Top 20 Messiest Band Breakups
#20: Pixies
Top 10 Best Pixies Songs
(1993) The Pixies were one of the more influential bands of the 80s and 90s alternative scene. Their first run lasted from 1986 to 1993, impacting others acts like Nirvana. Four albums gave the band success and credibility in an ever changing music landscape. On the other hand, there were no guarantees about whether they would stick together. Singer Black Francis unceremoniously disbanded the group by delivering the news on a radio interview and then sending faxes to some of the members. Francis didn’t seem all that interested in letting the others down gently, opting instead for one of the more impersonal breakups in history. It would take a decade for the indie rockers to reconcile and reform.
#19: The Replacements
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(1991) Spanning punk and alternative rock, The Replacements spent the 80s going from underground favorites to college radio darlings. Singer Paul Westerberg led the band through indie and major label efforts and even an appearance on "SNL." Drugs and alcohol plagued the group as they were on the cusp of greater success. After lineup changes and other struggles, everything came to a head at a 1991 live show in Chicago. Band members let their partying days get the best of them as they left the stage, while roadies scrambled to take their place. It took them many years to reunite, with multiple members dying in the interim period.
#18: Pantera
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(2003) With the Abbott Brothers as its foundation, Pantera provided a vital contribution to the thrash and groove metal scene. The siblings fought with singer Phil Anselmo through their important years as a legendary touring act. In the 2000s, their lingering feud and struggles with drugs only made things worse as they continued to record albums. Anselmo’s extended absence from the band left Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul with little option other than to break away. In another case of egos and illicit substances getting the best of them, Pantera broke apart even as they were becoming a less cohesive and productive group. The brothers formed a project called Damageplan not long after, but Darrell was tragically murdered on stage in 2004.
#17: The Smashing Pumpkins
The History of The Smashing Pumpkins
(2000) Somewhere between grunge and mainstream rock, The Smashing Pumpkins made a name for themselves as a unique alternative band. Billy Corgan ruled the act with an iron fist and served as the main songwriter through all their ups and downs. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin would leave and rejoin the band after dealing with substance abuse issues. Corgan himself cited his own personal bouts with depression, while bassist D’arcy Wretzky also dealt with her own drug problems. Along with a long list of complications, the group’s profitability slowed over the course of the 90s. The Smashing Pumpkins dissolved for several years as the remaining members sought a break from the grind.
#16: Blink-182
The History of Blink-182
(2005; 2014) From the late 90s to the early 2000s, Blink-182 helped transition pop punk into a new century. After touring their self-titled album, guitarist and singer Tom DeLonge decided to take a break and focus on his family in 2005. We’re counting both 2005 and 2014 as breakup years for Blink-182 because they both came down to the same reason. After reuniting and then leaving once more in 2014, even drummer Travis Barker seemed ticked that his lead singer took off a second time. Despite his towering success as co-writer for the band, the guitarist wanted to explore other musical projects. His work with Angels & Airwaves and interest in extraterrestrials ultimately carried him away from Blink-182.
#15: The Clash
The History of The Clash
(1986) The Clash led the charge of punk music in the late 70s and early 80s. Singer and songwriter Joe Strummer steered them through different genres and changing membership. Drummer Topper Headon was first kicked out for his drug habits. After his absence, Strummer himself acknowledged that their act was never the same. Guitarist and co-writer Mick Jones left in 1983 after the band released their last notable record “Combat Rock.” Their final album “Cut the Crap” captured very little of the band’s initial energy and signaled the end. Exploring other projects, the various members moved on from the group to varying degrees of commercial and critical attention.
#14: Deep Purple
Top 10 Deep Purple Songs
(1976) Deep Purple were among the most influential bands that kickstarted hard rock and heavy metal in the late 60s. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and singer Ian Gillan were just two of the ingredients that helped create iconic tracks like “Smoke on the Water.” In the early 70s, Gillan went his own way after disagreements with the band’s direction. Blackmore followed suit in 1975 after stating that he disliked their latest work. With two key members gone, the group's replacement guitarist couldn’t pick up the slack and suffered from drug addictions along with other members. Several critically panned years of recording and touring compelled the surviving members to end the group. A new version of Deep Purple didn't reemerge until 1984.
