Oldest Rock Band in Existence

[Aussie Mark]

I believe ZZ Top is the clear winner if original members come into play.

1969, with ALL original members.  Could be hard to beat.

[Denis]

I believe ZZ Top is the clear winner if original members come into play.  I was just listening to Tejas the other day.  Pan Am Highway Blues is a great song.

"Asleep in the Desert" is my favorite off that album.

[gweimer]

Golden Earring also has all the original members, as far as I know. The only difference is that they added a couple people in the '90s, who have since left.

[Denis]

Golden Earring also has all the original members, as far as I know. The only difference is that they added a couple people in the '90s, who have since left.

From Wikipedia, "Golden Earring was formed in 1961 in The Hague by 13-year-old George Kooymans and his 15-year-old neighbour, Rinus Gerritsen. Originally called The Tornados, the name was changed to Golden Earrings when they discovered that The Tornados was already in use by another group."
So, half the band is original, although the other two members joined in '68 and '70. Still, that's 40 years with the current lineup!

[Dave W]

All right, you nitpickers. Can anyone name a band that's been together longer than The Fireballs? They recorded with Norman Petty in Clovis, for pity's sake.

The Crickets were around earlier but they broke up briefly before Buddy died and reformed after.

[Chaser001]

All right, you nitpickers. Can anyone name a band that's been together longer than The Fireballs? They recorded with Norman Petty in Clovis, for pity's sake.

The Crickets were around earlier but they broke up briefly before Buddy died and reformed after.

As far as I'm concerned, it's the Fireballs.  The facts are there to prove it.  Actually, this turned out to be pretty interesting. 

[Hornisse]

When was the last time The Fireballs released a record? 

[Chaser001]

When was the last time The Fireballs released a record? 

I don't know.  Out of these bands that have been mentioned, ZZ Top and Golden Earring are the only ones I keep up with.  I'm not sure about ZZ Top, but Golden Earring will be working on an album in 2011. 

[Dave W]

Ace released a Fireballs compilation in 2006. They haven't released new material in years. Why does that matter? Chaser's question was what's the oldest rock band in existence. They've been a band for almost 53 years. Anyone know any rock bands that have been around longer?

[Chris P.]

There is another Dutch band, called the Bintangs, which excist one year longer than the Stones.

[Basvarken]

The Tielman Brothers even longer. The brothers started playing as a group in 1946 (!)

Only surviving member Andy Tielman still performs as lead guitarist with the Tielman Brothers.

in 1960 they looked like this:




Still "rocking" in 2008

[Chaser001]

http://www.classicbands.com/FireballsInterview.html

This is a good interview with the lead guitarist of the Fireballs.  I looked and didn't see what year that interview was conducted.  So I don't know about that.  But it's an honest and informative interview. 

[Highlander]

Dare I expand it to "bands" in a popular genre... The Glenn Miller Orchestra...? full time since 1956  - formed by original members and some "originals" did dep from time to time - not sure if any are still living...

There are bound to be much older "classical" orchestras...?

[Dave W]

Well, if you insist on expanding it to any kind of popular music, I can't think of any band that's been together longer than the Light Crust Doughboys -- they just put out an 80th anniversary album. Led in recent years by Art Greenhaw, who always comes up in an image search for Gibson EB-650.

[Highlander]

"Gospel" must have an influence...

An outfit my wife likes, the Oak Ridge Boys, have been running (sort of) since 1945...