Zigabid – A Ticket Revolution

1. Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin is perhaps one of the most successful, innovative, and influential bands in rock music history.  They’ve sold over 200 million albums worldwide, set the bar for the Album Oriented Radio format and constantly broke attendance records with enormous capacity shows from stadiums to arenas (and without any support acts).  Guitarist Jimmy Page’s distorted riffs became the blueprint for heavy metal.  John Bonham’s drumming was fast, powerful, accurate, and gave him a distinct sound that made many people consider him one of the greatest drummers in rock history.  Meanwhile besides contributing bass lines to songs, John Paul Jones’ innovative musicianship and producing contributed a lot of the keyboard based elements contained in Zeppelin’s songs.  Finally, lead singer Robert Plant’s powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence was a major influence on other great performers like Geddy Lee of Rush, Sammy Hagar of Van Halen, and Freddy Mercury of Queen among others.  If it was not for drummer John Bonham’s death in 1980, they may still be making music together to this day.

Since they disbanded after Bonham’s death, Page and Plant worked together in the 1990s on original material and Zeppelin based projects.  The band’s one and only reunion was in 2007 at London’s O2 arena for the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert. This show earned the Guiness World Record for “Highest Demand for Tickets for One Music Concert” as 20 million ticket requests were submitted online.  The show featured John Bonham’s son Jason on drums and was a huge success.  Rumors have come and gone for an extended reunion.  Lead singer Robert Plant has yet to join the other members on the same page and doesn’t have any interest in reforming Led Zeppelin.

Over the last 4 decades of Led Zeppelin’s existence, they have never failed to create enormous height and interest in their work.  The 2007 reunion is a huge testament to this and is the reason why they are our #1 Most Anticipated Reunion.  Every member of this band is a legend, and Jason Bonham has proven himself to rightfully fill his father’s shoes.  There is no doubt a Led Zeppelin reunion could break attendance and sales records once again. Led Zeppelin is a band of innovators who set the standards for modern rock music and can still bring it today.

Thanks for following along with Zigabid on this journey to countdown 40 of the Most Anticipated Reunions! We hope you enjoyed our selection of artists and we’ll definitely have more guides and countdowns coming soon on our blog.

Relive the entire Top 10 Most Anticipated Reunions on our dedicated site

2. Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is considered one of the most influential rock groups of all time.  The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers gained success with a progressive and psychedelic sound that constantly evolved and gave them a unique identity.  The thought and effort placed in their album art, lyrics, and elaborate live shows made them not only an attraction to hear, but gave a visually appealing aspect as well.  Quite possibly the most famous example of this was 1979’s The Wall album which spawned a film and had a tour featuriing a 40-foot wall made of cardboard bricks that had various images related to the songs projected on it.

Disputes in the group caused co-lead singer Roger Waters to depart from the band in 1985. Waters shared vocal duties with David Gilmour who remained along with keyboardist Richard Wright and drummer Nick Mason.  The remaining trio toured until 1996.  Pink Floyd reunited for a one-off performance (including Roger Waters) in 2005 for the Live 8 benefit which would be the first time in nearly 25 years.  The performance reignited interest in the group and brought numerous offers for tours.  While the band enjoyed the reunion, the members were not fully open to coming back long-term. Keyboardist Richard Wright passed in 2008.  Since then, the three remaining (Waters, Mason, and Gilmour) reunited onstage last May during a London date of Roger Waters’ tour.

In September, EMI will be re-releasing Pink Floyd’s back catalog newly remastered.  If there’s any opportunity for the remaining three to perform for a string of shows, the perfect time is coming.  The re-releases will likely introduce Pink Floyd to a new slew of listeners and rekindle interest in long time fans.

Tomorrow we unveil #1! See who else has made our Top 10 Most Anticipated Reunions.

3. *NSYNC
It’s been almost a decade since *NSYNC bid “Bye, Bye, Bye” to the pop music scene.  Argubly, *NSYNC was the biggest group to come out of the bubblegum pop boom of the late 90s.  Formed by boy band mogul Lou Pearlman (who also gave us the Backstreet Boys and O-Town among other pop creations) in 1995, the band built a following in Europe and Asia before slowly creeping their way into the US.  Three years later they released their debut self-titled album in the US, which had sluggish sales until a Disney Channel concert special rocketed them to popularity.  After the Disney special (that was originally offered to the Backstreet Boys and they turned it down), the debut album went on to sell over 10 million copies.  Much like their counterparts the Backstreet Boys, the group filed a lawsuit and broke away from Pearlman in 1998 after it was discovered Pearlman was getting over fifty percent of the band’s earnings.  This led to *NSYNC moving labels and releasing their biggest album to date No Strings Attached.  The album has sold over 11 million copies and was the all-time bestselling pre-ordered album on Amazon.com.

