Band drama goes back to the early days of rock ’n’ roll. I mean, there’s a reason that The Beatles broke up.
Not to mention the Police, Talking Heads and Guns n’ Roses (sorry, Axl, it’s not GNR without Slash).
And who could forget the troubled water that couldn’t be bridged by Simon & Garfunkel?
But even some of those bands who have managed to stay together — in some form or fashion — have had as much hate as harmony. Fleetwood Mac, anyone?
Still, it’s been a particularly painful period for some beloved bands. Honestly, we still haven’t gotten over that nasty Hall & Oates split that had us going “Say It Isn’t So.”
This past week has been an especially brutal one. There was Jane’s Addiction imploding in the middle of a reunion tour, as lead singer Perry Farrell came to blows with guitarist Dave Navarro onstage.
Not only did their band brawl abruptly end their concert at Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion, but after canceling the next show, they ended up calling off the whole tour.
“To all the fans, the band have made the difficult decision to take some time away as a group,” they announced in a statement posted on Instagram.
Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins also released another statement pointing the finger at Farrell: “Due to a continuing pattern of behavior and the mental health difficulties our singer Perry Farrell, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to discontinue the current US tour.”
Meanwhile, Farrell apologized to his bandmates for his “inexcusable behavior, and I take full accountability for how I chose to handle situation.”
Are these real rockers or “Real Housewives”?
Another iconic band, the Smiths, is still feuding after breaking up way back in 1987.
First Smiths frontman Morrissey claimed that guitarist Johnny Marr had acquired the trademark rights to the band’s name without consulting him — and could therefore tour with a new singer under the moniker.
But Marr responded that he never heard back from Morrissey about protecting the Smiths name and had no plans to tour with a new vocalist. Although he did throw some shade about Morrissey’s claim that he ignored a lucrative offer for a Smiths reunion tour: “I didn’t ignore the offer — I said no.”
Ouch.
And REO Speedwagon — why are y’all beefing after over half a damn century?
After wrapping their co-headlining summer tour with Train, the “Keep on Loving You” band announced that they would be retiring from the road effective Jan. 1, 2025.
They cited “irreconcilable differences” — between frontman Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall, whose recovery from back surgery kept him off this tour — as the reason why they couldn’t fight this feeling anymore.
“Never thought it would end like this and I’m heartbroken,” Hall wrote on his Facebook page.
Come on, fellas — you’re giving Bennifer 2.0 energy.
And while we’re at it, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, can you guys please meet halfway there? You’ll make it, I swear.
Whether it’s egos, issues or the proverbial “creative differences,” bands are like relationships. The love doesn’t always last — and doesn’t always have anything to do with why you stay together.
Or why you reunite. The much-ballyhooed Oasis reunion between the Brothers Gallagher — Liam and Noel — probably has as much to do with money as anything.
And Jane’s Addiction released a new song, the ironically titled “True Love,” on Wednesday — just two days after it looked like they were done for good. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.
But if bands have taught us anything over the years, sometimes there’s a thin line between “True Love” and true hate.
