Keeping a band together is a tricky thing. Like any business, it is a rare band that can weather touring, fame, and excess without some "restructuring" of their personnel. While Led Zeppelin managed an entire career with its original lineup intact (for their recent LZ reunion show, the late John Bonham was classily replaced by his own son), more likely is the case where at least one or two members reach their rock 'n' roll omega point and call it a day, often citing one of the big three: family, creative differences, or asphyxiation. At the far end of the rainbow, we find those exceptional collectives who just hemorrhage bandmates. Here are 5 bands down to one (or none) of their original members.

5. Megadeth

For all the fun we had watching Metallica air out their dirty laundry in Some Kind of Monster, the full story of Megadeth--founded by guitarist and sole remaining member Dave Mustaine after being ousted from Metallica--is a far crazier one. A staggering 20 musicians have passed through Megadeth's ranks mostly due to drugs, creative differences, and drugs. About 7 years into their career the band solidified with what is widely regarded as its strongest lineup. After a decade long run however, that too eventually fizzled. Although Mustaine invited this beloved lineup to reunite at one point, all have thus far proved unavailable for the occasion. Their reasons? Lead guitarist Marty Friedman is busy with his J-pop career, drummer Nick Menza pretended to have cancer, and bassist Dave Ellefson is living off of an inheritance from the late L. Ron Hubbard (FYI, I only made up ONE of those). Now with a band of ringers in tow, Mustaine continues to tour the world as Megadeth, mostly playing countries that probably never knew what the guys in Megadeth looked like in the first place. Here's the new lineup performing "Peace Sells", the intro of which they licensed up the wazoo for MTV News:

When watching a program, movie, or fictional genre rife with fake bands, it can get hard to separate the pretenders from the pretenders who are really good at making fake music. In order to simplify things, we've taken 6 of the more contentious fictional band rivalries and settled them for you. You're welcome.

6- Zack Attack vs. Hot Sundae

What is more typical American teenager then being in a band? Nothing, that's what. So a show that portrays "typical" American teenagers needs to include a band-Saved By The Bell was just that show and boy-howdy they had some musical interludes. Thus, "Zack Attack" was formed. Most of the main cast was in it with each playing their personality-specific part. Zack was the pretty-boy front-man, Slater pounded those macho sticks on the macho drums, Screech rocked the oh-so-respectable keyboard, Lisa (the token black character) rocked the soulful bass (which is, of course, what all people of color do giving their inherent soulfulness), and the rest of the girls did back-up vocals which is typical for pretty girls who can't play instruments. In the other corner we have the three girls putting their singing talents to use by forming the group "Hot Sundae." How double-entendre of them. While Zack Attack really only featured prominently in a dream sequence and at one school dance, Hot Sundaes actually made a music video-albeit the cheesiest one ever created. They pretty much run into a tie as far as bands go, but Hot Sundaes manages to edge out a win because Jessie does the cool rock star thing and forms a drug addiction. Caffeine pills are so punk rock.

It's summer music festival time, and while it's a prime chance to check out dozens of bands on the cheap, it's also a dangerous breeding ground for death, disease, and other catastrophes. These six tips may just save your life.

6-Keep Hydrated

This may sound like a no-brainer to most but it seems like a majority of people tend to forget that outdoor music festivals are rife with drugs and alcohol which do an excellent job of dehydrating you while failing to remind you that you're becoming dehydrated. In a majority of music festivals there is very little shade and when you do go to see a performance you're packed together tightly like a bunch of sardines. Sardines that have consumed copious amounts of beer and weed. Drink plenty of water before you head into the festival. Find an oasis if you can and refill your water bottles as often as you drink them. Then while you're hydrated, watch all the people around you roll their eyes in the back of their heads and hit the ground faster than Peter McNeely.

Although many rappers have crossed over the Hollywood divide to become successful actors and actresses, the same cannot be said in reverse. Yet celebrities cannot seem to stay away from the rap scene, eager to prove that they can sort of sing and rhyme words along with the best of them. Keep reading for 7 of the weirdest incidences of celebrities deciding to launch their own (short) rap careers.