By late 2002 after extensive touring in support of their fourth full-length album Celebrity, the group took a break.  Member Justin Timberlake began to focus on his solo career more during this time which ended up extending the group’s hiatus. Timberlake’s solo career took off and he never looked back.  The group’s last performance was at the 2004 Annual Challenge for the Children where the group performed “The Star Spangled Banner” (which ironically was the first song they ever sang together). While they never made an official announcement, there have been no major plans for the five to regroup.  Since then, Justin Timberlake has also turned his sights towards acting and was recently named creative director of MySpace, JC Chasez also embarked on a solo career and is producing, Chris Kirkpatrick fronts his own band, and Joey Fatone is currently working with fellow member Lance Bass on a new reality boy band series for VH1.

Unlike boy bands like New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC shot up out of seemingly nowhere, exploded, shined bright, and just disappeared.  Some would argue that they went out while they were on top instead of slowly fading out with the bubblegum pop scene.  In recent years pop has started to make a comeback as made evident by the success of the current NKOTBSB tour.  Fans have not forgotten about *NSYNC and continue to drive themselves crazy thinking of a reunion.  While they all remain on different pages, maybe in time they’ll figure it out and once again be “in sync.”

Catch up on the rest of our Top 10 Most Anticipated Reunions announced so far

4. The Smiths
At a time where New Romanticism and New Wave were the norm for pop radio in the UK, The Smiths emerged running full speed against the grain.  The Smiths were formed in 1982 by lead singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr.  They chose a simple and “ordinary” name as a reaction against synthpop bands and their pompous sounding names at the time (i.e. Spandau Ballet, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, etc).  While the band found moderate commercial success in the US and in other countries, none of The Smiths singles charted higher than number ten in the UK. Their albums were still successful and the band has had a cult following that has only grown bigger since their breakup.  Much of the band’s popularity stemmed from admiration for lead singer Morrissey who has grown to be an icon throughout his career for his lyrics and style.  Morrissey was labeled as “one of the most influential artists ever” by UK music magazine and is one of the reasons The Smiths still have a growing following as new fans discover their music.

It was issues between Morrissey and Marr that brought The Smiths to an end in 1987.  Marr found Morrissey increasingly difficult to work with due to his musical inflexibility.  Both sides would later admit the lack of a manager had no help in easing the tension between the two that would eventually end the band.

Since The Smiths’ demise, they’ve been offered large sums of money to reunite and the offers seem to grow as the years pass.  Reportedly, the band was offered $5 million to reunite at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival in 2006. It was also rumored that Morrissey was offered over $60 million to reunite with Johnny Marr for a 50-date world tour in 2008 and 2009.  The two would have toured under The Smiths’ name even without additional members Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke.  Johnny Marr, who had been strictly against a reunion, has been more open to the idea claiming in a 2009 interview that one day they may find a reason to tour again.  Marr and Morrissey have their solo as their main priority currently and have expressed that money is not what they seek.  If The Smiths get back together, it will be on their own terms for their own reasons.  Until then The Smiths’ fan base will only keep growing, building more anticipation for a return.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 10 Most Anticipated Reunions on our mini-site

5. Guns N’ Roses
The first nine years of Guns N’ Roses career solidified them as one of the best hard rock bands that emerged post-hair metal in the LA rock scene.  With music that embodied elements of blues, punk, metal, and hard rock without the makeup and crazy hair, Guns N’ Roses raised the bar for bands at that time.  Those nine years were also the rockiest nine years a band could ever have.  Drugs, alcohol, and ego made for a volatile mix that ended up splitting front man Axl Rose from the rest of his band mates by 1994.  While Axl Rose has continued on with the Guns N’ Roses name, many don’t see it as the same band, nor will ever consider it without the presence of former members: lead guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, and Matt Sorum or Steven Adler on drums.  Without those guys, it’s a completely different band.  It has not stopped fans from around the world from flocking to festivals and packing stadiums to see Axl and his current lineup, but chances are most of these people are attending to hear the songs made famous by the original lineup moreso than the recent tunes Axl and co. have released.

