Music History Events: Battling Bandmembers
October 22, 2003 In the middle of their first world tour and flush with fame from their debut album, Evanescence founder Ben Moody abruptly quits the band.More
May 19, 1993 Depeche Mode begin their Devotional tour in Lille, France. They reach new levels of excess on the trek, culminating with lead singer Dave Gahan having a heart attack during a show.More
February 22, 1992 When the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform "Under The Bridge" on Saturday Night Live, their guitarist John Frusciante sabotages the song, playing unevenly and screaming into the microphone during his background part. His frustrations lead him to quit the band in May.More
September 5, 1991 Guitarist C.C. DeVille is kicked out of Poison after he sabotages their performance at the MTV Video Music Awards by playing "Talk Dirty To Me" instead of "Unskinny Bop" as planned. DeVille rejoins the band five years later.More
March 2, 1984 This Is Spinal Tap is released in theaters, chronicling the hapless heavy metal band with exploding drummers and an amp that goes to 11. It leaves some in laughter and some in tears. Ozzy Osbourne is just confused.More
February 22, 1983 Styx release Kilroy Was Here, a concept album about a dystopian future where rock and roll is banned and technology has run amok.More
July 31, 1980 The Eagles split up after Glenn Frey and Don Felder go at it on stage.More
July 28, 1979 After a show in Cleveland, Joe Perry quits Aerosmith when he gets in screaming match with Steven Tyler. He is replaced by Jim Crespo, but rejoins the band in 1984.
February 4, 1977 Fleetwood Mac release their landmark album Rumours. The LP sets a record for most weeks at #1 with 31, and becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time, with worldwide sales estimated at about 40 million.More
July 14, 1973 The Everly Brothers break up in very public fashion, fracturing in the middle of a concert at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.More
January 10, 1969 Frustrated by a film crew recording the Let It Be sessions and plans his bandmates are making for a concert he wants no part of, George Harrison quits The Beatles, writing in his diary: "Got up. Went to Twickenham. Rehearsed until lunchtime. Left The Beatles. Went home." He is lured back a few days later with assurances that the concert would be cancelled and his wishes respected.
July 9, 1968 David Ruffin is fired from The Temptations after missing a show. The lead singer on their hits "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," Ruffin clashes with his bandmates and with Motown head Berry Gordy before he is fired.
January 26, 2015 Blink-182 announce Tom DeLonge's resignation, the same day that bandmates Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker slam DeLonge in a tell-all Rolling Stone interview. They claim the vocalist/guitarist will only communicate with them via email or through his manager, and his constant flakiness has kept them from recording new music. Barker adds: "It's hard to cover for someone who's disrespectful and ungrateful."
June 3, 2014 Jade Castrinos, the female vocalist in Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, updates her Instagram bio to read: "For seven years i sang and wrote music with edward sharpe. they voted me off of tour a week before they left, via email. lol."More
November 5, 2005 Beach Boys singer Mike Love sues the group's mastermind Brian Wilson, whom Love claims is "shamelessly misappropriating Mike Love's songs, likeness and the Beach Boys trademark" in promotion for his album SMiLE. The lawsuit is later dismissed.
November 22, 2002 Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors announce plans to re-form with The Cult lead singer, Ian Astbury, and The Police drummer, Stewart Copeland. They initially tour as "The Doors of the 21st Century," but a lawsuit by original drummer, John Densmore (who declined to tour citing hearing loss), forces them to stop using the "Doors" moniker. They change their name to "Riders on the Storm" as a result of the litigation.
February 9, 2001 After being booted from the "reunion" lineup of the Eagles, guitarist Don Felder files a lawsuit against the group.
November 29, 2000 Chuck Berry's longtime piano player, Johnnie Johnson, sues the rock legend, alleging that he wrote the music for 52 of Berry's classics. The suit is thrown out by a judge who rules that the statute of limitations has run out on any claims.
October 9, 2000 Dennis DeYoung of Styx, unable to tour because of debilitating fatigue, sues the band for touring without him. The suit is eventually settled, but DeYoung never returns to the fold. Styx carries on without him, but leaves most of his songs out of the setlists.
May 19, 2000 The Allman Brothers Band announce that founding guitarist Dickey Betts will not be a part of their summer tour. Reason given: "sadly, there are creative differences."
November 26, 1999 Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes issues a challenge to her TLC bandmates, proposing that they each make solo albums, with the winner determined by sales totals.More
April 25, 1999 Funk percussionist Larry Troutman (of Zapp), age 54, fatally shoots his brother and bandmate Roger Troutman, age 47, outside a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio, before turning the gun on himself. With no known witnesses, the motive for the murder-suicide is unclear, but family members suggest conflict over finances.
October 29, 1998 Dead Kennedys lead singer Jello Biafra is sued by his bandmates over unpaid royalties. They eventually win the case and gain control of the group's songs and the rights to the name. In 2001, they re-form with a new lead singer replacing Biafra, who never re-unites with the band.
May 31, 1998 Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) announces that she is leaving Spice Girls, releasing a statement saying: "Sadly I would like to confirm that I have left the Spice Girls. This is because of differences between us. I'm sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best... PS, I'll be back." Halliwell was planning to leave the group in September at the end of their world tour, but grows frustrated and leaves early. The group continues as a quartet, but splits up in 2000. In 2007, they reunite with Halliwell back on board.
June 2, 1992 Freedom Williams quits C and C Music Factory and files a $10 million fraud and breach of contract suit in New York against the group.
August 7, 1987 At a Fleetwood Mac band meeting, Lindsey Buckingham blows up at his bandmates and quits the group, forcing them to tour without him in support of their latest album, Tango In The Night. He doesn't re-join until 1997.
November 4, 1978 Former Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young bassist Greg Reeves sues the group for a million dollars in alleged unpaid royalties from sales of the hit 1970 album Déjà Vu.
July 2, 1973 Brian Eno quits Roxy Music over a spat with lead singer Bryan Ferry.
August 2, 1971 Now down to a trio and driven by infighting, Creedence Clearwater Revival embark on their last US tour with a gig at Tulsa, Oklahoma's Assembly Center.
March 12, 1971 Paul McCartney wins his lawsuit to dissolve The Beatles and turn their affairs over to a receiver - not Allen Klein, who is managing the other members.
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