Let’s face it, the idea of replacements in rock and roll bands has what many would call a negative connotation. Replacing a member of a band has often led to a bad result, proving that it’s not easy at all to recreate the chemistry the original members had. Yes, Sammy Hagar may very well have single-handedly destroyed Van Halen, and Paul Rodgers singing with Queen is like seeing the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger, but this doesn’t mean all replacements are bad. That’s why I made this list, to remind people that despite these past monstrosities, a fair amount of replacement members have in fact had a positive effect on a band. These are five people that, in my opinion, either improved the act they joined or at least did justice to the musician they replaced.

5. Ron Wood-Already an experienced guitar player with Rod Stewart’s band, Ron Wood was a perfect replacement for Brian Jones when he died in 1969. He can truly hold his own as a blues player, and his short yet sweet fills brilliantly back up his legendary guitar counterpart when needed. Wood loves to party and perform on stage, just like a Rolling Stone should. From the start, he seemed totally comfortable with the original crew, as they did with him. Plus, anyone that can put up with what goes on between Mick and Keith after all these years has to have a good amount of dedication, which shows just how grateful Woody is to be part of quite possibly the greatest band of all time.

4. Phil Collen-Is it pop? Is it metal? It’s both, thanks to Def Leppard’s replacement of Pete Willis in the young and talented Phil Collen. His technical wizardry and extraordinary ability to write those catchy little verse riffs propelled Def Leppard beyond the endless array of 80’s metal bands and into superstardom. Collen brought the band backing vocals and stage presence, not to mention a nice image for their female fans to look at when they played their hot, sticky signature track. There’s no doubt that a large portion of Def Leppard’s long lasting fame is  due to their inclusion of this flashy guitarist they spotted in a nightclub in England.

3. Ronnie James Dio-People thought it wasn’t possible for Black Sabbath to get any more metal than they already were. Dio’s epic, earth shattering voice accompanied by the popularization of his trademark devil horns proved that even a band as incredible as Black Sabbath had room for improvement. Like the Godlike singer he replaced, Dio always delivers on stage, and the sounds on Sabbath’s later albums wouldn’t have worked better with any other vocalist. So different than Ozzy yet so alike, Dio’s undeniable talent left little if any Black Sabbath fan disappointed.

2. John Frusciante-If it wasn’t hard enough to categorize the Red Hot Chili Peppers, here comes John Frusciante to just make it more of a confusing process that is still debated today. I don’t know how they did it, but somehow the Chili Peppers found a guy that gave them everything they could ever want in a replacement for guitarist Hillel Slovak. He can play funk, metal, blues, punk, you name it, Frusciante can do it. His addition to the already successful band made people realize just how much of an all-around act these guys are, with expertise at each corner of the stage. There’s no other way to say it : John Frusciante is just the shit.

1. Brian Johnson- After all these years, I’m still asking myself the same question : How the hell does he sing like that? The great Bon Scott’s replacement must have vocal chords made of gravel. Brian Johnson’s explosive vocals and rock and roll spirit helped save AC/DC after their former singer’s death. In fact, one of the most talked about arguments in rock is whether Johnson is actually a better vocalist than Bon Scott, something rarely discussed when it comes to bands as classic as AC/DC. As unique as his voice is, it’s amazing just how well it fits into the music he sings along to. Like Scott, he gave the fans an explosive, ballsy voice, topped off with his own special touch. Throughout his long, successful career, Brian Johnson has continued to make his bandmates, fans, and predecessor, as proud as ever.

A great man once said, "All we need is just a little patience." Okay, maybe Axl Rose is only my idea of a "great man," but the point is that a decent amount of musicians tend to get hated on before they're even listened to, simply because of something they're associated with that doesn't fly well with some people. This could be their fan base, they way the band looks, or the unusual sound of the music. Due to these judgments, these artists aren't really given a chance, because it seems easy to be turned away by these stereotypes and labels. What this list shows is a group of acts that, in my opinion, don't get the credit they deserve, and that even though some of these stereotypes may be true, there's more to these acts than what people say about them.