Since continuing on with Guns N’ Roses, McKagan and Stradlin have made one-off appearances with Axl on stage.  That’s about as close the prime lineup have ever come to reuniting.  Much of the tension lies between Slash and Axl Rose to this day.  Here is what Axl had to say in 2009 about reuniting with Slash:

“What’s clear is that one of the two of us will die before a reunion and however sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is. Those decisions were made a long time ago and reiterated year after year by one man.”

Will Axl and Slash ever be able to heal these wounds? Axl and his ego have grown together for so long it may not be evident how big a reunion with his former band mates would be.  After the release of the long overdue Chinese Democracy album in 2008, it was rumored that it was the first part in a trilogy of albums according to Axl’s vision.  With a rotating door of members in the band currently, maybe it’s time for Axl to hunker down, flesh things out, and give the fans what they want – a true return to form for Guns N’ Roses.

Check out the rest of Zigabid’s Top 10 Most Anticipated Reunions so far!

10. Dead Kennedys (with Jello Biafra)
Dead Kennedys came out of the Bay Area punk scene in the late 1970s and were known to stir up quite a bit of controversy during their run with lead singer Jello Biafra.  While their name was enough to cause controversy, it was their harsh lyrics that ruffled feathers.  Their lyrics made a mockery of society and right-wing politics in satirical, sarcastic, and ironic tones.  Biafra was the most outspoken in the group and is seen as one of the founding members of the San Francisco hardcore punk community.  His biting lyrics were what punk rock was all about.  Even as the band modified its sound adding in more jazz-influence separating them from bands in the same scene, their lyrics still carried the hardcore punk rock attitude.  Because of their anti-establishment mentality, Dead Kennedys never made it to a major label as they declined offers.  They still managed to find success in the undergrounds and even made an impact on the UK charts.

By 1986, the landscape in the underground scene had changed.  The crowds did not share the same ideals the band stood for which disillusioned its members.  In the mainstream they were ignored completely.  Filled with frustration and feeling alienated, the band decided to call it a day.  Conflicts arose later on between the members in a dispute over writing credits and royalty payments.  This put a split between Biafra and the other members of the band.  After legal disputes were resolved, an attempt to bury the hatchet with Biafra was unsuccessful.  Since then, Biafra has been outspoken of his former band mates accusing them of cashing-in with re-releases of Dead Kennedys albums and live album releases.  In 2001 Dead Kennedys reunited sans Jello which put them under fire with their former lead singer.

While Dead Kennedys still stay true to some of their punk rock ideology (i.e. refusing to play some festivals based on the sponsors), the band has seen commercialization over the years.  Their songs have been licensed in major films such as Freddy Got Fingered and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and used in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise which were signed off on by all members including Biafra.  At this point, true fans of the band just want to see Jello and the rest of Dead Kennedys reunite and playing the music they identify with.  The band split up after a feeling of disconnect with the crowds that would show up at their shows.  In the time that’s passed since, their legacy has grown and attracted new and younger fans that have connected with their original ideals.  Jello has expressed disdain in reunion tours, but if fueled for the right reasons, the band could make a much deserved successful comeback.

9. Fugazi
You can look at Fugazi and their history and see a band that created success all on their own.  Created by Minor Threat lead singer Ian MacKaye, the post-hardcore band from Washington D.C. released their self-titled EP in 1988.  The band would go on to release7 albums on Dischord Records. Through their 16-year career they sold out arena sized venues, made it on the Billboard album charts, and were offered hugely lucrative deals from major labels which they declined every time.  Fugazi were armed with a Do-It-Yourself mentality that they lived by.  They saved overhead costs starting out by playing unconventional venues, not selling merchandise on tour, and doing their best to keep ticket prices no higher than $5.  In all this, they still turned a profit.

Fugazi ended up being a band that did what they want because they did it the best way they could without help.  While they may not be a household name, music aficionados know of their work and their legacy.  Not to mention during their time, the band was hot enough to sell 180,000 copies of their 1993 album In On The Kill Taker which is a number many number one albums struggle to reach.  The band went on hiatus in 2003 after members decided they wanted to spend more time on other professional projects and with their families.  Since then, the band has been offered large sums of money for reunion shows and festival appearances, but has declined every offer.  Lead singer MacKaye recently stated that if Fugazi ever got back together, it wouldn’t be for money, but the desire to play music together that would fuel it.

12. Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel may be the biggest indie band you’ve never heard of.  The band emerged out of the early 1990s and was known for their psychedelic yet folky experimental sound.   Lead singer Jeff Mangum formed the group initially with high school friends Will Cullen Hart and Bill Doss, but was mostly a recording project for Mangum.  Unemployed and constantly working on music, Mangum found himself couch surfing through different friends’ houses.  Whatever musician friends were around at the time of writing/recording is who Magnum would bring on to play on his Neutral Milk Hotel recordings.  A full band lineup would eventually come together after the band’s first full album On Avery Island was released so the songs could be played on the road.  The band found its biggest success with the follow up In the Aeroplane Over the Sea released in 1998.  It was a record that received high critical acclaim and since its release has sold 200,000 copies to date.  The album has become a cult favorite in indie music circles which is why it still sells to this day.  It seems the creation of that album and a subsequent year of touring took its toll on Mangum who decided to put the band on hiatus, including turning down a spot opening for R.E.M. on tour.

The members of Neutral Milk Hotel have worked with each other on other projects occasionally since the hiatus.  There has been no talk of a Neutral Mil Hotel reunion besides an internet message board hoax that was originally thought to be a message from Mangum purporting a return for Neutral Milk Hotel.  Jeff Mangum makes occasional appearances at various shows playing Neutral Milk Hotel’s material and has announced a number of shows this Fall.  Recently, Neutral Milk Hotel and Mangum were brought into the pop culture spotlight after being referenced on the hit NBC comedy Parks & Recreation.  The band still has a strong legacy that lives on among indie fans, which just keeps talk and demands of a reunion constant over time.

11. Journey w/ Steve Perry
It took Journey almost 5 years and numerous member and style changes before they finally made it big.  The biggest factor of their success could be attributed to lead singer Steve Perry who joined the band in 1977.  Perry’s unique tone became a signature for the band and was the voice behind all of their greatest hits.  After riding years of success, they had initially called it quits in 1987 as Perry was unable to remain active in the band while attending to his sick mother at the time.  The group would go on to reunite in 1995 and release the album Trial By Fire that would end up pushing the band back into the limelight with its success.  Unfortunately, Perry injured his hip while hiking in Hawaii and required surgery.  His putting off of the surgery for two years put the band’s future in question as all the other members were anxious to tour while the popularity of the album was high.  Faced with an ultimatum, Perry decided to continue putting off the surgery and the rest of Journey opted to move with a different singer.

Outside of contributions to the Quest for Camelot soundtrack in 1998, Perry has stayed mainly behind the scenes.  The last time Perry was seen with the rest of his Journey band mates was an unexpected appearance during the band’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony.  Since then, not much has been heard from Perry.  There has been talk of Perry finally releasing another solo album, but that has yet to be seen.  Journey on the other has continued touring successfully and piqued a lot of interest in 2007 after hiring YouTube discovery Arnel Pineda to be their new lead singer.  With the notoriety of how Pineda joined the band and the use of Journey’s songs in shows like GLEE, The Sopranos, and Family Guy, Journey have seen a new rise in popularity.  The main reason for Pineda’s recognition and Journey’s resurgence as a whole can be attributed to how similar Pineda’s vocals are to Perry’s.  It’s the unique sound and tone that Perry created that has been near-recreated since Pineda’s been in Journey.  While it isn’t the same, it has definitely brought fans back into the fold. This just shows how key of a role Perry was to Journey and how a reunion between him and the rest of Journey would be a huge event for the band.

Come back on Tuesday when we begin to unveil our top 10 Most Anticipated Reunions!

14.  Wham!
British duo Wham! were one of the biggest groups to come out of the UK pop scene in the 80s.  Many are unaware that some of Wham’s earlier songs were actually rap-oriented (as heard in songs such as “Wham! Rap” and “Young Guns”), making them one of the first pop groups to incorporate rapping into their songs.  The social commentary in the lyrics of early singles earned the group a reputation as a dance protest group, although as the band evolved, so did their lyrics.  Their more carefree, hedonistic tunes found them great success in the pop world and got them notice stateside.  This was evident in their biggest single to date “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”.  In their career span, the group scored three number one songs in the US: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, “Careless Whisper”, and “Everything She Wants”.

Besides lyrics about being fun and free, Wham! were also known for their sense of style.  This was mostly thanks to co-member Andrew Ridgeley who molded the band’s image over the years.  Ridgeley is the unsung member of the group who was overshadowed by lead singer George Michael and his later solo success.  Even during Wham’s tenure, occasional singles were released as “Wham featuring George Michael”.

