U.K. - Allan Holdsworth. So good that they didn't even try to replace him.

King Crimson - Robert Fripp. You can have OTHER lead guitarists in KC, but I suspect it just wouldn't work without him. Having heard the 3 of a Perfect Pair trio with Adrian Belew, though, it got REALLY close.

It goes without saying with nameplate guys, like Rising Force minus Yngwie or Double Trouble minus Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Dokken did some really, really good songs without George Lynch (if not so many great albums). I like him, but he was replaceable.

I'm not sure you could do Soundgarden without Kim Thayil as his playing is so unique. I don't always love it, but it's not so easy to duplicate.

I've heard other bands try out the Carmine Appice/Tony Frankline rhythm section, and while the results were pretty good . . . you cannot have Blue Murder without John Sykes (and that's not even considering the vocal).

And while instrumental, the alternate-muted picking style of Steve Morse was so distinctive that I think you cannot have The Dregs without him.

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