What causes a band to split up?

Chris Sattler · From: Hunter Valley, Australia

I was watching a band one evening and there was tension on stage. It was obvious to anyone with some band experience.

During one song the steel player, who I knew very well, just stood up and walked across the stage and punched the piano player fair in the face.

That broke up that band.

I have always found it to be personality clashes with four or five people spending a lot of time together in confined spaces perhaps.

Differences in musical direction perhaps?

Any thoughts?

Or maybe what keeps bands together for long periods too?

Tom Quinn · Posted 18 Aug 2015 4:04 am

That's an Australian thing Mate! We don't do that in California. If there are differences in the band, we get counseling and take a retreat with vegan food and lava lamps. Then again there have been a few piano players I would love t have punched...
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Kenny Foy · From: Lynnville, KY, USA

E-G-O-S

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

??? Why ?

sometimes it's not ego's..sometimes it's just people don't really get along personally.

a million reasons, ego's certainly is one.

sometimes a band has 2 or 3 players that are evolving and the 4th or 5th are not.

Sometimes some members do not want to play in the same places or late at night etc.

Sometimes the boss of the band is too much boss !

Sometimes someone is a weak link

Sometimes a few members practice to improve and others don't.

Sometimes ONE member is really evolving and the rest of the band is not .

Sometimes bands last 40 years sometimes 40 minutes !

One thing is for sure, going to a rehearsal and accepting an invitation to join a band is not the right thing to do with no exposure , just like calling someone who is a well known quality player and asking them to join a band without hanging out a bit to see if it actually works outside of the music.

Imagine for a moment, a quality C6th player who can lay down some really nice standards but the band can't hang with him ( or her ) thats not a long term situation and vice versa.

and then this one... Maybe some players just get really bored with the music and it's not fun anymore ! Shocked

My guess is there are many reasons...
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Jack Ritter · From: Enid, Oklahoma, USA

Sometime maybe getting a good lookin gal in the band!
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Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

I followed the breakup of Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora with interest.... in his final press release on the matter, Ritchie explained he wasn't being respected by Bon Jovi ... and I think that pretty much explains 99 percent of band troubles and troubles in any other situation in life.

We need thick enough skins to not let the petty small things create problems. ... but we also need to pay attention to fundamental issues effecting our sense of values to see if we are investing in a sustainable situation.

Rick Barnhart · From: Arizona, USA

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Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Ha! Tony has a good list there, I'll add a couple from my own experience.

Money.
Bandleader is literally crazy.
Band is based around a couple of some kind, and they split.
Money.
One of the players takes every solo and fill and eventually drives the others crazy.
Bad business decisions.
The relentless grind of playing the club game wears everyone out.
Bandleader is actually insane.
Money.
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Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I would like to add money to Mark's list.

Direction and ego problems don't matter very much to musicians that don't have day jobs.

I have personally punched out guys during shows a few times. It was a while back and seemed like the right thing to do at the time.
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Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Regarding what keeps bands together: Money, and in a distant second place, respect.
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Fish · Posted 18 Aug 2015 10:06 am

During his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, Ringo Starr revealed a tip to help keep new bands together.

Scroll ahead to 8:48:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0xnOaBy734

Justin Emmert · From: Greensboro, NC

1. Egos
2. Alcohol
3. Sex
4. Drugs
5. Money

I guarantee it includes one or more of these 5 elements.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

money
excessive ego
yoko (right rick!)
tasteless players who overplay
and of course,
bandleader who dictates no drugs, no alcohol, no profanity, be there early, help carry the PA, wear a sequined plastic cowboy hat that digs into your forehead.

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

The piano player won't play rhythm or the drummer is too loud or the lead guitar plays all time, LOL
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Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

All of the above plus factors outside the band, wives, girlfriends. Seen it more than once, band member quits to please his woman (the band is what attracted her to him in the first place), then she dumps him. He's lost his woman AND his gig! Required viewing: THIS IS SPINAL TAP.
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Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

The drummer gets a girlfriend....

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

that's funny ed!
really conjured up some hilarious memories about that.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

In our case, it was adding a keyboard player/computer geek who convinced the lead singer/rhythm guitarist, and the bass player the he could put the drums and bass on his computer, and that the bass player could then play lead (not very well!) and they could each make a lot more MONEY! After 3 weeks, they were begging me to come back! No dice! I was pretty burned out playing clubs 5 to 6 nights a week, 6 hours each night, plus day job.
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"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
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chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i hear ya!
tue-sat..9-2
sun mon offnite gig..9-2
fri-sat after hours jam.
2-6 at the country crank palace
it's a wonder that any bands or pickers survived!
but it was almost a living!

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Chris,
8 until 2 in Cleveland Akron bars. The only thing that made it feasible was that as a house band, our stuff was always set up. Walk in, tune, start playing.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

"What causes a band to split up?"

Simple - one or more members is unhappy...about something. It's both normal, and healthy. Nothing lasts forever. Crying or Very sad

Every ending is a beginning.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

"Nothing lasts forever. Crying or Very sad
"

Well,,,,,,, except for Herpes!
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Larry Baker · From: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.

At least when the Drummer got a girlfriend, he had a place to live!!!
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Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
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Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

that's why there is always music on lower Broadway in Nashville, there is no bands, mostly hired guns, singer gets a slot, and goes from bar to bar to hire a musicians, mostly goes like this " hey, I got a gig at Legends Corner this Wednesday from 6-10, wanna do it? sure...ok, see you then"...no bands,no girlfriends, tips only, even split...no drama...
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

When the drummer gets caught banging one of the girl singers, who just happened to be the bass player's wife.
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