7- Ron Jeremy

Sex has become a staple among rap lyrics, so who better to lay down a rad beat than the lord of Porn, Ron Jeremy? Turns out a lot of people actually. But that didn't stop Ron from giving it his all alongside DJ Polo, who obviously did most of the heavy lifting on their collaboration, "Freak of the Week." But what Ron lacks in musical ability he makes up for in pure enthusiasm and his ability to bring in the A-list guest stars, such as Corey Feldman and Joey Buttafouco. That's like "Ocean's 11" level star power. It may seem odd that someone whose only real skill is having sex would try to be a rapper, but then again Ron Jeremy has proven time and time again that he will do absolutely anything to get attention.

Putting a group of accomplished rockers always sounds like a good idea, but sometimes the end product on stage is a bit less that the sum of its parts. The following five bands should have stuck to their original groups.

5- Blind Faith

This sounded really great on paper but the end result was nothing significant. Composed of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech, Blind Faith's legacy didn't come from the music that was created. Their legacy has been attached to its album cover featuring a nude girl, which can be viewed here (very NSFW). Although the album reached number one in the US and the UK, the band (especially Clapton) felt the jamming was sub par. Part of the problem was that they didn't have enough music to play live and resorted to playing Cream and Dave Clark Five songs which was the exact opposite of intentions they started out with. Eventually the band fizzled and Clapton went on to create Derrick and the Dominoes and Winwood regrouping Traffic.

10) Radiohead- The Bends

Giving Gen Xer's an anthem to scream at the top of their lungs during their fourth semester at college with their first single "Creep", Radiohead shifted their rock roots into more experimental territory with the album "The Bends". With the encouragement of their producer John Leckie to experiment with their own sound Radiohead begin their steady relationship with rock critics with numbers like "Street Spirit", "High and Dry", and "Just". This album started a snowball effect that created "OK Computer", "Kid A", and "In Rainbows".

5) Living in the 90's-

Starting our list is the apparent "anything goes" attitude of 90's music with the compilation "Living in the 90's". Forget about the AIDS epidemic, the gulf war, and the Monica Lewinski sex scandal with this amazing collection! Pop in this two-CD or two-cassette mix and relish in the days when Shaquille O'Neil had a potential rap career that could rival Warren G's. This mix is unbelievable.... oh!

Highlights: I Gonna Be (500 Miles), Hold On, I'm Too Sexy

They may get all the attention but mainstream songstresses make us tired and sleepy. Paris may have the looks but she's absolutely devoid of natural talent. Mariah Carey has the voice but she's fallen off in the sex appeal department. Britney is a trainwreck these days and while Beyonce has the total package, we respect Jay-Z too much to ogle her; besides, he'd totally kick our ass if we did. So we thought it was high time we celebrated some sexy and talented women who are a feast for both the eyes and the ears! Join us as we countdown the 8 Sexiest Sirens of Indie Rock!

8- Joanna Newsom

When most people think of musical instruments, they tend to envision things like guitars, drums and pianos. But not a lot of people will think of the harp. Pay some attention to the beautiful Joanna Newsom, however, and the harp will suddenly look a whole lot more enticing. The lovely Ms. Newsom owns a fragile sounding voice that still somehow manages to convey a sense of strength; she's ridiculously easy on the eyes as well.

We have all been in that situation. You are at a party and then that one guy with the black glasses strikes up a conversation about pop culture just to hear his own voice and not your opinion. Well, these are the top 5 bands that he will probably discuss with you while you try and figure out a way to leave.

5. Interpol

Although rare (in the sense that an Interpol fan actually wants to talk to you), if you bring up immediate comparisons to Joy Division you will be regarded as elementary and that you "don't understand" the music in question. Be prepared to be bombarded with an attack of your lack of appreciation for artful music, and how everything you listen to is crap.

Best way to duck out of the conversation: Shine a bright light in their face and bolt out the door.

Sometimes you can't afford the ticket for the ultimate concert, sometimes your too young to witness a band yourself, sometimes your too screwed up to remember any of it. Luckily there was a camera crew at the following concerts filming these performances for the future generations to enjoy.

8- Awesome! I Fucking Shot That...

This is the most current film on the list and is bound to be a classic. Giving the audience camcorders and telling them to shoot whatever they want, The Beastie Boys created a well oiled visual trip with precision editing and sound mixing. Playing in their hometown of New York City the Three Mcs and One DJ get the crowd pumped and never look back. After filming the movie, the Beasties saved all the reciepts and returned all but a few cameras to cut back on the cost. Low budget filmmaking at its finest.

Highlights: Hello Brooklyn, Intergalactic, Triple Trouble

A.D.R.O.C.K.