#13: The Everly Brothers
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(1973) Most brothers bicker and The Everly Brothers were no different. The duo made a name for themselves during the 50s with singles such as “All I Have to Do is Dream” and “Bye Bye Love.” Don and Phil were among the most troubled family acts of their era, trying to stay afloat through changing times and label disagreements. Their famous 1973 gig ended their initial run after Phil trashed his guitar and fled the stage. With all of their personal conflicts, it could have been even worse. After soldiering through solo careers, the siblings returned to their classic duet status in the 80s.
#12: The Smiths
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(1987) The Smiths were among the brightest stars in the British indie rock scene. Singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr split the writing duties in a complicated working relationship that spanned four studio albums. While they created many memorable tracks, the two veered in different directions as they both matured with the group. When Marr thought the frontman planted a news article criticizing the band, he left the group even after realizing his theory was incorrect. Later reports indicated a growing chasm between Morrissey and Marr, stifling the latter's creativity. The band ended after their former guitarist left behind a void that couldn’t be filled. Any chance at a reunion remains unlikely as royalty disputes and other disagreements followed their demise.
#11: Pink Floyd
Top 10 Pink Floyd Songs
(1983) By the end of the 70s, Pink Floyd achieved one of the peaks of their success with "The Wall." The next few years proved to be trying for the band as they recovered from grueling touring schedules and troubled recording sessions for "The Final Cut." Not only that, Roger Waters and David Gilmour each wanted to move the group in a different musical direction. The uncertain times culminated in a pivotal dinner where Waters left thinking the act was over. Gilmour pressed on with the remaining members and kept using the name, which upset the bassist to no end. The resulting years found each faction playing shows and carrying on their own preferable version of the Pink Floyd legacy.
#10: N.W.A
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(1991) Gangsta rap group N.W.A set the West Coast hip-hop scene on fire with their record “Straight Outta Compton.” With so many different and independent personalities in the group, it was bound to crumble with each passing day. Ice Cube felt he wasn’t receiving the proper recognition or compensation. When he left in 1989, the remaining years were spent trading diss tracks and dealing with infighting. Easy E wanted his own solo career free from the collective and Dr. Dre was ready to produce other acts in the G-Funk era. While the group had an influential few years, they were always destined to go their separate ways.
#9: Rage Against the Machine
Top 10 Rage Against the Machine Songs
(2000) Rap rock outfit Rage Against the Machine are the protest act of their era. Their high-energy hard rock music was equally matched by Zack de la Rocha’s lyrical content. Internal strife plagued the band as they achieved more attention for their hit studio albums. At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, bassist Tim Commerford climbed the set in a stunt that was considered the final nail in the coffin. The outspoken de la Rocha exited the band shortly after. He cited the group’s inability to move forward and constant arguments that hindered their artistic progress. Commerford, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk decided to start another project without their former frontman.
#8: Van Halen
Van Halen: History of the Hard Rock Band
(1985) Van Halen were one of the biggest hard rock acts in the 70s and 80s. Their pro-party attitude earned them many fans with Eddie Van Halen shredding alongside energetic singer David Lee Roth. As the two major creative forces in the band, they drifted apart in the mid-80s. Roth was exploring his own solo career at the time, which made a potential split inevitable. He finally escaped and spent the next few years arguing with his former colleagues through the media as they hired Sammy Hagar. Over ten years later, Roth reappeared with the original lineup at the MTV Video Music Awards in a publicity stunt that went nowhere. It was only in 2007 that the wild frontman officially returned.
