Most Acrimonious Band Break-Up Evah!

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Come on, I want squabbles, death threats, lawsuits and catty backbiting songs to make the Beatles' breakup and legal dissolution look like a no-fault divorce!

Give them to me now!

― kate (kate), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Those Scandinavian death metalers who ate each other's babies and wives to thread.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes! Exactly! Details, please!

― kate (kate), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

comparatively penniless s-club 7 versus their stupefyingly rich manager maybe? Though telegraphing your decision to split something like 8 months before the fact so you can fulfill all saturday morning kids'telly/touring/etc commitments probably defuses any potential for this to be described as truly acrimonious.

And saturday morning telly-friendly covers of 'How do you sleep?' are probably not to follow either.

― M Carty (mj_c), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:16 (twenty-two years ago)

The Tufnell/St Hubbins break-up was the stuff of legend, though.

"We won't be working together again."

― M Carty (mj_c), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Cop Shoot Cop's weren't too pretty.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I would like details, please. Stories, allegations, etc. Please provide supporting evidence.

(I'm feeling very bitter right now, and I need some reassurance.)

― kate (kate), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Mayhem = my favourite AMG entry ever ever ever

'Drummer Hellhammer, who at one time worked in a mental hospital, is the only remaining member of the band's prime-period lineup. Lead vocalist Dead committed suicide in 1991 (two years after joining the band) by shooting himself in the head; Hellhammer made a necklace using some of his skull fragments, and Euronymous reportedly cooked and ate pieces of Dead's brain. Euronymous, in turn, was stabbed to death while in his underwear on August 10, 1993, by the band's bass player, Count Grishnackh (born Christian Vikernes). Grishnackh's alleged motive was jealousy over the fact that Euronymous had a more evil reputation; he inflicted 23 separate wounds, it was also rumored, so as to outdo rival band Emperor's drummer, Faust, who was convicted in the stabbing death of a homosexual acquaintance. When police arrested Grishnackh, they found over 150 kg of stolen dynamite in his house, complete with a plan to blow up a large church on a religious holiday.'

― Fergal, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The world is mental.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

But Mayhem hasn't broken up!

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

har har har, EXTREME!!! More Behind The Music answers, please...

― kate (kate), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

How have they not broken up? They're all dead?!

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

< PETER MURPHY VOICE >
Christian Vikernes is dead
Undead undead undead undead...
< /PETER MURPHY VOICE >

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Dead singers and guitar players can be replaced, NOTHING CAN STOP SATANS INFERNAL HORDES!

Basically, they're back to the lineup of their demo days + a new guitarist. It's all a bit of an anti-climax, really.

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

The young Julian Cope fried on acid stalking other members of The Teardrop Explodes thru the woods with a gun must be in the Top Ten at least.

Which of the members of EPMD put out a contract on the other one? Always get that mixed up.

Most Acrimonious Band Staying-Together Evah!: Oasis

― Neudonym, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't Roger Troutman's brother murder him for playing Rogers & Zapp songs after they split up?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Regarding Cop $hoot Cop's demise, seek ye....

http://thepolywog.com/copshootcop/other/risefall.html

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay whoops I got that wrong sorta. Roger Troutman was killed in an apparent murder/suicide committed by his brother Larry (who also shot himself), but no motive has been determined. Here's a quicky story 'bout it.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

The recent story about the abortion of the Rutles Reunion was really upsetting to read. Kinda changed my opinion of Eric Idle.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

details?

― chaki (chaki), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I've never heard anything about this. What's the story, db?

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"You ever see me again, you better be wearing a cup, I'm going to kick you in the fucking balls, motherfucker" - Eddie Van Halen, addressing David Lee Roth

― dave q, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Eric Idle's lawyers have probably succeeded in ixnaying the article in question, cuz google can't find it anymore. But if you go to neilinnes.org, you'll see a brief section of the Rutles reunion sans Idle. As to why Idle is not in the reunion, their press releases only says "He went into comedy.". That's it.

