Printable version of thread

Posted by: awardimerry Dec 17 2020, 11:34 PM

Now that Little Mix are sadly confirmed to be a three piece outfit since Jesy left, what other 3 piece groups in chart history have gone on to achieve great things, and who would you argue is the most successful 3-piece group of all time?

On the other hand, what 3-piece bands do you recall who didn’t really have a prolonged music career?

Looking back to the late 90’s and early 00’s, there are a few short lived 3-piece pop bands I can recall;

Fierce



LFO



3LW



3SL



Cleopatra



But when it comes to 3-piece groups who have done the business, I’m inclined to immediately think of these two;

Sugababes



Atomic Kitten



Who else can you recommend (or not recommend)?

Posted by: FestiveOdyssey Dec 17 2020, 11:38 PM

Years & Years
Meduza
Swedish House Mafia
Muse - I'd argue they'd be one of it not the most successful

Posted by: Slade Dec 17 2020, 11:39 PM

The most famous line-up of Destiny's Child is the Beyoncé / Kelly / Michelle one!

Take That managed to get to #1 with 'These Days' during their 3-piece era

Also... Stooshe and Girls Can't Catch ofc xo

Posted by: Tafty Dec 17 2020, 11:40 PM

Erm... you forgot the biggest group... Destiny's Child? (Jade beat me to it )

Busted
blink-182
Stooshe
Eternal
Honeyz
Mis-Teeq
911
Noise Next Door
The Faders

Posted by: awardimerry Dec 17 2020, 11:43 PM

Oops.

I guess when I think of 3-piece groups I instinctively think of British groups!

Destiny’s Child of course internationally are the biggest.

Posted by: FestiveOdyssey Dec 17 2020, 11:46 PM

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Posted by: awardimerry Dec 17 2020, 11:48 PM

The thing is a lot of the names mentioned so far were relevant a long time ago, but what about now... can a 3-piece group like Little Mix now is, have a long and successful career (before inevitable solo projects ensue)?

Posted by: Slade Dec 17 2020, 11:49 PM

Posted by: FestiveOdyssey Dec 17 2020, 11:50 PM

The Singing Souls >

Posted by: Liam.k. Dec 17 2020, 11:52 PM

Was JUST about to post this!

Bite me.

Posted by: Rollofsellotape Dec 17 2020, 11:53 PM

After Steve Hackett left Genesis in 1977, they continued as a trio and went on to have six number 1 albums so they would be one of the most successful trios.

Rush and Doves are two bands who always had just three members. There's also Emerson,Lake and Palmer.

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 17 2020, 11:54 PM

The only important one tbh

(them and The xx)

Posted by: FestiveOdyssey Dec 17 2020, 11:55 PM

Green Day will be up there with the biggest as well! I'd argue bigger than Destiny's Child tbh, especially with longevity of course

Posted by: FestiveOdyssey Dec 17 2020, 11:59 PM

Some more recent ones that come to mind:

LSD
New Hope Club
Clean Bandit
Major Lazer
Lukas Graham
X Ambassadors
Jonas Brothers
Wallows

Posted by: Slade Dec 18 2020, 12:03 AM

Omg not me thinking of Girls Can't Catch before The xx

Posted by: awardimerry Dec 18 2020, 12:08 AM

See some are more obvious to think of than others, you really have to think.

911 as mentioned already was probably the most successful 3-piece boy band of the late 90’s that I can recall at the time.

Mis-Teeq another great call, they had multiple hits at the time.

Another I’ve just thought of was TLC.

Posted by: DanChartFan Dec 18 2020, 06:48 AM

Bros were a three piece the first time around (the Goss twins plus one non-brother). And although there were other lesser members intially the core line-up for the Bee Gees was a 3 piece (again twins, but plus one actual brother). I think 5ive were rather ironically down to a 3 piece at the very end, and it was one of the remaining 3 suffering a nervous breakdown that led to the band's eventual demise. The Supremes were a 3 piece as well IIRC, as I think were Bananarama first time around.

