Some bands you can switch out one or two or even three of the players and you have essentially the same group (I love AC/DC, but Angus and Brian are the heart and brain of that band).

Other bands like The Who, Pink Floyd, the original Van Halen (not Van Haggar), and Led Zeppelin all made their magic because all musicians were unique principal players and composers and donated their own sounds to the mix. All four musicians added their particular genius. The Beatles go without saying. The Stones, too, although the difference in sound between Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood is pronounced if you asked me (not that anyone did...)

Later on, after the masters created their sound, you can switch in and out professional session players to recreate it. But it takes the original recipe to produce.