The story is really long and involved, but it involves tales that will exceed your wildest imagination in regards to the human limits of holding a grudge, and how far one will go to exercise it.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Was revenge-fisting involved?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

What DB said. I read the article in question via the Squirrels list a couple of years back and my conclusion at the end of it was that Eric Idle was and is a complete and utter scumfuck. It used to be at home.earthlink.net/~wyuen/rutlesstory.htm but alas...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

What seems to be the beef between Innes and Idle?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Please refer to DB's description.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

...but it involves tales that will exceed your wildest imagination in regards to the human limits of holding a grudge, and how far one will go to exercise it.
...such as...?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Revenge-fisting!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Trust me, I wish the story was that funny.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

A now the new hit rekkid by Fist Dominoes

C'mon Baby
Let's do the Fist
C'mon Baaaaybaaaayy
Let's do the Fist
Just Clench yer little hand
And Go Like THHHISSS!

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

please ignore the previous post. for it was evil.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think it's exactly a secret that Idle is "difficult" to work with, even reading between the lines of what his former Pythonites have to say about him. That said, scumfuck as he may be, he surely was a genius back in the day.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I doubt he'd sue you if you posted a clear disclaimer, guys. Try this:

Subsequent posts may contain recollections of a particular news article concerning Eric Idle. As said article is currently unavailable, its content is being summarized purely from the memories of the relevant posters, and no efforts have been made to verify any of the claims therein. Said posters make no assertions concerning the validity of the claims made in the original article, and are merely summarizing their potentially-fallible recollections of said article, concerning which no efforts have been made to verify any of the claims therein, either. This information is strictly hearsay, shared for the information and personal discretion of the reader.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel safe now.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, see, I could try to recall the story, but that article in question (for which Ned provided, which is sadly not available anymore) tells the story in a way that really can't be matched. But if you must, it involves someone systemically destroying the buildup of what seemed to have been the rebirth of one's career, despite the fact that the destruction was partially self-inflicted. It was all done via lawyers and all sorts of boring ass legalaise, but the timing and process of the destruction was the key.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 20:07 (twenty-two years ago)

The breakups of Yngwie Malmsteens 4th, 9th and 23rd band were clearly the worst.

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

the Field Mice had an onstage punch-up. i think the Flatmates did too.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Aha! Thanks to Phil, That Legendary Article on the Rutles has been found...and I think I will start a separate thread on it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

sounds like a job for web archive ( if the page is dead )

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

nabisco, do you mind if I keep a copy of your wonderful bit of boilerplate from upthread.
I might need to re-use it to qualify some of my own posts in the future.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the Fall's legendary onstage meltdown at Brownies in NYC a few years ago might qualify for one of the higher spots in this list. I will probably never forget seeing Karl Burns throw down his drumsticks, climb up on top of the kit and leap off it onto Mark Smith... or several members of the band quitting mid-set... or the sign on the door saying that the next night's gig had been cancelled because Smith had gone to jail...

― Douglas (Douglas), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 03:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Wasn't there some other famous band who broke up violently during a gig? Can't remember what it was, though...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 06:55 (twenty-two years ago)

tales of Richard and Linda Thompson's last tour together after initializing their divorce are pretty nasty. She'd trip him up as they entered the stage, that sort of thing. nothing to compare to Mayhem, though, fuck.

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 07:07 (twenty-two years ago)

The onstage breakup of Orange Juice has a certain plangence as they are meant ot come out for a last encore but the rest of the band let Edwyn Collins go on and don;lt follow, leaivng him to sing "Rock'n'Roll I Gave you The Best Years of My Life" all on his own.

― tigerclawskank, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 09:51 (twenty-two years ago)

She'd trip him up as they entered the stage,
Hmmm. I wonder why he never made a song called "Did he fall or was he tripped?"

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 10:52 (twenty-two years ago)

apparently the cosmic psychos (mostly crappy) recorded "you're outta the band" to inform one of the members of said fact.

― cameron, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I know band members that have been sacked by telephone/email/etc. - but sacking a band member by writing a song saying "You're Sacked" is pretty durned original, I have to say. :-)

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 11:37 (twenty-two years ago)

oh yeah, and the chills did the same thing on "the lost e.p." (i.e. a song about booting out one of the band members (i think the song's called "dream by dream"; it's good)), but they even had the gall to get him to play on it!

