10 Incidents That Got Musicians FIRED

10 Incidents That Got Musicians Fired

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were looking at incidents that got musicians fired from their bands.

Pete Best

The Beatles

Getting fired from The Beatles just before they blew up on a global scale is one of the toughest hands a musician has ever been dealt. And it wasnt drugs, violence, or poor behavior that got Pete Best kicked out. No, his main crime was that he simply wasnt good enough on his instrument, the drums. The Beatles themselves made it clear that they needed someone a bit more dynamic behind the kit. Enter a 22-year-old Ringo Starr - who took to the bands sound and image like a fish to water. The band later expressed regret over the way they handled it, choosing to send their manager Brian Epstein to bring the axe down - but no matter what, Best clearly wasnt a good fit.

Dave Mustaine

Metallica

Before he brought metal to new heights as the founder and frontman of Megadeth, Dave Mustaine was a core member of Metallica, prior to the release of their first studio album. However, some very problematic issues with substances led to friction growing between the band members. This included Mustaine getting into a physical fight with singer James Hetfield, electrocuting bassist Ron McGovney after pouring beer on his bass guitar, and a myriad of other incidents. Eventually, Mustaine was kicked out of the group - which, according to him, was done out of nowhere, with zero second chances offered. By his own admission, he remained bitter about it for decades, despite the huge success of his later band.

Ozzy Osbourne

Black Sabbath

1970s Black Sabbath were on a run of form that most bands would kill for. Groundbreaking heavy metal albums came flowing one after another - and to this day, most fans would agree that they barely put a foot wrong on those first six records. But behind the scenes, singer Ozzy Osbourne's substance use issues were becoming a major problem. Not only was he so out of his mind that he could barely perform, but in the practice room, there were times when he would flat-out refuse to even attempt new songs the band put forth. According to guitarist Tony Iommi, they were all indulging in substances, but Ozzy was on a different level and eventually, the decision to fire Osbourne and replace him with the legendary Ronnie James Dio was made.

Brian Jones

The Rolling Stones

The era of The Rolling Stones with Brian Jones on guitar was a fruitful period. But as the band grew in popularity and the songwriting duo of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards began to blossom, Jones own ideas about the groups direction began to take less precedence. Factor in his growing substance use disorder, and the news that Jones was eventually dismissed from the band should come as no surprise. But despite their 1969 meeting going smoothly, whatever hopes Jones had for the future were swiftly ended a month later when he drowned in his swimming pool at the age of 27. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1989, along with the rest of the band.

David Ruffin

The Temptations

Ego and substance use are a bad mix - and when The Temptations singer David Ruffin finally got his moment to shine with 1965 hit My Girl , it marked a change in the vocal groups dynamic. Ruffin was so convinced of his superiority within the band that he was adamant that they change their name to David Ruffin & The Temptations. Several instances of him being late for his own shows were a problem. But the last straw came when Ruffin missed a gig in Cleveland to go see his new girlfriend, Barbara Gail Martin, perform. He was dismissed a few days later. Though he did try to rejoin, forcing his way on-stage several times whenever they sang his signature song, a return never materialised. He passed away in 1991, at age 50.

David Ellefson

Megadeth

Two stints during especially productive periods for Megadeth were enough to earn David Ellefson his own personal slice of heavy-metal history. But after initially spending 19 years in the band until their 2002 breakup, in 2021, his second run as bassist came to a more permanent end. Allegations of misconduct with an underage fan over a video call by the then-56-year-old Ellefson were enough for the group to cut ties with him. Ellefson himself denied any wrongdoing, and the fan herself claimed that she was not actually underage. But regardless of their defense, lead singer Dave Mustaine had already made moves to replace him with former bassist James LoMenzo, sealing Ellefsons fate.

Steven Adler

Guns N Roses

As their drummer during the peak commercial period for Guns N Roses, Steven Adlers footprint on the bands signature sound cannot be overstated. But like so many in the industry, substance use disorder took control of his life until it had deprived him of the very thing he helped build. Not only was the groups heavily indulgent lifestyle causing some major tension between members, but in the case of Adler, it was affecting his playing so badly that entire days of studio recording were being delayed. In 1990, it all eventually became too much, and Adler was shown the door. He did eventually return to the stage with GNR in 2016 for a brief guest spot, but that aside, his run as their drummer ended decades ago.

Don Felder

Eagles

To say that the Eagles have had more than a few interpersonal problems would be putting it lightly. Once in 1980, lead guitarist Don Felder and frontman Glenn Frey very nearly came to blows on-stage and the band predictably broke up shortly after. But in 2001, disputes between members got to a totally different level when Felder was fired for his constant arguments with the other members. According to Felder, over the years, Frey and Don Henley had been attempting to cut him out of profits while taking home a larger slice of the pie for themselves. In his eyes, the rifts between the group were being used as an excuse to cut him entirely. The original lineup never performed together again.

Nick Oliveri

Queens of the Stone Age

Nick Oliveris time in Queens of the Stone Age is fondly remembered by fans who loved his bass and vocal work on seminal albums such as Songs for the Deaf and Rated R. But his time with the band would be cut short when he was fired by frontman Josh Homme in 2004. The reason for his dismissal? Take your pick! Supposedly, Homme had grown annoyed with Oliveris aggressive attitude towards the bands fans, and an argument between the two when the bassist was drunk caused major issues. Most notably, however, allegations of abuse from his girlfriend led Homme to want to put serious distance between himself and his long-time collaborator. He has played with them sporadically since, but his days as a core member are clearly over.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac

Fired For Snarky Behavior at MusiCares Person of the Year Gala

Tony McCarroll, Oasis

Fired for an Apparent Personality Clash With Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher

Lemmy, Hawkwind

Fired Following a 1970 Drug Arrest Before Eventually Starting His Own Band, Motörhead

Kim Shattuck, Pixies

Fired for Stage-Diving, as It Wasnt the Type of Vibe the Band Wanted to Give Off

Dave Abbruzzese, Pearl Jam

Fired for Having Way Too Much Energy Off-Stage, Which Clashed With the More Reserved Members.

Dave Glover

Slade

If youre looking for the strangest reason a musician has ever been fired from their band, look no further. Dave Glover was by no means a founding member of iconic British rock band Slade, but his three-year run as bassist came to a sudden end in 2003 when it emerged that he was engaged to imprisoned serial killer Rosemary West. The pair had seemingly become pen pals and exchanged numerous love letters. Once West publicly announced the marriage, Slade founder Dave Hill immediately fired Glover. If youre wondering, the marriage was eventually called off and Glover went on to deny that things were ever romantic between them.

Which band do you think regrets firing one of their members the most or the least? Let us know in the comments below.