[direwolf74]

5 members of the Hip
4 members of U2

WInner = The Hip

I'll add REM in there with a consolation prize. It was interesting that they were able to overcome the departure of Bill Berry, though they made some so-so to terrible albums afterwards until the final two albums. I also like the way they agreed to put the band to rest -- as they finished recording their last album Stipe warned the other two he likely needed a few years away from the band. Buck's response, why don't we take some time away from the band forever. Mills agreed. The way they recounted it in the interviews for the Out of Time reissue make it sound like a 30 second conversation.

Pearl Jam should probably be in this conversation as well. They had some internal struggles of their own during their rocket to fame in the 90s. But they got through it and soldiered on. Once Matt Cameron joined as a permanent member in '98, it seemed to right the ship, and they've been going strong with the same lineup ever since. I've always gotten a real "band of brothers" vibe with those guys. Not to mention the fact that Cameron brings it full circle. He was the drummer on the original demo tape that eventually made its way to Vedder in 1990 when the PJ guys were looking for a singer.