How about Foreigner, Golden Earring and other bands that continue after the last original member has retired or died? Are they still the real band or some sort of licensed tribute group?
Golden Earring had the same lineup since 1970, they retired when George Kooymans got ALS a few years ago.
They’re real bands. Especially if they make new music, but even if they don’t. Golden Earring recently retired. Maurice White setup Earth Wind and Fire to survive him. Then of course there’s always the Sons of the Pioneers, 92 years and still going.
Lynyrd Skynyrd is in that category.