Bands who split after releasing their best work

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Can't think of many at the moment, though most go on way, way too long. Long after the spark which made them special deserted them.

Two rules; the band must have split up, not just be on a bit of a hiatus. Bands who split after the death of crucial members doesn't count so Joy Division/Nirvana are ruled out.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 1 July 2005 07:59 (twenty years ago)

the wonder stuff.

that's not a joke by the way.

― piscesboy, Friday, 1 July 2005 08:07 (twenty years ago)

Talk Talk
Slint

― hmmm (hmmm), Friday, 1 July 2005 08:46 (twenty years ago)

The Libertines

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 1 July 2005 08:49 (twenty years ago)

Does reforming for a tour exclude a band from this?

― hmmm (hmmm), Friday, 1 July 2005 08:53 (twenty years ago)

The Delgados. They never, ever made a crap album and split while they were at the height of their powers. If only it had been Belle & Sebastian who'd split, instead, preferably straight after 'Fold your Hands...'

― Kate Jane Connolly (fixitgirl), Friday, 1 July 2005 09:56 (twenty years ago)

Sublime.

― Dilenger Wraptard, Friday, 1 July 2005 09:57 (twenty years ago)

The Au Pairs
The Past Seven Days (the single for "Raindance" was their only work!)

― Ian Riese-Moraine has been xeroxed into a conduit! (Eastern Mantra), Friday, 1 July 2005 10:03 (twenty years ago)

Galaxie 500
The Stooges
The Modern Lovers (the O.G. line-up only made the one LP, or am I wrong)
Spacemen 3 (see recent thread re: Recurring, I personally think SP3 still had spark left)
The Spiders From Mars
The Revolution (Parade wasn't as great as their 2 LPs before it, but the band was still great)

― Marshall Stax (Marshall Stax), Friday, 1 July 2005 10:18 (twenty years ago)

Possibly Anti-Pop-Consortium

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 1 July 2005 10:25 (twenty years ago)

Agreed on Slint and Talk Talk, disagree on The Stooges.

Do M.B.V count here? I reckon so.

NWA ("efil4zaggin" might be be favorite Dre produced album).

Big Black.

Infest.

Neu! ("neu! 75" = godly).

Swing Kids.

Kyuss.

KMD ("black bastards > "mr hood").

Drive Like Jehu.

No Comment. ("downsided" 7" = best thing Slap-A-Ham ever released).

― Ellis, Friday, 1 July 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

The Spiders From Mars

They got back together (sans Bowie) and put out an album as The Spiders From Mars in the mid-seventies. I haven't heard it, but I somehow doubt it beats "Ziggy Stardust".

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Friday, 1 July 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

Flipper's Guitar
Mum and Dad

― Negativa, True Believer (Sheryl Crow in a Britney costume) (Barima), Friday, 1 July 2005 11:06 (twenty years ago)

Royal Trux

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 1 July 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

Mum and Dad

haha!

The Zombies

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Friday, 1 July 2005 11:43 (twenty years ago)

suede (as anderson&butler's reconcilation band is not suede)

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Friday, 1 July 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

ouh. silly me. forgot suede didn't split per se after dog man star (although it's the same to me)

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Friday, 1 July 2005 11:49 (twenty years ago)

Surely all bands split after releasing their best work ... tee-hee! Sorry, it is Friday ... high spirits & all that.

― Jez (Jez), Friday, 1 July 2005 12:35 (twenty years ago)

Beat Happening
Unrest

― theophilus jones (theophilus), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:09 (twenty years ago)

Big Star

― Jena (JenaP), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Pixies, IMO

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:34 (twenty years ago)

Soft Boys (forgetting their '01 reunion)
King Crimson (forgetting their '81 & subsequent reunions)

Lotsa great one-LP-then-split band but I won't count them.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Japan

― matt2 (matt2), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:42 (twenty years ago)

I think I agree re: the Pixies.

― sleep (sleep), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

Unwound

(just guessing; I've actually never heard anything but Leaves Turn...)

― sleep (sleep), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:47 (twenty years ago)

Lifter Puller

― On a Strict El Cholo Diet (Bent Over at the Arclight), Friday, 1 July 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

pavement..... yes

― Teie, Friday, 1 July 2005 13:56 (twenty years ago)

At the Drive-In, the swines.