#7: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Top 10 Creedence Clearwater Revival Songs
(1972) John Fogerty fused Southern charm, blues, and rock all into one to create Creedence Clearwater Revival. They rocked their way onto the charts with big singles in the late 60s. Wanting to maintain power, the lead singer clashed with the other members who hoped for more inclusion in the writing process. By their final album, Fogerty tried to appease the remaining members of the band with their own songwriting credits. The lackluster results spelled the end for the original group, prompting bitter lawsuits that ended their chances of ever truly reuniting. Their former leader went on to his own solo success as his former bandmates later formed Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
#6: Simon & Garfunkel
(1970) The most iconic folk rock duo weren’t brothers, but they certainly fought like them. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel inspired generations with their hits like “The Sound of Silence” despite all of the mutual conflict. While Simon wrote the songs, Garfunkel was left to be the singer who followed his partner’s lead. This led to a natural rift between the two as the power structure was called into question. Garfunkel attempted a film career that pushed him farther away from his partner, in a successful attempt to gain more independence. Breaking up in the early 70s, the act eventually put their differences aside for reunion shows throughout the years.
#5: Guns N’ Roses
Top 10 Guns N' Roses Songs
(1994-96) Guns N’ Roses energized the late 80s as one of the last great hard rock acts of the decade. Lead singer Axl Rose commanded the ship through their breakthrough “Appetite for Destruction” and the “Use Your Illusion” records. Rose’s strong views about the band’s direction incited disagreements, pushing away many core members such as Slash. The frontman’s stage antics angered his fellow performers and drug problems only made everything worse. Once Izzy Stradlin left and other collaborators were fired, it was clear that the group was falling off the rails. The singer took control of the Guns N’ Roses name and spent the following years with a revolving door of musicians who barely tolerated him.
#4: Fleetwood Mac
Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Songs
(1995) Fleetwood Mac is famous for their classic albums like "Rumours," as well as their infamous personal struggles. Their 70s and 80s lineup produced some of the best and most memorable records of the era despite various feuds among the members. Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks were just two of the figures who had an extremely complicated relationship in and out of the band. From the late 80s to the mid-90s, the members started to leave as years of unchecked animosity got the best of them. By 1995, the entire group dissolved only to formally reunite two years later.
#3: Eagles
Top 10 Eagles Songs
(1980) Among the best selling bands of all time, the Eagles helped popularize the soft and country rock of the 70s. No stranger to drama and a rotating cast of characters, the group prospered through some truly volatile years. By the start of the 80s, the tension only got worse as their fame was at an all-time high. When Don Felder insulted Senator Alan Cranston at a fundraising concert, Glenn Frey let all of his aggression out. The two exchanged threats on stage and left the show having effectively broken up. While Felder was invited to the first reunion tour, he was fired in the 2000's. Lawsuits between the guitarist and his former mates continued as Don Henley and other surviving members went on without him.
#2: The Beatles
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(1969-70) Having the most discussed breakup in music history, The Beatles prompted countless books and documentaries about the real reason they called it quits. The four were drifting apart and contemplating their own independence from each other well before their official collapse. After having a rocky time managing themselves and Apple Records, the group were told by a disinterested John Lennon that he would be leaving in 1969. The announcement was kept secret as the remaining members considered the future of the band. A year later, The Beatles released their last album "Let It Be" and officially folded. They then spent the early 70s working on music that heavily referenced their sour relationships with each other.
#1: Oasis
Top 10 Oasis Songs
(2009) Most musical rivalries pale in comparison to the one between Noel and Liam Gallagher. The brothers from Manchester always had a bad relationship in Oasis, clashing about everything from their image to their artistic direction. Even as they achieved international success with the "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" album, the Gallaghers still got into frequent arguments. One backstage altercation in 2009 proved to be the culmination of all their bad blood. After Noel confronted the singer about not being able to perform, his brother destroyed a guitar and the two got into a fight that effectively ended Oasis. Despite countless offers to reunite, neither sibling wants to get the band back together.
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