# List of artists who left right before their bands became famous

**Section:** Alphabetic list

| Artist | Band the artist left | Role | Year the artist left | Year of band's commercial breakthrough | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Best | The Beatles | Drummer | 1962 | 1963 | Fired and replaced by Ringo Starr | - |
| Elbridge Bryant | The Temptations | Vocalist | 1963 | 1964 | Fired and replaced by David Ruffin | - |
| Chad Channing | Nirvana | Drummer | 1990 | 1991 | Replaced by Dave Grohl | - |
| Tony Chapman | The Rolling Stones | Drummer | 1962 | 1963 | Quit and replaced by Charlie Watts | - |
| Jason Cropper | Weezer | Guitarist | 1993 | 1994 | Fired and replaced by Brian Bell | - |
| Stephen Duffy | Duran Duran | Vocalist/bassist/ drummer | 1979 | 1981 | Quit and replaced by Andy Wickett | - |
| Jason Everman | Nirvana | Guitarist | 1989 | 1991 | Fired | - |
| Jason Everman | Soundgarden | Bassist | 1990 | 1992 | Fired and replaced by Ben Shepherd | - |
| Pete Garner | The Stone Roses | Bassist | 1987 | 1989 | Quit and replaced by Mani | - |
| Terry Glaze | Pantera | Vocalist | 1986 | 1990 | Quit and replaced by Phil Anselmo | - |
| Tracii Guns | Guns N' Roses | Guitarist | 1985 | 1987 | Quit and replaced by Slash | - |
| Doug Hopkins | Gin Blossoms | Guitarist | 1992 | 1993 | Fired and replaced by Scott Johnson | - |
| Crystal Jones | TLC | Vocalist | 1991 | 1992 | Fired and replaced by Rozonda Thomas | - |
| John Kiffmeyer | Green Day | Drummer | 1990 | 1994 | Replaced while at college by Tré Cool | - |
| Bob Klose | Pink Floyd | Guitarist | 1965 | 1967 | Quit | - |
| Barbara Martin | The Supremes | Vocalist | 1962 | 1964 | Quit | - |
| Dave Mustaine | Metallica | Guitarist | 1983 | 1986 | Fired and replaced by Kirk Hammett | - |
| Marc Nelson | Boyz II Men | Vocalist | 1989 | 1991 | Quit | - |
| Henry Padovani | The Police | Guitarist | 1977 | 1979 | Fired and replaced by Andy Summers | - |
| Anthony Phillips | Genesis | Guitarist | 1970 | 1972 | Quit and replaced by Steve Hackett | - |
| Niall Quinn | The Cranberries | Vocalist | 1990 | 1993 | Quit and replaced by Dolores O'Riordan | - |
| Heidi Range | Atomic Kitten | Vocalist | 1999 | 1999 | Quit and replaced by Natasha Hamilton | - |
| Doug Sandom | The Who | Drummer | 1964 | 1965 | Fired and replaced by Keith Moon | - |
| Kate Schellenbach | Beastie Boys | Drummer | 1984 | 1986 | - | - |
| Eric Stefani | No Doubt | Keyboardist | 1994 | 1995 | Quit | - |
| Michelle Stephenson | Spice Girls | Vocalist | 1994 | 1996 | Fired and replaced by Emma Bunton | - |
| Ian Stewart | The Rolling Stones | Keyboardist | 1963 | 1963 | Fired | - |
| Stuart Sutcliffe | The Beatles | Bassist, vocalist | 1961 | 1963 | Quit to pursue a career as a painter | - |
| Bob Welch | Fleetwood Mac | Guitarist | 1974 | 1975 | Quit and replaced by Lindsey Buckingham | - |
| Andy Wickett | Duran Duran | Vocalist | 1980 | 1981 | Quit and replaced by Simon Le Bon | - |
| DeWayne McKnight | Red Hot Chili Peppers | Guitarist | 1988 | 1989 | Fired and replaced by John Frusciante | - |
| D. H. Peligro | Red Hot Chili Peppers | Drummer | 1988 | 1989 | Fired and replaced by Chad Smith | - |
| Frank Farrell | Supertramp | Bassist | 1970 | 1972 | Left and replaced by Dougie Thompson | - |