3 Wildly Successful Bands That Still Have All Their Original Members

While success certainly has its pros, it also has its cons. Ever since musicians have had the ability to make six-figure salaries and become international celebrities, the masses have seen bands implode. It is a tale as old as time, and has happened to acclaimed bands such as Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, and The Police.

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This is, in fact, a common phenomenon in the music business. As a matter of fact, nowadays, it is a rarity to have all of the original members in a band. However, not every band has fallen victim to fame and fortune. Impressively, these three wildly successful bands still have all of their founding members despite being susceptible to the pitfalls of fame.

U2

Comprised of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., U2 is one of the few major bands to still have all of its founding members. Founded in Dublin, Ireland, the four members of U2 formed the band while attending the Mount Temple Comprehensive School.

U2 was founded in 1976, so the four friends have all been working with each other for roughly 50 years. That astounding number is a testament, a testament to their friendship, their partnership, and a seemingly unbreakable bond.

Coldplay

Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion are all the current and founding members of the internationally acclaimed band Coldplay. Like U2, the four members of Coldplay met and formed the band in school. Specifically, Berryman, Buckland, Martin, and Champion all met while attending University College London.

Founded in 1997, Coldplay has been in business for 28 years. While Champion departed Coldplay in 1999 due to a disagreement about his drumming, the band buried the hatchet and Champion returned to the group just a few days later. Even the original manager, Phil Harvey, is still with them after leaving for several years. However, now he serves as the creative director.

Little Big Town 

Little Big Town consists of founding members Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook. Formed in 1998 in Homewood, Alabama, the four members met and founded the band in Nashville, Tennessee.

For 27 years, Little Big Town has been dominating the country music scene with their four-part harmonies and hit songs, “Girl Crush”, “Little White Church”, and “Day Drinking”. Thanks to their relationship and apparent chemistry, the band has become arguably the most successful vocal country music group of all time.

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