Also if the Three Degrees weren't a 3 piece then someone should let trading standards know.

Posted by: Bjork Dec 18 2020, 08:18 AM

A-ha was the first band that I thought of...
The XX, Fugees, London Grammar, Daughter, Depeche Mode (I think)

if you talk girl bands first that comes to mind is Bananarama

Posted by: jsweetxe Dec 18 2020, 08:31 AM

TLC??? Their vocal talent aside, they were still a big pivotal 3 piece, I can't believe they were missed out loool

Destiny's Child and Sugababes are the only other groups who spring to mind when it comes to successful.

Oh.. and well.. Little Mix of course

But also what defines a group? Is it a group where there are 3 members actively singing / being in the spotlight, or would an act like Years & Years count?

Posted by: Middle Dec 18 2020, 09:38 AM

3 of a Kind. Every song they released reached #1 which is quite an accomplishment.

Posted by: No Sleeep Dec 18 2020, 09:41 AM

TLC
SWV
702
Blaque
Total

My 90s R&B girl groups!

Posted by: darrens94 Dec 18 2020, 09:51 AM

Busted have done not too bad

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 18 2020, 10:09 AM

How has no one mentioned Bananarama yet?

Posted by: jsweetxe Dec 18 2020, 10:17 AM

they had.. 1 song sjnfjjdfgdg

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 18 2020, 10:21 AM

Yeah but Ladybaby is gonna do the same but by releasing three times as many songs as them

Posted by: Last Dreamer Dec 18 2020, 10:51 AM

YVA

Youtube playlist : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQuUgWEbe4vFzy0GxLcdJqCr__UGooCWU

Posted by: daniellovesmusic Dec 18 2020, 10:52 AM

Out of the ones you’ve listed, I’ve only ever heard of Atomic Kitten and Sugababes.

Posted by: DanChartFan Dec 18 2020, 10:53 AM

Erm both Bjork and I mentioned them back on page 1!

I've also thought of N-Dubz (unfortunately... not really my cup of tea, and I ended up leaving the tent when I saw them live at the Radio 1 weekend in 2009).

Posted by: Last Dreamer Dec 18 2020, 10:58 AM

K3 - all-female Belgian-Dutch music group.

In fourteen years period K3 ladies recorded 13 studio albums, three soundtracks and some hits compilations, so they are the most hardworking girl group in music history.
9 number one albums in Belgium, 10 number one albums in Netherlands.

P.S : I don’t care about the current line-up, for me the story of group was over after goodbye single “K3 Loves You” in 2015 year.

Posted by: DanChartFan Dec 18 2020, 10:58 AM

I'm just going to mention the Goodies, who had a few novelty hits in the 70s. Has anyone got "Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me" on their xmas playlist? No? Thought not. What we now know about many of the light entertainment and music stars of the 70s does rather put a different light on that particular xmas hit. Come to think of it I think the Goons were also a comedy three piece in th charts a generation before The Goodies.

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 18 2020, 10:59 AM

So you did, my bad! I was searching for 'banana' and my browser search function was set to 'Whole worlds' for some reason so nothing came up.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Dec 18 2020, 11:04 AM

*edit - East 17 are actually a 4-piece.

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 18 2020, 11:09 AM

They're actually a 3-piece these days although they've had loads of line up changes over the years, constantly fluctuating between 3 and 4 members. Obviously they were a 4-piece when they were at their most successful though so I guess you can't really count them in this.

Posted by: xajnipi Dec 18 2020, 11:16 AM

3T had 5 consecutive Top 11 hits IIRC

and Supremes / Ronettes

Posted by: jimwatts Dec 18 2020, 12:46 PM

R.E.M. from 1997 until they called it a day in 2011
Supergrass (to begin with anyway)
Ash (for the most part)

Trio (they had a hit with 'Da Da Da')

Posted by: Rollofsellotape Dec 18 2020, 12:54 PM

There's also The Police

Posted by: diamondtooth Dec 18 2020, 12:56 PM

It has been mentioned already but Eternal were really on a roll until they messed it all up and fired Kelle.
In their last year they had their first No.1 single and a triple platinum greatest hits. Then nothing.