― cameron, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

(this is a good idea for a thread, btw)

― cameron, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 11:42 (twenty-two years ago)

someone told me the other day that josh pearson of lift to experience sacked andy the drummer by sending him a 'boot' through the mail. the boot recently sold for mega bucks on ebay...

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember a very old X-mas issue of the Beano where Ballboy (was that his name?) was very upset because he heard his team-mates talking about how they were going to give him "The Sack". And then they talked about giving him "The Boot". He was despondant! At the end of the comic, it transpired that The Sack was a sack of Xmas presents for the other comic characters - footballs, of course - and The Boot was a special football boot that would enable him to kick through the pages or something like that.

Anyway, that's nothing to do with anything, but it was v. funny when I was oh... 8.

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Karl Burns throw down his drumsticks, climb up on top of the kit and leap off it onto Mark Smith

this is awesome. does anybody else have good tales of bands getting into fights onstage?

My fave bit in the Creation book is about one of the J & MC's first gigs, where the Reid bros finished their set by beating up their drummer(with the possible help of Bobby Gillespie), and then Alan McGee offered them a record dealie.

you know what? fuggit--i'm gunna find/start a thread on this.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The Stones Roses split. Plenty of allegations and counter-allegations. Squire was accused of being a coke-addled power maniac whereas Brown had apparently lost the plot. These two met in a sand pit when they were about 4. Haven't spoken in years although Brown did receive an Xmas card from his old mucker whilst doing time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Mani seems to have gone to Brown's side although it's anybody's guess where Reni stood.

― Robert Moore (treble), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

re: the chills's song about sacking a bandmate being 'good'

actually, upon reflection, the lyrics are actually rather mawkish and pretty sickening, given that they're written by the sacker vainly tryna 'empathise' with the sackee. but i still like the song.

― cameron, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

My band hasn't gotten into a fight on-stage yet (note: YET), but a couple weeks ago I was carrying equipment out of the venue like totally only one minute after we had got done playing our set and came around a corner to see our guitarist punching our bassist in the head, knocking his cap across the parking lot. Then our guitarist and drummer got into it, pushing and hitting and cussing and all that. I heard the phrase "It's so fucking over!" too many times that night. This all transpired in front of about 50 or so people who had seen us play just then and had gone outside to smoke.

However, my buddy's band DID get in a fight onstage. I'll never shake the image of their big fat (now ex-)drummer leaping drunkenly over his own drumkit to punch their wee diminutive-ish bassist during what was supposed to be the intro to one of their songs. Their guitarist kept playing, like totally stunned. Longest most awkward guitar solo ever.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 13:59 (twenty-two years ago)

This isn't a breakup, and it isn't onstage, but I still love this story. When I was working at the Knitting Factory (summer 2000), one of the bouncers told me he had to break up a huge backstage fight between Non-Phixion's crew and Necro's crew. Non-Phixion's DJ had a knife and was trying to stab one of Necro's hypemen (he had about ten of them). The bouncer ran in and punched out Non-Phixion's DJ; he got a $20 "knife bonus" for the night.

The funniest part of the whole thing is that I'm pretty sure Ill Bill from Non Phixion and Necro are brothers. I was at the show, and they seemed to be getting along fine.

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Ill Bill and Necro are brothers. Brothers fight too. Oh boy do they fight sometimes. See also: Oasis.

I wonder if the Knitting Factory has levels of bonuses for different weapons? like: knife bonus = 20$, gun bonus = 50$, WMD bonus = all the oil in Iraq, etc.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"brothers don't fight--brothers HUG!"

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Avril apparently fired her bass player by giving him a cake that said, "So long, motherfucker!"

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthrax. "As a descendent of the race who killed Jesus I'd expect no better from you", etc

― dave q, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

If that's true Dan, I take back every mean thing I've ever said about Ms. Lasagne. Er, Lavigne.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

tales of Richard and Linda Thompson's last tour together after initializing their divorce are pretty nasty

There's a story in circulation that one night Richard came back for the encore bleeding from the forehead, courtesy a bottle-wielding Linda. Possibly apocryphal, from from what I've heard about those shows, it got pretty physical at times, and if on-stage looks could kill RT woulda been toes up a hundred times over.

― Lee G (Lee G), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

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