they never had a chance - best underappreciated short-term replacement vocalist for band

Has it been mentioned on this thread that I guess Rolling Stone has had a running column on this very subject? Here's a fascinating recent one about the guy that sang in Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/john-tristao-creedence-clearwater-revisited-1234592101/amp/

Pixies replaced the wrong singer with Kim Shattuck

I never realized that Mary Ramsey actually performed in the Merchant/“true” version of the band in a back-up vocalist/violinist capacity

Damond Jiniya was a weird footnote in Savatage's history. He wasn't supposed to be a 'short-term replacement', he was supposed to be the new guy after Zak Stevens left. but there was so much weird about it.

Zak quit the band during the development of the (lousy) Poets and Madmen album, and Damond hadn't been hired yet, so like he did pre-Zak Stevens, Jon Oliva sang all the songs on that album. Then they hired Damond before they went on tour. He had mostly done goth/industrial stuff but had a really good metal voice and could do harsh vocals and the more clean, over the top wailing of Zak. but they didn't want him to only get to sing the Zak Stevens songs live, so they had him singing several of Jon's songs, whether as a backup, or lead.

Most fans warmed up to him, though there were many that looked to find fault with him, and then...the band went on hiatus and hasn't recorded anything, and has only made appearances at festivals since.

dude is on Cameo and lists Savatage as his act. for all intents and purposes, his work with them lasted less than a year.

and let us not forget about the time that Extreme Noise Terror and Napalm Death swapped vocalists, coincidentally, for one album

Greg Lake himself was a one-timer in Asia for the much-hyped MTV "Asia in Asia" show.

i kinda wanna give it up for the real short-timers, the ones who never made it onto a record

like dave walker, who did one tv appearance with black sabbath in early 1978

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTXlVAmNjQk

or binky cullum, who sang lead between jane relf and annie haslam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMeRK6k8Tnk

Paula Frazer of Tarnation sang for Faith No More at one show. Here is some of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhOglnajq2Y

original singer for ac/dc only managed to record a single before he was ousted, but it's pretty cool I think, if you're into the idea of bizarro glam ac/dc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biaGJ_4rEzE

also, Axl Rose did an admirable job filling in on that last tour, but I was surprised to learn that somehow they had never played "Touch Too Much" live, ever, until Axl requested they try it because it's his favorite ac/dc song

Per the brief discussion of Mary Ramsey in the 10,000 Maniacs section of the thread, she's actually just left the band (along with guitarist Jeff) and they've announced Leigh and Matt from Sixpence None The Richer have filled their spots.

Not sure if anyone still pays serious attention to them in 2023, but I'd be interested to hear new material in this configuration should any appear.

does that make them a Christian band now

It makes them 1.5x more bland and unmemorable

One of those odd situations where the replacement was in the band much longer than their original singer, but were there many people paying attention after Natalie left? I don't think I've ever heard a note.

Insufficient number of Maniacs