Entertainment

Did you cry when your favorite lead singer left your favorite band? Or were you psyched when that band came back from the brink of extinction with a new singer? From divas to drug addicts, here's a look at the good, bad and ugly of band replacements.

AP photo Reality TV was the venue to search for a replacement for INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence, who died in 1997. J.D. Fortune, above, won the competition.

Band: INXS

The Originator: Michael Hutchence

The Replacement: J.D. Fortune

The Story: Dreamy, moody lead singer Michael Hutchence killed himself in a hotel room in 1997. Much as we loved INXS in the '80s, when your lead singer offs himself, it's time to throw in the towel. Instead, the surviving band members hosted "Rock Star: INXS," a "reality" talent show, to find a replacement.

Why it worked: The show was entertaining -- with more interesting contestants and better songs than "American Idol."

Why it didn't work: We were rooting for anyone but J.D. Fortune, the kinda cocky, kinda talented, kinda bland Canadian. And did we mention we loved INXS in the '80s? Stop playing "What You Need" and disband with dignity, fellas.

--Lisa Tolin

Band: Destiny's Child

The Originator: Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, LaToya Luckett -- later on Farrah Franklin.

The Replacement: Franklin, Roberson and Luckett out, Michelle Williams in

The Story: Destiny's Child started in the early 1990s in Houston. Roberson and Luckett grew tired of working with Beyonce's father/manager. Tensions grew and by 2000 the group included Beyonce and Rowland along with new faces Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. Then, for various reasons Franklin left.

Too bad: Early Destiny's Child songs have some of the catchiest beats -- "Say My Name," "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "No, No, No" among them.

The silver lining: The three ladies who headlined the final tour and album "Destiny Fulfilled" in 2005 had a mature look and their voices mixed to create R&B magic.

--Caryn Rousseau

Band: Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Originator: John Frusciante, guitarist

The Replacement: Dave Navarro

The Story: Frusciante replaced Hillel Slovak, the band's original guitarist who died in 1988 of a heroin overdose. Frusciante went on to record "Mother's Milk" and 1991's "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," a multiplatinum hit that boosted the band to Grammy-winning ultra-stardom with hits such as "Under the Bridge" and "Give it Away." But Frusciante had a heroin problem himself, and quit the band during the Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour in 1992. Jane's Addiction guitarist Navarro joined the band in 1993 and recorded "One Hot Minute," another commercial success. The Peppers and Navarro split in 1998 and Frusciante returned after releasing two solo albums while in drug rehab. The group released "Californication" in 1999, which outsold even "Blood Sugar Sex Magik." Frusciante has stayed with the band since.

Too bad: Though "One Hot Minute" was commercially successful in the U.S., it's tough to get excited about an album with songs the band won't play anymore.

The silver lining: Drug rehab helped Frusciante's personal health, and his eventual return not only resulted in the band's return to the top of the charts, but it probably also helped struggles with heroin addiction.

--Oskar Garcia

Band: Ozomatli

The Originator: Rapper Chali 2na and turntablist Cut Chemist

The Replacement: Rapper Jabu, turntablist DJ Spinobi

The Story: Jurassic 5 members Chali 2na and Cut Chemist joined the Latin/funk/hip-hop band thinking it'd be a short-lived side project. They both shined on the group's self-titled 1998 debut. But when Ozo's hybrid sound caught on in its hometown of Los Angeles and beyond, the hip-hoppers were forced to choose.

Too bad: Chali's baritone was never drowned out by the trumpets, tablas and turntables the band favors.

The silver lining: Forced to move farther from hip-hop, Ozo's experimentation remains interesting.

--Ryan Pearson