5. Creed
-Stereotype: Cheesy, overtly-Christian based music with a bad singer.
-Why It's Incorrect: Yes, Scott Stapp does sound a little like Wierd Al making fun of Eddie Vedder, and some of the
lyrics are of biblical proportion, but with all these things put aside, Creed is epic, hard and heavy. Mark
Tremonti is one hell of a guitar player (he solos like
he's auditioning for a spot in Metallica), and when Stapp
gets intense, the grunge gods he pays tribute to would be
proud. Their softer stuff clearly isn't for everybody, but
when straight up metal is on their minds, the music is
good enough for even Scott Stapp to blend in well.

4. KISS
-Stereotype: A couple of clowns with bad makeup and spandex that only became famous because of how they looked.
-Why It's Incorrect: Why is it so hard for people to see past the makeup? With the exception of their business-obsessed bass player, Ace, Paul and Peter are
actually great musicians. When they were in their prime, KISS played solid rock, similar to the kick-ass style of AC/DC. Take the explosive quality of the music into account, and then it'll seem all so obvious why the fireworks, makeup, and alternate personalities are almost a rather necessary accessory.

3. U2
-Stereotype: "Holier than Thou" music that's only about how much of a saint Bono is and why we should save the
''starvin' children."
-Why It's Incorrect: Sure, a lot of U2's more popular songs do revolve around their lead singer's righteous causes, but it turns out that the pride of Ireland do in fact have a decent amount of good ol' rock and roll tracks. It doesn't matter what the guy's singing about because like it or not, he's got an amazing, ageless voice that any true music fan can respect. They show off,
they're cocky, and their concerts might be a bit much,
but really listen to the music and everything that came
after it...is it possible that U2 might just...deserve it
all?

2. Marilyn Manson
-Stereotype: Nothing but a sick pervert who whines about how much the world sucks and why you should kill yourself.
-Why It's Incorrect: Oh come on, the guy puts his genitals on just one dude's head, and now he's a bad guy? I don't
get it. Anyway, the point is, yes, it's angry and a little evil, but what some people call whining, others call social commentary. Believe it or not, the man is intelligent. Take a second to think about what he's saying, then think of the world we live in, and then maybe, just maybe you'll realize that Mr. Warner's beliefs aren't as impossible to relate to as you thought.

1. Phish
-Stereotype: Just one giant drawn out jam session that can only be tolerated unless the listener is under the
influence of some illegal substance.
-Why It's Incorrect: So it's okay when Jimmy Page or Joe Satriani solo for years on end, but when these guys do it,
suddenly it's bad music? Phish's jam sessions aren't too far off from Cream's style of simultaneous soloing, and throughout their long jams, I can guarantee at least one section will strike the fancy of anyone who appreciates jazz, rock, or even southern blues. Sure, it's better on drugs, but then again, isn't everything?

An old yet still-relevant criticism of so many bands, past and present is "every song sounds the same." This may be a sign that a particular artist could be what people call a "one trick pony," an act that can't be that talented because they're only good at one seemingly simple style of music. Now, if this is the case, why is it that when so many musicians test the waters of a different type of sound, the majority of the critical reactions are more bad than good? Most can recall how much flack Bob Dylan got when he picked up an electric guitar, or when Metallica traded melody for speed for a brief period. With these past receptions considered, it makes me wonder that maybe it's actually better to be one of those bands where "every song sounds the same." What this list shows is why being a "one trick pony" may be the right path to take, judging by success, quality of sound, and that band's status today.

1. AC/DC
-No one could have said it better than Ozzy Osbourne himself when he referred to AC/DC as "the no-bullshit band." This is because the music of these animals from down under can only be described as straight up rock and roll. And that's it. After all these years, AC/DC has
managed to completely stray away from anything, as Malcolm Young will attest to, they simply don't think they can do. Virtually every track they've put out features a solid, steady drum beat, distorted, blues based riffs, and lyrics that directly from the....well, you know where. Their lyrics, guitars and presentation have never gone soft. They know what their fans like, and, due to their esteemed status and their record breaking sales, AC/DC has proven to all of us that in the world of music, change may very well just be a bad idea.

2. The Ramones
-The Ramones are to punk as AC/DC is to hard rock. The majority of their songs revolve around textbook punk rock song structure: four to five power chords, upbeat drumming, and no solos. They never went slow, bluesy, or clean, throughout their illustrious career. Once they started partying, (and as we've seen, it's unfortunately
taken its toll on the band) they never stopped. A Ramones
show was just a fun ride all the way through, never
turning off the distortion switch, slowing down the drums,
or toning down those vocals, whatever the hell he was
singing about.