The band decided to break up in 1986 after George Michael wanted to create music catered towards a mature audience and  beyond their teenage fan base.  They capped off their career with a farewell single and a grand finale concert at Wembley Stadium.  The eight-hour finale concert included the premiere of the documentary Foreign Skies which followed the band on its tour of China.  The emotional event marked the last major event Wham! would be on stage together.

While Michael and Ridgeley remain friends to this day, the two have never considered reuniting.  According to George Michael, Wham! represented a time of youth and exuberance. Now that they’re older, the energy that Wham! had could not be recaptured again.  But who says they need to go back to the leather jackets, “CHOOSE LIFE” shirts, and big hoop earrings? Many bands have stood the test of time evolving their look and style to change with the times.  Who says Wham! can’t do the same and create a new, updated persona that would better suit Michael and Ridgeley today?

13. Destiny’s Child
Destiny’s Child was the modern day version of The Supremes complete with Beyonce Knowles in the role of Diana Ross.  Unlike The Supremes, other members had their occasional parts in songs, but it was clear to anyone that Beyonce was the center piece of the group.  Destiny’s Child began as a four piece with childhood friends Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett, and LaTavia Robertson.  Just before the release of their breakthrough album Writing’s on the Wall, Luckett and Robertson split from the group.  The two had issues with Destiny’s Child’s manager Matthew Knowles (father of Beyonce) feeling the other two members were favored over them.  In turn, manager Knowles ended up replacing the two unbeknownst to them until the premiere of the video for the song “Say My Name” where two new members were now in their places.  Of the two replacements, Michelle Williams was the only member to remain with the group until their present day hiatus.  Farrah Franklin left the group after only five months citing stress and being unable to cope with the pressure in the band.

The trio lineup of Beyonce, Rowland, and Williams would be the final and most successful lineup of the band.  In 2002 the group took a brief hiatus for each member to pursue solo careers.  Of the three, Beyonce found the most success as a solo artist.  Kelly Rowland managed to score some hits and even a few acting roles during her solo time.  Michelle Williams released a critically acclaimed urban gospel album that, while not successful in the pop market, it was the best-selling gospel album of 2002. She also had a stint on Broadway performing in the musical Aida.

In 2004, Destiny’s Child re-grouped to release what would be their final album Destiny Fulfilled.  This followed with a worldwide tour.  It was in the middle of this tour that the group announced their break-up.  The split was in talks for awhile as the group thought it would be best to go out on a high note.  They had their final televised performance in 2006 for the Fashion Rocks benefit concert.

Since disbanding, the three have remained close.  Rowland and Williams have made appearances in Beyonce’s music video and joined her onstage at the BET Awards in 2007.  At the same event, Beyonce introduced Rowland for her own performance.  The three have continued to express support for each other’s solo work.

Reuniting Destiny’s Child would be a banner moment in pop music. As one of the biggest selling all-female groups of last, they have a large and dedicated fan base who would turns out in droves for a reunion.  Much like more recent breakups like The White Stripes, there is still plenty of time for the three to revisit Destiny’s Child someday.

16. Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo began as a musical theatre troupe in 1972 known as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. A name shortening, some member changes, and a decade later they found their biggest success during the new wave movement of the 1980s.  Their 1985 album Dead Man’s Party spawned four successful singles and found their songs used in numerous movies and television shows.  While they were classified as “new wave”, their music was easily something more than what the genre identified with.  Their use of horns, exotic percussion instruments, unconventional scales, harmony, and surrealistic imagery created a unique combination that gave them a signature sound.  The style of music they created was also wildly fitting during Halloween season which made their Halloween concerts a signature of the band.

The band headed in a more rock oriented direction in the 90s plus had another shortening of their name to just Boingo.  They decided to call it quits in 1995 and embarked on a farewell tour that culminated with a Halloween performance at the Universal Amphitheatre (now known as the Gibson Amphitheatre) in their hometown of Los Angeles.

Many may know Oingo Boingo for being the starting vehicle for Danny Elfman who is now one of the most sought after composers in Hollywood.  Elfman has scored every Tim Burton film among other movies and wrote themes for TV series including The Simpsons and Desperate Housewives.  Since the breakup, other members have organized Oingo Boingo tribute shows sans Elfman.  The band remains legendary in Los Angeles and has a cult following worldwide.

According to Elfman, an Oingo Boingo reunion could never happen due to his irreversible hearing loss and fear of making it worse by playing live.  Fans are still holding out hope that Oingo Boingo could still reunite even if for one major Halloween show to end all Halloween shows.

