Replacement Singer Syndrome

Replacement Singer Syndrome, or RSS, is the disorder that befalls a singer that replaces a favourite singer in a band. This syndrome is the opposite of The Second Singer Effect.

Why Does It Happen?

Most of the time, RSS is not the fault of the singer. He is put into the impossible shoes of replacing an integral member of a band, and the singer of a band is usually the most well-known. Fan complaints of the band sounding different stems from a) The new singer having an effect on the writing process, or b) the band writing different/inferior material. Those affected by RSS usually don't last more than two albums with the band.

Notable Sufferers of RSS

• Gary Cherone- replaced David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar in Van Halen.
• John Corabi- replaced Vince Neil in Motley Crue.
• Blaze Bayley- replaced Bruce Dickenson in Iron Maiden.
• Tim 'Ripper' Owens- replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest.
• Ian Astbury- sorta replaced Jim Morrison in The Doors.
• Tony Martin- replaced Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath.
• Axl Rose - Guns N' Roses sans Slash, Duff, Steven Adler, and Izzy. He calls it GNR, but the fans call it the "New GNR". So he was both the original singer, and the new singer.

Disputed Sufferers

• Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath
• Sammy Hagar in Van Halen.