3. Slayer
-Ask any hardcore thrash fan who the most important band of that genre is, and odds are, Slayer should be the most
popular answer. This is because, like the other artists in this list, Slayer has stuck to their Satanic guns since
they first came onto the scene and changed metal forever. Their songs have stayed short, fast, heavy, and more evil
than the dark lord himself. By creating consistently good
albums that only contain songs of this nature, Slayer
proved that thrash was a legitimate musical genre, and
that the way to gain the most dedicated fan base was to
stay true to one's roots. It's safe to say that if Slayer
ever tried their luck at a different genre, they wouldn't
have earned their one-of-a-kind fans who carve their name
into their skin and enjoy getting the hell beaten out of themselves at their concerts.

4. ZZ Top
-For almost forty years (I know, right?) ZZ Top have shown the world that the blues are alive and well. How? By shoving it in our faces, song after song, album after album. They've experimented with synthesizers and
different guitar effects, but the majority of these Texans' recordings revolve around southern based riffs,
ballsy lyrics, and of course, Billy Gibbons' signature,
awe-inspiring guitar solos. It's all blues, all the time,
and ZZ Top has never shed their masculine, bad-ass
southern style. Dusty and Billy have even kept those
classic beards that they've had since God knows how long.
These guys have the blues down-pat, and, as they say,
if you've got it, flaunt it.

5. The Beach Boys
-One of the greatest bands of all time, it's safe to say that the legendary Beach Boys owe a great deal of their
success to the fact that once they perfected their trademark, California style, they never looked back. Surf-rock guitar riffs and dreamy, fun lyrics accompanied by those glorious harmonies turned the Beach Boys into worldwide icons. The Beach Boys vast commercial success and undeniable influence on modern music gave them full ownership of their genre, one that has been imitated by countless acts from the same region. Yes,it might all sound the same, but once they had the entire world dancing and swaying, why change at all? Whether it was the vocals, guitars, or toasty-warm lyrics, every Beach Boys song in some way reminded their fans why they were impossible to hate.

More often than not, the movies we see are graced with familiar faces that we’ve seen time and time again. You may know these actors as, well, “that guy”.  They’re the guys who fill the speaking roles, but, for some reason, we never learn or remember their names and are always plagued with the question: “Where have I seen him before?” So, this list is for the guys who send us running for IMDB (don’t think I don’t have it tabbed in my browser right now).

5. The Dad from Blank Check

Okay, this is just the role I always connect him to from my childhood, but you may know him better as “the father-in-law from Meet the Parents” or “The douchey headmaster from Scent of a Woman”. Either way, this guy always adds a great bald, white-guyness to his scenes. Fact is, this guy has 106 credits on IMDB, earning him a “that guy” spot in my book. So let’s give it up for the skeptical politician from Independence Day. May he always be there to play a dad or an asshole for us.

4. The Book Detective from Seinfeld

This guy, generally a cop of some sort, or a doctor, has managed to rack up 147 credits on IMDB without anyone knowing his name, impressive. I’ve gotten to know his work through is obvious friendship with one of my favorite directors, Paul Thomas Anderson, and I really like his stuff. That doesn’t mean, on the other hand, that I know his name. I mean, I just saw it because I’m researching him online right now, but I’ll probably forget it right after I finish writing this.

3. The Dad from Six Feet Under

We always applaud when one of our “that guy” actors is nominated for an Oscar, as this man did in 2009 for The Visitor. It’s too bad that, if he won, they would have said, “and the Oscar goes to… the psychiatrist from There’s Something About Mary!” I don’t want to poke too much fun, since I really do enjoy his performances, but he hasn’t earned a place in the name-memory bank of moviegoers so… he’s still “that guy”

2. Heywood from The Shawshank Redemption

I’ve actually had the pleasure of running into this guy in person a few times (he lives in my area); it’s the fact that I had to wonder if I knew him personally or from film that has earned his spot on this list. It also doesn’t hurt that, when I told my friends about seeing him I had to say “the guy from The Mist and Shawshank” to illicit a reaction from them. He’s a good actor and seemed to be a nice guy, but he’s still “that guy” nonetheless.

