Collective Soul have had eleven official members since they formed in Stockbridge, Georgia, in 1992. The current line-up is brothers Ed Roland (lead vocals) and Dean Roland (rhythm guitar), Will Turpin (bass), Johnny Rabb (drums) and Jesse Triplett (lead guitar). The former members are original bassist David Neal, lead guitarists Ross Childress and Joel Kosche, and drummers Shane Evans, Ryan Hoyle and Cheney Brannon.
The original 1992 line-up was the Roland brothers, Neal, Childress and Evans, the group that recorded Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid and the breakout single “Shine”. Here is every member, with roles and years as the band’s own member list gives them.
Ed Roland – Lead Vocals, Additional Guitar, Keyboards (1992–present)
Ed Roland founded the band after studying music composition and guitar at Berklee College of Music and working the Atlanta underground scene; he took the name Collective Soul from a phrase in The Fountainhead. He has been the singer and principal writer throughout.
Dean Roland – Rhythm Guitar (1992–present)
Ed’s brother Dean has played rhythm guitar since the beginning. During the band’s quieter years he also formed the duo Magnets and Ghosts, whose debut album Mass came out in November 2011.
Will Turpin – Bass, Backing Vocals (1994–present)
Will Turpin replaced David Neal on bass around the time “Shine” broke on regional radio, before the album’s 1994 re-release on Atlantic. He released a solo album, The Lighthouse, in 2011.
Johnny Rabb – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals (2012–present)
Johnny Rabb joined as a touring member for the 2012 Dosage Tour and became the band’s drummer that year.
Jesse Triplett – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals (2014–present)
Jesse Triplett made his live debut as a member on January 15, 2014, at Belly Up in Aspen, Colorado, replacing Joel Kosche.
David Neal – Bass (1992–1994)
The original bassist, who played on the 1993 demo album and was replaced by Turpin as the band signed to Atlantic.
Ross Childress – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals (1992–2001)
Ross Childress was the lead guitarist of the band’s best-known line-up, through the triple-platinum 1995 self-titled album and Blender (2000). He left in 2001, at the end of the Atlantic contract, over private personal differences.
Shane Evans – Drums, Percussion (1992–2005)
Original drummer Shane Evans departed after Youth (2004). He rejoined the band on stage as a guest at their Georgia Music Hall of Fame induction in September 2009.
Joel Kosche – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals (2001–2014)
Joel Kosche replaced Childress in 2001 and stayed for thirteen years; the band confirmed his departure on February 6, 2014. He released a solo album, Fight Years, in 2010.
Ryan Hoyle – Drums, Percussion (2005–2008)
Ryan Hoyle first played additional drum tracks on Youth as a session musician, then took over from Evans.
Cheney Brannon – Drums, Percussion (2008–2012)
Cheney Brannon drummed from 2008 until Rabb’s arrival in 2012.
Collective Soul Line-Up Changes at a Glance
- 1992: Ed and Dean Roland, Neal, Childress and Evans form the band.
- 1994: Turpin replaces Neal on bass.
- 2001: Kosche replaces Childress on lead guitar.
- 2005: Hoyle replaces Evans on drums.
- 2008: Brannon replaces Hoyle.
- 2012: Rabb replaces Brannon.
- 2014: Triplett replaces Kosche.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are the current members of Collective Soul? Ed Roland, Dean Roland, Will Turpin, Johnny Rabb and Jesse Triplett.
- Who were the original members? Ed Roland, Dean Roland, David Neal, Ross Childress and Shane Evans, in 1992.
- Are Ed and Dean Roland brothers? Yes.
- Who played lead guitar on “Shine”? Ross Childress, the band’s lead guitarist from 1992 to 2001.
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