After a short discussion with a friend, we could not think of any longer constant (no more than a 5 year gap) releasing band in the original line up than......... U2 - 24 years. Can anyone beat that?

How about the The Crickets. Still looking up confirmation. 1955 was the start date if memory serves. They played this year at the Miller Stratfest not sure about intervening times.

The first few Buddy Holly singles were actually credited just to "The Crickets" according to my Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. So strictly speaking their line up has changed.

U2's first release was an EP called U23 in 1979 making it 25 years for them. I think the Blue Nile started in '79 too but don't know when they first released a record. A Walk Across the Rooftops was 1984.

Jim

Sorry BigH47 The crickets don't qualify as they have 2 gaps of over 5 years between releases.

and I was going to add what Jimmy Jazz has, that Buddy Holly was in the Crickets before they changed name to Buddy Holly and the Crickets and he no longer is available for recordings.

Picking up an earlier thread - The Blind Boys of Alabama have been going for a very long time (I think since the late 40's) but not sure if its the same set of blind boys

The Blind Boys of Alabama have been going since 1939, and are still doing their stuff. I'm pretty sure it's still the same line-up.
Beat that!

Blind Boys nominated by two members at six minutes past five - must be the winner!

[This message was edited by Richwleeds on Thu 28 October 2004 at 17:55.]

quote:

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Originally posted by Richwleeds:
but not sure if its the same set of blind boys

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They are pretty sure they are.

FYI Buddy Holly was signed to Coral The Crickets had a separate contract with Brunswick. Buddy Hollys' name was left off the recording of That'll Be the Day (and others)so he was not actually a member of The Crickets (it should have been Buddy Holly and.....). I'll accept the recording gap although I believe thay never stopped performing which must count for something.

Howard

Hi Rasher, Have these Blind Boys not had a gap of more than 5 years between releases though?

I have just searched it out, and it appears that only 3 of the current line-up are still in the group. I don't know whether dying off members disqualify or not (?). They have some "young" replacements. The catalogue seems to be consistent though with no gaps over 5 years.
I have never heard them myself. From what I can make out, it's gospel music.

Rush - 30 years?

yep. I'd second RUSH.

not their original line up (neil peart joined for their 2nd album) but consistant line up since then (1974)

It sounds like the answers have change the question. ie "Longest serving band in original line up" and no big recording gaps. Not all answers fill this criteria including mine.

And the winner is......?

Howard

Just to reiterate the rules as I don't want any problems or fights breaking out.
Longest serving band, dated from the 1st album release with same original line-up (no deaths!) and no bigger gap than 5 years between releases (no compilations)

What about ZZ Top. 34 years!!

So they don't have to still be going then - as long as they lasted the longest time. Right?

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee were together contantly from 1939 (again - must have been a good year)for 40 years.
Is a duo a group?

Meatloaf?

The Staple Singers probably have a claim. Started recording in the late 50s, carried on making records until 2000, when Pops Staples died. Not sure about any > 5 year gaps, a complete discography is hard to track down.

-- Ian