15. White Stripes
The White Stripes were a kick in the butt the rock scene needed when they broke through in 2002.  At the time, nu-metal was in its last days and emo was headed towards its peak, but the music scene lacked good ol’ rock and roll. In walk Jack and Meg White with their stripped down, low-fi, rock/punk/blues inspired tunes and with one tune they were on their way to rock stardom.  Despite early speculation, Meg and Jack were not actually siblings but at one point were married.  Their song “Fell in Love with a Girl” shot them into the mainstream and the lego-animated music video was wildly popular in the dying days of MTV playing actual music videos.  The White Stripes would continue to release 3 more successful albums and their popularity grew with each release.

Icky Thump was the last album released by The White Stripes in 2007.  A tour in support of the album had to be canceled as drummer Meg White’s acute anxiety problems prevented her from performing.  During Meg’s hiatus, Jack White remained active performing solo and starting a couple other bands including The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs.  While on hiatus, Jack White consistently hinted at him and Meg working on new White Stripes material.  The band would not perform again until the farewell episode of Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 2009. Sadly, this would also be the bands final performance.

While they did not make their breakup official until this year, fans have been pining for a White Stripes return since their hiatus in 2007.  As a band that stayed consistent and strong, they only continue to gain fans as the years go on.  A big return from The White Stripes would be huge for music fans everywhere.  Luckily, Jack and Meg White are still young and have more prime years ahead to consider getting the band back together for another run.

18. Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath is with little debate the greatest metal band of all time.  The band set the bar for other metal bands to come and have been an influence to every major metal band that’s followed.  Save for lead guitarist Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath has had a revolving door of members with the most memorable being their roster of lead singers that included Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gilian, the late Ronnie James Dio, original lead singer Ozzy Osbourne and a handful of other fill-ins.  The band is most popular for its original lineup with Iommi, Osbourne, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler and has reformed and split up again a handful of times.

Alcohol and drug issues caused Osbourne to get fired from the band in 1979 which lead to his successful solo career.  They would go on to reunite as the original unit in 1997. During this reunion period which lasted until the early 2000s the band toured heavily including stints on Ozzy’s Ozzfest festival.  They would also work on new material for an album that went unfinished after Ozzy’s solo project took priority.  The other members had their own projects as well including Iommi and Ward touring with Dio and drummer Vinny Appice touring as the Black Sabbath lineup of the 80s under the name Heaven & Hell.  Since then, members have been asked about a reunion of the original lineup.  Osbourne stands by the fact that he will reunite one last time and release one more album with Black Sabbath before he retires.  Unfortunately, original bassist Geezer Butler is not as open to the idea denying any possibility of it happening.

At the worst, we may see the original lineup sans Butler reunite for one more go as Black Sabbath, but the presence of Tony Iommi (the only member of Black Sabbath who has stayed in the band without hiatus) and Ozzy Osbourne would be enough to whet the appetite of metal fans everywhere.

17. Styx
It took several years and a handful of albums for Styx to breakthrough and gain popularity.  The prog-rock inspired band began to receive radio play in 1975 when the two-year old power ballad “Lady” began to receive radio play.  Around the same time original guitarist John Curulewski  and Tommy Shaw was on brought on board.  Shaw would become one of the most outspoken members of the lineup that included James “JY” Young, Chuck Panozzo, John Panozzo, and lead singer Dennis DeYoung.  Many of Styx’s albums were concept albums that encompassed a singular theme or message.  This did not manage to alienate the songs individually as Styx would release numerous hit singles.  As the band progressed, creative differences began to arise between DeYoung who wanted to do more theatrical inspired material as oppose to Shaw and Young who wanted to go in a harder rock direction.  These differences would lead to a split in the band.

Over the years DeYoung would have an on and off relationship with Shaw, Young, getting back together and splitting over the same differences. During splits, DeYoung would tour solo and the rest touring as Styx.  At one point the two sides brought matters into the courtroom over the use of the band name.  The result let Shaw, Young, and Panozzo continue as Styx.   Both sides remain active in music still releasing new material and touring.  The band still hasn’t topped the success they had with DeYoung in the fold. At this point the two sides may not even be on the best of terms with the band eliminating mentions of DeYoung in the band’s history on their official site.

If there’s something fans would love, it would be the reunion between DeYoung and the rest of Styx.  DeYoung was the voice behind all of Styx’s greatest hits.  Reuniting him with his former band mates and working on something new could be the start of another great run for Styx if they managed to balance out their creative differences.