15 Old-School Bands That Floridians Would Have Liked to Seen Stay Together
Some of the most legendary bands left their Florida fans disappointed and yearning for more after splitting up. Ego, exhaustion, illness, and even death are among the reasons for their breakups.
Despite their immense success and adoration, the pressures of fame and the demands of the music industry can strain even the closest-knit band groups.
For many Floridians, such breakups represent the end of an era in music, and the journey for fans who have grown alongside the band.
Luckily, the legacy of history’s most iconic bands lives on long after their breakups. These are the bands we believe broke up too soon, leaving fans like us heartbroken.
1: The Beatles
Several fans blamed Yoko Ono, artist, musician, and John Lennon’s lady, for the Beatles’ split. Others say they split when their manager, Brian Epstein, passed away.
But the Beatles disbanded primarily due to growing creative differences among its members.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the band’s primary songwriters, had separate visions for their music, while George Harrison felt constrained creatively.
Ringo Starr also sought opportunities outside the band. They split for good in 1970 when Lennon left the band.
2: The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground, the Andy Warhol-adjacent New York City legends, split in the early 1970s.
The band slowly dissolved due to disagreements over musical direction and the departure of key members such as Lou Reed and John Cale.
Personal tensions and conflicts with their record label also contributed to the band’s break up. Reed and Cale went on to have influential solo careers.
3: Simon & Garfunkel
Like a bridge over troubled water, Simon & Garfunkel split in 1970 due to creative differences and personal tensions between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
The duo struggled with contrasting artistic visions and individual career aspirations, as Garfunkel began a career as an actor.
The strained relationship led the one-time best friends to break up.
4: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) broke up in 1972 amidst escalating internal conflicts. The band’s main disagreements were over songwriting credits and leadership roles.
Guitarist Tom Fogerty left the band in 1971.
John Fogerty’s dominant role as the creative force behind CCR strained relations with the other band members, Doug Clifford and Stu Cook, leading to resentment and a breakup.
5: The Supremes
The Supremes, one of Motown’s most iconic groups, experienced a breakup in 1970 primarily due to Diana Ross’s departure for a solo career.
Tensions over creative control and management decisions also contributed to the group’s dissolution.
The group continued with several different lineups for years. It split for good in 1977, with founding member Mary Wilson as the last original member.
6: Eagles
The Eagles disbanded in 1980 amid strained relationships among band members. They disagreed over songwriting credits, leadership roles, and the band’s direction.
Personal conflicts, particularly between Glenn Frey and Don Felder, significantly influenced the decision to split.
These underlying tensions persisted even with subsequent reunions, leading to periodic breakups and lineup changes.
7: Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin split up following the tragic death of their drummer, John Bonham, in 1980.
Bonham’s death left the remaining members, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones, devastated and unwilling to continue without him.
The band had already faced internal tensions, including disagreements over musical direction and substance abuse issues among members.
They did reunite for some one-off performances.
8: The Police
The Police broke up in 1986 following years of internal tension and creative differences among band members Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland.
Sting’s growing popularity as the band’s frontman and primary songwriter worsened the strain.
While play-fighting before a show, Copeland even cracked Sting’s rib.
Although there were occasional reunions for tours and special performances, these underlying issues have often hindered sustained collaboration. Sting is now better known for his solo career.
9: The Clash
The Clash’s disbandment in 1986 was a culmination of ideological clashes and personal tensions among band members.
The conflicts were not only over musical direction but also political beliefs, with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones being at the center of these disagreements, ultimately leading to the band’s split.
Jones left the band in 1983. Strummer and Joe Simonon recorded another album together before splitting in 1985.
10: The Smiths
The Smiths split in 1987 due to tumultuous relationships between Morrissey and Johnny Marr.
Conflicts over artistic control, personal ambitions, and differing musical directions contributed to their breakup.
Ongoing disputes and legal issues have prevented any formal regrouping. Morrissey went on to have a successful solo career, and Marr went on to play with Modest Mouse and went solo.
11: Jackson 5
The Jackson 5, formed in 1964 with members Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson, officially disbanded in 1990.
The breakup was due to Michael Jackson’s overwhelming success as a solo artist, which led to his departure from the group.
Additionally, the members’ creative differences and personal ambitions contributed to the decision to disband. They reunited a few times for special appearances until the time of Michael’s death in 2009.
12: Nirvana
Nirvana broke up in 1994 following the tragic death of Kurt Cobain, the band’s lead singer and primary songwriter.
Cobain’s struggles with fame, addiction, and mental health issues had strained the band’s unity in its final years.
His death not only ended Nirvana abruptly but also left surviving members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic overcome with grief and uncertainty about the band’s future.
Grohl and Noveselic reunited to perform a few times. Grohl now leads The Foo Fighters.
13: The Fugees
The Fugees officially split in 1997. Conflicts among its members, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and Pras Michel, led to the breakup.
The affair between Jean and Hill didn’t help matters.
Each member pursued a solo career following the split. However, rumors of a potential reunion have surfaced periodically, sparking hope among fans of the influential trio.
14: Oasis
Oasis officially disbanded in 2009 following years of sibling rivalry between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher.
Frequent clashes over creative control and direction and public feuding marked the band’s breakup.
Despite their immense success and influence during the Britpop era, the band’s inability to reconcile their differences ultimately led to their split. However, there are constant rumors of a reunion.
15: Destiny’s Child
Destiny’s Child broke up in 2005 amid reports of tensions among the members: Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams.
In addition, Beyoncé’s solo career played a significant role in the group’s dissolution.
Over the years, the performers have supported each other and attended each other’s concerts. They reunited for a performance in 2024.
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