Look at the photo gallery of these Bands of the Living Dead

Imagine if you found out that new episodes of "Laverne & Shirley" were still being made. Perhaps not with the entire original cast and certainly with the remaining cast members looking kind of old and out of breath. But still, the show was technically on the air somehow, somewhere, being watched by someone. Or imagine if you learned that Ernest Hemingway was still pumping out the occasional novel, it's just that barely anyone was reading them. You'd probably think to yourself, "That's odd, I could have sworn that show was canceled and that author died a really long time ago."

Sounds like a weird dream. It's also rock 'n' roll reality, as bands long thought to be disbanded soldier on, releasing albums and riding the tour jet (and later, tour bus) long after even loyal fans believed them to no longer be in existence.

Let's take a chronological look at 10 recent efforts of the living dead and measure their ratings in three categories: Allegiance to Original Sound (AOS), Breaking the Spirit of Loyal Fans (BSLF), and Percentage of Most Famous Lineup Intact (PMFLI).

Public Enemy - "Rebirth of a Nation" (2006)
Many years and one horrifying reality dating show after their initial success, remnants of Public Enemy essentially just showed up for the recording sessions of a lackluster release that was entirely written by producer Paris. The performing credits are a who's who of who's no longer who with guest appearances by where-are-they-now all-stars MC Ren, Sister Souljah, and erstwhile Enemy Professor Griff.
AOS: 7
BSLF: 6
PMFLI: Unknowable -- no one really knows who is in the band at any given time.

Def Leppard - "Yeah!" (2006)
With an album title evidently constructed to answer the question, "Def Leppard is still together?", the British pop-metal journeymen put out a raft of covers of songs that most American audiences have never heard of by the likes of Mott the Hoople, The Kinks, Free, and T. Rex. Shrewd move, Def Leppard. Way to appeal to the kids and boost sales with those Mott the Hoople covers. Then again, if some older wealthy British gents want to get together and play some songs they like, well, why not?
AOS: 3
BSLF: 6
PMFLI: 80%

Cheap Trick - "Rockford" (2006)
The Midwest is the home of both the Protestant Work Ethic and Cheap Trick, so it's no surprise that the band has never really stopped playing since their flight from Budokan touched down. Playing listener-friendly pop rock is their job so they do it. They probably have a pension plan and everything. Cheap Trick's latest release, named after their working class hometown of Rockford, Ill., garnered good notices that seemed to give equal credit to the actual music and simply the band's continued existence. The sound is pretty much what you heard in the early 80's but with a dash of fatigue, hoarseness and exertion.
AOS: 8
BSLF: 2
PMFLI: 100%!

Iron Maiden - "A Matter of Life and Death" (2006)
A band that knows their brand perhaps as well as any in modern history, Iron Maiden's longevity is aided by their comfy home in the insular metal community. Though some members have strayed from the lineup, they mostly seem to come back, perhaps sensing the kind of paycheck and job security that can only come with touring alongside an enormous robotic zombie monster. The latest album is no great departure, but for metal fans it's like a bottle of Jack or a barber who knows how to create the perfect mullet: You stick with what works.
AOS: 9
BSLF: 1
PMFLI: 100%!

Quiet Riot - "Rehab" (2006)
Throttling back on the screaming and striped pants that brought them attention on hits like "Metal Health" and "Cum on Feel the Noize," the remnants of Quiet Riot favored a more "adult" sound on their recent release, appropriate, one supposes, considering the band members are approaching their mid-50's. Still, Kevin DuBrow's vocals held up, the party anthem vibe remained intact, and Quiet Riot helped usher head-banging fans into middle age.
AOS: 6
BSLF: 4
PMFLI: 50%

Twisted Sister - "A Twisted Christmas" (2006)
It would seem blasphemous to both Jesus and Metal for this to happen, but if fans bought into the makeup and colorful outfits originally, they probably wouldn't think twice about Dee Snider singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful."
AOS: 8
BSLF: 2
PMFLI: 100%

The Who - "Endless Wire" (2006)
Stick around for 43 years and mortality, plus substance abuse, will take a toll. And though drummer Keith Moon is long gone and bassist John Entwistle gone more recently, Pete Townshend and his own personal voice, Roger Daltrey, remain. Townshend has always been somewhat inscrutable in his subject matter, but now instead of being angry, strident and weird, he's older, neurotic and weird. A fine album for anyone willing to admit the truth about themselves.
AOS: 5
BSLF: 3
PMFLI: 50%

Rush - "Snakes & Arrows" (2007)
When you're a prog rock band with metal cred, there is quite a bit of flexibility to work with. On their latest release, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart earned good marks and strong sales with a moody rumination on life and loss. Credit must be given to the trio's inventiveness and musicianship, and to the strong health-care system in Canada.
AOS: 7
BSLF: 1
PMFLI: 100%

Smashing Pumpkins - "Zeitgeist" (2007)
A great deal of excitement surrounds the first new Pumpkins album since 2000, much more excitement than, say, Quiet Riot's "Rehab" engendered last year. According to front man Billy Corgan, the first single, "Tarantula," is a tribute to Scorpions, the German head-banging legends, who, oddly, just put out a new album of their own with assistance from Corgan. The new Pumpkins lineup retains only Corgan and the evidently rehabilitated Jimmy Chamberlin from the group's glory days -- James Iha and D'Arcy have either opted out or not been invited. Since the Pumpkins have loyal fans and enthusiastic detractors aplenty, we'll play our numbers down the middle here as to how the record will be regarded in the long term.
AOS: 5
BSLF: 5
PMFLI: 50%

Guns N' Roses - "Chinese Democracy" (20?? Or possibly 2???, ah hell, ????)
There won't be much we have in common with our great-great-grandchildren. But we will have the question, "When will Axl release this damn album?"
AOS: ?
BSLF: 14
PMFLI: 20% at best

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