1. The Cook from Waiting…

Here’s another guy who’s made it over the 100 mark in IMDB credits and one of the few cast members who were bold enough to stick it out through Still Waiting…. He comes in at number one because of his hilarious performances and instant recognition without, of course, us ever learning his name. He has also appeared in a number of PTA’s movies, which doesn’t hurt getting my vote. He’s a good actor in comedy and drama alike. Just seeing his picture should set off your that-guy sense.

…and now, a moment to congratulate the actors who have made it out of that-guyness…

Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Bill Hader, William H. Macy, Michael Clarke Duncan, Justin Long, Tim Meadows, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Jeremy Piven, I could go on, but I don’t want to flex my muscles here…

Coming Soon: Top 5 “That Girl” Actresses

Every now and then, a movie uses a song in such a way, that everyone seems to be singing that song for months to come. That particular track becomes grafted to that film forever, making it “the song from [that movie]”. There are so many cases for this that it warranted a list.

5. “Tiny Dancer” – Almost Famous

I must admit, I don’t love this scene. I find it forced every time I see it, and I can’t help but wonder how they all know to skip a verse as they sing. That being said, this list is about songs being brought back to popularity through film. That’s exactly what happened here. Almost Famous brought “Tiny Dancer” up to being one of the most played Elton John songs out there. It earned the song a place in the hearts of this generation and a place on this list.

4. “I Touch Myself” – Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery

I was just a kid when this movie came out, making me more vulnerable to the hilarious, forbidden, nipple-rubbing mania that was brought on from this scene. What could reignite a song like a dancing Austin Powers, Fembot heads exploding, and British flag undies? I never hear this song without thinking of this scene, and that’s the whole point of this list.

3. “Total Eclipse of The Heart” – Old School

First of all, a word about Old School: no one saw this film coming, but it reinvented the comedy genre and paved the road for the Apatowian comedy that we all know and love. That being said, thanks to The Dan Band, and their moving performance as Will Ferrell’s wedding band, most of us can’t decide whether or not to throw the “F” bomb into Bonnie Tyler’s song at various places. This classic scene has earned the Dan Band cameos in films such as Starsky and Hutch and, this summer’s smash success, The Hangover. Every time these guys show up on film, I think back to “Total Eclipse of The Heart”.

2. “These Eyes” – Superbad

Who can forget Michael Cera singing this hit from The Guess Who in Superbad? The scene, for those who don’t remember, consists of Evan, our meek yet heroic protagonist, being forced to sing for a few fight-craving cocaine fiends. I can’t help but wonder where a seventeen-year-old kid pulled this ditty from, but it makes for comedic genius. He brings the cokeheads to tears with his poor-at-best performance, and us to tears of laughter, earning his place on this list. To the current generation, The Guess Who’s hit from 1969 will forever be “the song from Superbad”.

1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Wayne’s World

This was a tough decision for me. I mean, who could ever say that this song, by Queen, could ever need “reigniting”? However, in the end, what is this list without this scene? When Wayne pops that cassette into the Mirth Mobile’s tape deck, history is made. It’s a classic “chicken egg” scenario: Did we start reacting to this song on the radio because of this scene? Or, was this scene made because of the way we all react to this song on the radio? Either was, if you haven’t had a full-car sing-a-long to “Bohemian Rhapsody”, you’ve led an incomplete life. That fact puts the song at number one.

The inspiration for this list is simple: there’s something magical about a maniac, a weapon, and great musical direction. We laugh, we cry, our hearts pound out of our chests and our asses explore the forbidden territory at the ends of seats when these rare, but memorable scenes come along.

5. “The Opening Scene” – Face/Off, John Woo, 1997

The Maniac: Nicholas Cage as Castor Troy

The Weapon: Mass Murdering Bomb

The Music: “The Hallelujah Chorus – Since By Man Came Death”

Talk about a scene that lines up a whole movie. We have Castor Troy, a painfully symbolic named terrorist, planting a bomb, prancing around and grabbing choirgirl’s asses. Here, Cage shows contempt for everything that is holy and love for chaos. The face he makes while grabbing the girl’s ass makes you wonder why old Nick ever left being a villain. My only complaint with the casting in the movie is that he doesn’t stay a villain for long.

