Um...I Know Who the Singer Is

[Ash]

There are some bands out there where everybody knows who each member is.  Like Metallica for example.  Almost everyone knows that it's made up of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Lars, and that new indian/mexican looking guy.

Or like the original lineup of Kiss:  Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley.

However, there are tons of bands where people only know who the singer is and not the rest of the band.
Example:  Tool.  I know that Mayanard James Keenan is the singer but don't have the slightest clue as to the other band member's names or even what they look like.  And I saw them in concert back in 2000!
Or Nickelback.  I know that Chad Kroeger is the singer but have absolutely no idea who his bandmates are.
Same goes for the Foo Fighters.  Dave Grohl is the singer but who the hell are the other guys in the band?

What's up with this?  There was a time when this did not happen.  Not anymore.
Can you list any others?

[HappyGilmore]

I don't think I could name one member of Iron Maiden beyond Bruce Dickinson.
The Runaways- Cheri Curie, Joan Jett...and those other two chicks.

There are some bands out there where everybody knows who each member is.  Like Metallica for example.  Almost everyone knows that it's made up of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Lars, and that new indian/mexican looking guy.

Or like the original lineup of Kiss:  Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley.

However, there are tons of bands where people only know who the singer is and not the rest of the band.
Example:  Tool.  I know that Mayanard James Keenan is the singer but don't have the slightest clue as to the other band member's names or even what they look like.  And I saw them in concert back in 2000!
Or Nickelback.  I know that Chad Kroeger is the singer but have absolutely no idea who his bandmates are.
Same goes for the Foo Fighters.  Dave Grohl is the singer but who the hell are the other guys in the band?

What's up with this?  There was a time when this did not happen.  Not anymore.
Can you list any others?

Robert Trujillo is the Mexican/Indian guy in Metallica.

[Rev. Powell]

Ash, I think this phenomenon is partly a function of getting older. When I was a teenager I used to study the backs of the album covers and learn the names of each and every member of the group. Now, I don't really care who plays bass for "Band X" who has some single I kind of like. Heck, there are bands I like now and I don't even know the lead singer's name. When I was younger I never would have let that happen. But now, unless their exceptionally talented, band members seem much more disposable and interchangable to me. I bet younger people know the names of all the members of the bands they follow, though.

Maybe it's also an feature of the digital age, however. Now kids download their music from I-tunes; they don't even have album covers to study while they listen to their new album.

[Jack]

With most rock and metal stuff, it's more instrument-based so I'll usually know the name of the guitarist at least.  Most pop stuff though I'll only know the name of the singer.  And probably only because that's also the name of the band.

The Police - Sting
U2 - The Edge
John Cougar - John Cougar
Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde
Culture Club - Boy George
Hole - Courtney Love

etc.

Yes it's still the 1980's in my little musical world.   

[Rev. Powell]

With most rock and metal stuff, it's more instrument-based so I'll usually know the name of the guitarist at least.  Most pop stuff though I'll only know the name of the singer.  And probably only because that's also the name of the band.

The Police - Sting
U2 - The Edge
John Cougar - John Cougar
Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde
Culture Club - Boy George
Hole - Courtney Love

etc.

Yes it's still the 1980's in my little musical world.   

Jack is old. 

[Psycho Circus]

Smashing Pumpkins and Machine Head are other good ones to add to this...

[Jack]

Jack is old.  

Like a fine wine. 

Well okay, maybe more like old stale beer. 

[akiratubo]

Regarding the OP, I didn't know the names of anyone from Metallica, Nickelback, or Tool, and I'm not sure I've ever heard of Foo Fighters at all.  (Might have heard that name before.)

[Flick James]

I am the lead singer in the band that's in my mind, and I have no idea who the rest of the band is either. Frustrating.

[Chainsawmidget]

I consider myself doing good if I can identify who the band is.

[retrorussell]

Lonesome Dave Peverett is the only guy I know of from Foghat, and he's dead.