― bg (creamolafoam), Friday, 1 July 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

Operation Ivy

(ducks)

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Friday, 1 July 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

Rema Rema

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 1 July 2005 15:03 (twenty years ago)

Fugazi

― miccio (miccio), Friday, 1 July 2005 15:03 (twenty years ago)

pavement..... yes

Um, no.

Dog Faced Hermans split after releasing their final and best album.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 1 July 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

Pavement were certainly at a high point commercially when they split, but it did feel like the end.

McLusky?

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 1 July 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

Rage Against The Machine

Uncle Tupelo

Sex Pistols

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 1 July 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/ian%20and%20baby,%2013%20May%201980.jpg

They didn't split, they changed their name.

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 1 July 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

At The Drive-In

― Mil (Mil), Saturday, 2 July 2005 00:35 (twenty years ago)

zombies

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 2 July 2005 01:31 (twenty years ago)

C/D: David & David - Boomtown

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Saturday, 2 July 2005 02:32 (twenty years ago)

The Germs

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Saturday, 2 July 2005 02:35 (twenty years ago)

Mission of Burma

― Girolamo Savonarola, Saturday, 2 July 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

The Past Seven Days (the single for "Raindance" was their only work!)

Ian is speaking the gospel, here. I do believe of all songs/records/CD's /tapes that might be called a "single"...that is the one. The only number one piece of "single" vinyl that was pressed as far as I'm concerned. BOTH SIDES. IT IS THE ULTIMATE SINGLE. Yes, I would EVEN burn my 7" vinyl Kate Bush BOX SET just to save The Past Seven Days single from destruction!

The only thing I can think of to add to the theme of this thread is Life Without Buildings. They did one album only. An even more agonizing cliffhanger for me than to wonder where Jeff Buckley might have gone with his career.

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Saturday, 2 July 2005 03:12 (twenty years ago)

I'd say The Beatles but that's just a personal preference as the favorite Beatles album for everyone is different. Also I agree with Tallk talk and The Stooges and throw in My Morning Jacket although I haven't listened to them in a while so I'm not sure.

― jmeister (jmeister), Saturday, 2 July 2005 03:42 (twenty years ago)

The Boo Radleys

― BeeOK (boo radley), Saturday, 2 July 2005 03:46 (twenty years ago)

I'm pretty sure My Morning Jacket is still together.

― BeeOK (boo radley), Saturday, 2 July 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

are

― BeeOK (boo radley), Saturday, 2 July 2005 03:51 (twenty years ago)

Fugees, pretty much by default

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Saturday, 2 July 2005 03:54 (twenty years ago)

Unrest, Beat Happening OTM

Now, sadly, Hot Snakes

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Saturday, 2 July 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Japan seconded.

If only the Dali's Car album was a full band effort...oh man.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Saturday, 2 July 2005 22:03 (twenty years ago)

bands who hiatus after producing the best work of that phase:
Wire (154)
Van Der Graaf Generator (Pawn Hearts)

― Paul (scifisoul), Sunday, 3 July 2005 00:30 (twenty years ago)

boo radleys split after 'giant steps'?

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 3 July 2005 02:02 (twenty years ago)

No, their best is called Kingsize. I love that album and have finally found a few people who agree with me.

― BeeOK (boo radley), Sunday, 3 July 2005 03:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm still waiting for the companion thread: Bands who split before releasing their best work.

― Hurting (Hurting), Sunday, 3 July 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

KMD ("black bastards > "mr hood").

Didn't the other member of KMD get killed? Or had they split before that?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 3 July 2005 05:59 (twenty years ago)

Herbie Hancock's early seventies "Mwandishi" septet split after releasing three great albums, the last of which was arguably the best. Herbie himself, of course, continued to release good stuff.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 3 July 2005 06:07 (twenty years ago)

Yes, Sextant was the best!

― jmeister (jmeister), Sunday, 3 July 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

I know a lot of you people will disagree but, The Police!

― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 3 July 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

Also, ABBA

― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 3 July 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

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