4. “The Ringer” Scene – The Big Lebowski, The Coen Brothers, 1998

The Maniac: John Goodman as Walter Sobchak

The Weapon: An Uzi and Dirty Underwear

The Music: “Run Through the Jungle” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

You can argue with me about whether or not John Goodman’s character is a maniac, but

please consider his half-dazed, shell-shocked, Viet Nam rants before you do. In, by far, the funniest scene on this list, Walter dives out of the dude’s car with an Uzi and a “fool proof” plan.  Goodman solidifies his role as a lost veteran and idiot in this scene, let alone our love for this film. Suspenseful? Oddly. Great Music? Definitely. Funny? You bet your ass.

3. “The Art Museum” Scene – Batman, Tim Burton, 1989

The Maniac: Jack Nicholson as The Joker

The Weapon: Sleeping gas and paint

The Music: “Partyman” by Prince

I may be biased, because this film brought me into the world of superheroes and villains.  I can’t be sure when I first saw it (I was only two when it came out). I subscribe to the fact that Heath Ledger’s Joker trumps all preceding Batman bad guys, but old Jack’s Joker holds a special place in my heart. This scene nails down the purpose of the Joker in a dark, fun, symbolic, and musical way. As Michael Caine tells us, “Some people just want to watch the world burn.” The art museum scene is filmed proof that Burton didn’t drop the ball on this character trait; he does a great job of showing rather than telling. By destroying valuable art, the Joker shows utter contempt for the best our society has to offer, and by doing it to Prince, he shows a lack of regard for everything the 80’s had to offer, but, somehow, it works.

2.  “The Ear” Scene – Resevior Dogs, Quentin Tarantino, 1992

The Maniac: Michael Madsen as Mr. Blond/Vic Vega

The Weapon: A Straight Razor

The Music: “Stuck in The Middle With You” by Steelers Wheel

Let’s get one thing straight: The only reason this isn’t number one is my love for the following film. I’m well aware that this is a bigger deal to most readers (so, save your typing fingers in the comments).  Rewatching this classic scene, the first thing I noticed is that I felt like I was the one with my mouth taped shut. One almost hopes Madsen gives him a break and shoots him (as he hopelessly writhes to avoid the aim of the gun), but no, it can’t be that simple in a Tarantino film. This is one scene where the music takes a front seat. We know, that as Mr. Blond, in his rat packesque attire, flips on the radio to “K. Billy’s Super Sounds of the 70’s”, we are in for a sick and bumpy ride here. As the music gears up, Madsen begins to walk-dance like Grandpa Cohen at a Bar Mitzvah, and the rest is history. Here’s an equation for you: A Straight Razor + A maniac speaking into a disembodied ear + a one hit wonder = history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLTqecGbdCc

1.  “The Fake Drug Deal” Scene – Boogie Nights , Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997

The Maniac: Alfred Molina as Rahad Jackson

The Weapon: Firecrackers and a handgun

The Music: “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield / “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger

Here’s the rundown: we have a stripper and two male porn stars on their long, spiraling, downfall. They’ve decided the make a quick buck by participating in a fake drug deal (they have some fake cocaine, coated with a little bit of real cocaine for effect) with a local drug lord. We meet them in the car outside, where Todd (played by Tom Jane) reveals he has a gun. The three walk to the door of the house in a humorous image of unpreparedness. Unfortunately, they discover, upon arrival, that their buyer has been on quite the drug binge and is walking the thin line between sanity and anything but. The three con men sit on a couch as the most suspenseful scene I’ve ever seen commences. They hope to not get cause as: 1) several thugs weigh and inspect their fake cocaine, 2) Cosmo (he’s Chinese) lights firecrackers off continuously (our con men jump every time, but Rahad, the drug lord, is unphased), and 3) Rahad  smokes crack, and goes on a manic rant about his music while playing Russian Roulette with his favorite, most shiny gun. Let’s face it, I can’t do it any justice in text, but if you don’t believe that a fake drug deal, sporadic firecrackers, Russian Roulette, and mustached Karaoke can exist in the same scene, you’re wrong (just see for yourself). It makes for crazy suspense in one of my all time favorite films.