I’m still hoping they make a comeback. But as a 4 piece ;-)

Posted by: N-S Dec 18 2020, 12:57 PM

Nirvana?

Posted by: Dircadirca Dec 18 2020, 01:20 PM

I don't know if it stays true to worldwide sales (the certifications are pretty close), but in the US, Destiny's Child's best selling album was The Writing's On The Wall, when they were a 4-piece with not the trio line up they're most often recalled as

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 18 2020, 01:26 PM

Also Manic Street Preachers (since Richie Edwards' disappearance). Also Muse. Actually there's probably loads of rock and indie trios if you stop to think.

Posted by: awardimerry Dec 18 2020, 01:28 PM

Has HAIM always been a 3-piece?

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 18 2020, 06:38 PM

They apparently had a fourth official member (Dash Hutton) during their first album era but I think he was just a glorified touring band member.

Posted by: zenon Dec 18 2020, 06:49 PM

Heaven 17 were a 3 piece even though Carol Kenyon who did the female vocal on Temptation was not a permanent member. The Human League where Heaven 17 spun off from have been a trio since 1987.

Posted by: Scene Dec 18 2020, 07:23 PM

M.O. ('Bad Vibe' group) although I don't know if they are a trio these days.
Beastie Boys
The Prodigy
Fugees

Posted by: Catherine91 Dec 19 2020, 07:17 PM

Fast Food Rockers

Posted by: soundseekerz Dec 20 2020, 02:43 AM

N-Dubz
Cascada
Lasgo
Salt N Pepa
Run DMC

Posted by: sjadeupdate Dec 20 2020, 05:01 AM

I can't remember that girlgroup who had a big hit with "Blackheart" in the UK and then did a cover of "Waterfalls" with TLC appearing in their music video and we never heard of them ever again.

Posted by: Bjork Dec 20 2020, 09:47 AM

Salt N Pepa always thought was a funny one cos you would assume it's a duet but they were 3
one called Salt, one called Pepa and a 3rd one that I cannot recall the name, but Im sure they were 3

Dash Hutton was playing drums with Haim on tour but not on studio
just cos he was playing with them when touring, it doesn't make him a member of the band

Posted by: tgl92 Dec 20 2020, 10:01 AM

Jonas Brothers

Posted by: Everton Dec 20 2020, 08:35 PM

Glad Ariana Grande - positions Gone acr next week hopefully stop gone number 1 in January

Posted by: Rizzard Dec 21 2020, 04:41 AM

Hanson
Dixie Chicks / The Chicks
Lady Antebellum

Posted by: soundseekerz Dec 21 2020, 05:25 AM

You mean Stooshe. I heard they are still around but I have no idea what is going on.



Spinderella comes to mind

Posted by: spiceboy Dec 21 2020, 07:19 PM

Banarama and The Supemes of course two very successful girl groups

Posted by: The Hit Parade Dec 22 2020, 11:13 PM

Same thing with Run-DMC, at least while Jam Master Jay was still alive.

The Jam would be one of the most successful rock trios in the UK, if not internationally.
Cream were also a big 3-piece rock act, as well as another thing you can put on scones.

Crowded House fluctuated between 3 and 4 members (the current line-up that would have been touring in 2020 has 5) and confusingly, their biggest UK hit was recorded as a four-piece but by the time it came out as a single there were only three members again.


On the other hand, who remembers The Noise Next Door?

Posted by: Bjork Dec 23 2020, 07:22 AM

has Nirvana been mentioned? Just occurred to me they might be the most famous trio

Posted by: spiceboy Dec 23 2020, 09:58 AM

Stooshe