same people - sorry I was not very clear.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Mooh
Date: 13 Jun 15 - 02:04 PM

Preservation Hall Jazz band maybe?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: banjoman
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 06:21 AM

There's one called the Elastic Band, been around a long time but that's stretching things a bit.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 09:18 PM

Well, Pete Seeger played a very long time. Not really a band so much as a force of social change.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: PHJim
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 01:57 AM

I think Zed Zed Top holds the record. They've been going for 46 years with NO personnel changes. The same three guys.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 11:35 AM

Apparently Magna Carta have been going for 800 years...

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 12:20 PM

"They've been going for 46 years with NO personnel changes." They ever changed personnel, but they haven't since Hill and Beard replaced others in 1969.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 09:11 PM

I'm pretty proud of the fact that the little band I started in 1991, Greenhouse, is still going strong. 25 next year!

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: treewind
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 08:24 AM

According to Wikipedia, "The Royal Artillery Band is a British military band (and former symphony orchestra) originating in 1557, but granted official status in 1762."

Either date is a record hard to beat.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: PHJim
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 09:45 AM

So there are different types of record longevity we are talking about here. The Royal Artillery Band has had the same name since 1557, but it has had many personnel changes. It has the same name, and perhaps plays many of the same charts, but is it really the same band, since the members are all different?
There has been a Kingston Trio since the late fifties who play much of the same materials on the same type of instruments, wearing the same type of shirts, but none of the original members are still in the group.

ZZTop, on the other hand have been the same three guys since 1969. Is there any group that can beat that record?
FloraG said that she meant the same people.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: PHJim
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 09:54 AM

The Rolling Stones formed in 1962 and two of the original members, Mick and Keith, remained for the complete run. For much of its life, the group has included Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts as well.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: michaelr
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 04:43 PM

The Allman Brothers Band formed in 1969 and called it quits in 2013 with, I believe 3 or 4 original members.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 06:14 PM

"The Royal Artillery Band has had the same name since 1557, but it has had many personnel changes."

No shit, Sherlock! :-)

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 17 Jun 15 - 09:32 AM

Chris Barber's Band has been going since 1954! He is now the only surviving member, so that may not qualify by some people's definition!

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 17 Jun 15 - 01:53 PM

Crosby, Stills, and Nash are currently touring with all three of their original members from 1968.

The Moody Blues are currently a trio, all of whom have been in the band since 1966.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: PHJim
Date: 19 Jun 15 - 10:04 PM

Steve Shaw - PM
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 06:14 PM

"The Royal Artillery Band has had the same name since 1557, but it has had many personnel changes."

No shit, Sherlock! :-)

I was just saying that even though a band has the same name, it's not the same band if the members are not the same. I did not think I was revealing any secrets about a 458 year old band name.

Subject: RE: Long lasting bands
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 20 Jun 15 - 04:18 AM

Talking of Chris Barber, he was playing with Billy Bragg last Monday evening in the Skiffle section of the Lead Belly tribute concert at The Albert Hall...quite remarkable.