AUTHOR: Stephanie Allen
Having a sound that’s uniquely their own makes a musical group stand out from their peers. This especially applies to the lead vocalist. Amazingly, there have been numerous instances of a band replacing their lead singer with someone who sounds identical. Someone asked an online group of music fans to name those bands whose original vocalists were replaced by their voice twin, and they came through with responses that will have you double-checking to verify there was more than one singer.
Foreigner
Founded in 1976, the band, with original lead singer Lou Gramm, enjoyed multiple hit songs such as “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and “I Don’t Want to Live Without You.” After a dispute with founding member Mick Jones, Gramm left Foreigner for the first time in 1990. He rejoined the group in 1998 before leaving for good in 2003. Kelly Hanson, the former lead singer for the band Hurricane, sent Jones an audition tape to become Foreigner’s new lead singer. Hanson officially joined Foreigner in 2005, and the similarities to Gramm’s vocal stylings are striking.
Boston
Tommy DeCarlo, the current lead singer for the group Boston, has a Cinderella story regarding how he landed the job. The band’s original lead singer, Brad Delp, died in 2007. DeCarlo, who was working at Home Depot, was a Boston fan and made recordings of himself covering some of their songs. He posted his singing on a Myspace page set up by his daughter and sent the page’s link to the band’s managers. Boston’s founder, Tom Scholz, contacted him. The rest is music history.
Journey
As one of the most popular bands in the United States, Journey has enjoyed numerous hits, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Faithfully,” and “Open Arms.” They’ve also had multiple lead singers since its founding in 1973. At the height of their popularity, Steve Perry was the lead singer. After leaving the band several times, Perry was replaced by Steve Augeri and Arnel Pineda, who both sound uncannily like him.
Stone Temple Pilots
After signing a deal with Atlantic Records, the California rock band was initially named Mighty Joe Young but changed to Stone Temple Pilots (STP). Scott Weiland was the original lead singer and was the voice of chart-topping songs like Plush. Ongoing tensions between Weiland and STP resulted in his firing from the band in 2013. After Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington’s brief stint as lead singer, Jeff Gutt was hired to sing the primary vocals in 2017. He’s practically a vocal twin of Scott Weiland, who died unexpectedly in 2015.
Alice in Chains
Seattle rock band Alice in Chains (AIC) propelled to popularity during music’s grunge era of the early 1990s. One of the keys to their stardom was the haunting vocals of lead singer Layne Staley, which connected with their fans, especially with songs like Man in the Box and Rooster. In 2002, Staley died while the band was on hiatus. The band reunited in 2005 and hired William DuVall as their new lead singer in 2006. If you close your eyes, it’s hard to distinguish Staley’s singing from DuVall’s.
Skid Row
Erik Grönwell, the current lead singer of the ’80s hair band Skid Row, is vocally a dead ringer for the former lead singer, Sebastian Bach. In the Bach era, the band achieved fame with rock songs such as “18 and Life” and “I Remember You.” After a heated dispute with one of Skid Row’s founding members, Bach formally left the group in 1996.
Yes
Jon Anderson, the original lead vocalist for Yes, helped to popularize the 1983 song “Owner of a Lonely Heart” with his distinctive alto tenor voice that fans often mistook for falsetto. When Anderson left Yes several times over the decades to embark on a solo career, Jon Davison, the current lead singer, joined the band in 2012. Davison does his predecessor proud because he sounds just like Anderson when he sings.
Queensrÿche
The power ballad “Silent Lucidity,” released in 1991, made Queensrÿche a household name around the globe. The otherworldly vocals of Geoff Tate, the lead singer of the heavy metal band, helped to make the hit single sound like the soundtrack from a lucid dream.
In 2012, Tate was fired after getting into a physical altercation with two of his fellow band members. The group immediately replaced him with Todd La Torre, whose vocals match Tate’s during his prime.
Judas Priest
Known for hits like “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” “Breaking the Law,” and “Exciter,” Rob Halford’s ability to go from a lower vocal range to a high pitch made him one of the greatest heavy metal singers. When Halford left the group to embark on solo projects, Judas Priest was able to seamlessly fill his shoes with a soundalike singer named Tim “Ripper” Owens, who previously performed in a Judas Priest tribute band.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd was well on their way to country rock superstar status, thanks to songs such as “Freebird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” when tragedy struck. A 1977 plane crash killed six people, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. A decade later, the band reunited. Ronnie’s younger brother, Johnny Van Zant, picked up where his brother left off, becoming the new lead singer. To no one’s surprise, Johnny has a voice practically indistinguishable from his brother’s.
Source: Reddit.
22 of The Wealthiest Female Rappers Of All Time
In the male-dominated hip-hop landscape, these 25 richest female rappers have shattered ceilings, setting benchmarks and reshaping the rap game. Their impressive net worths are testaments to their talent, hustle, and influence.
22 of The Wealthiest Female Rappers Of All Time
299 Essential Household Things To Buy for a New House
Whether you are just starting out on your own or living in the same place for years, these essential things to buy for a new house will make your life easier and help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
299 Essential Household Things To Buy for a New House
15 Greatest Female Vocalists of the Past 10 Years
Get ready to hit the high notes, folks! Over the past decade, we’ve been gifted with the melodic prowess of some extraordinary female vocalists who’ve not just hit the charts but have wholly-owned them. They’ve left us amazed, captivated, and, let’s admit it, attempting to hit those high notes in the shower (with varying degrees of success).
15 Greatest Female Vocalists of the Past 10 Years
12 Most Disrespectful Concert Cancellations Of All Time
In the unpredictable world of live music, where adrenaline thrums and emotions run high, there’s nothing quite like the disappointment of a concert cancellation. We’ve all been there: the anticipation bubbling, the tickets clutched like precious jewels, only for our hopes to be dashed instantly.
12 Most Disrespectful Concert Cancellations Of All Time
20 Stupid TV Shows That Critics Argue Are a Complete Waste of Time
Like any other art form, television is subjective and diverse, catering to various tastes and interests. In this thought-provoking exploration, we delve into the realm of entertainment that has sparked debates and discussions among critics. We spotlight 20 TV shows that critics, with genuine passion, argue to be a questionable investment of time.
20 Stupid TV Shows That Critics Argue Are a Complete Waste of Time
