Sometimes, making it work in a rock band is just not doable. Plenty of the biggest bands of the last century have boasted a revolving door of members for this very reason. And some famous rock band members outright quit over serious drama. Let’s look at a few examples, shall we?
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Noel Gallagher of Oasis
Brother Liam and Noel Gallagher famously didn’t get along great in the Britpop outfit Oasis. According to lore, back in August of 2009, the two brothers got into a physical altercation backstage at a show. Allegedly, Liam destroyed one of Noel’s guitars in a fit of rage, which was a step too far for the other brother.
After the fight, Noel announced that he was leaving the band. Some insults have been hurled quite publicly in the years since, but it looks like the two siblings have since made up and are embarking on their reunion tour in 2025.
Sting of The Police
The Police enjoyed a solid career in the late 70s and early 80s. But like all great bands, they came to an end. And that end was pretty dramatic.
After releasing their massively famous album Synchronicity, The Police completed a tour in 1984. Sting was apparently sick of drummer Stewart Copeland, and Copeland did not enjoy how the band had to walk on eggshells around Sting. Sting allegedly got into a bit of a fight with Copeland and the band’s guitarist, Andy Summers, and told them they had nothing in common. He then walked out of the band to start his solo career. This debacle was likely for the best.
Randy Meisner of Eagles
Randy Meisner was a founding member of Eagles. He inevitably left the band in 1977 and said that he wasn’t comfortable being the frontman of a band he never really fit into. He was also apparently anxious over the sudden fame the band experienced around that time.
In the end, Meisner cited the reason for his departure as “exhaustion,” but he would later say that the members were fighting constantly, and it became too much for him.
Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers
This is one of the oldest and most well-known instances of a famous rock band member opting to quit the whole dang thing after one really bad incident. According to legend, in 1973, during a performance in Santa Ana, California, Don Everly showed up to the gig high and drunk. He was in a bad way and couldn’t remember the lines to the sibling duo’s songs. Phil Everly was angry, busted up his guitar, and stormed out. The two didn’t speak to each other for 10 years, and they only briefly reunited once.
Photo by Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images
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