I decided for fun I'm going to lay out the top 5 inter-band love spats of all time, as highlighted by their pre and post break-up music. I was tempted to throw in The Pixies due to Frank Black's hurling of a bass at Kim Deal's head...but that wasn't because of romance, that was because Kim Deal is a crazy musical creative control freak. Anyway, on to the list!
5. Rilo Kiley (Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett)
So very rarely does an inter-band break up result in better music, but Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett seem to have gotten over their break up by using their music. I also had to include them because of their recent release, Breakin' Up off of Under the Blacklight.
Breakin' Up- Rilo Kiley
Under the Blacklight
4. Fleetwood Mac (McVies and Stevie Nicks with the other guy)
Was something about 1976 just really conducive to divorces? I first heard about their love square from Flight of the Conchords in reference to CoCo, and when I looked into it...what a tangled web. Regardless, in '77 they released Rumours and their emotional turmoil was laid bare for the world and Billboard to hear and buy in droves. Tip for an Up and Coming Band; if everyone in your band is splitting up in horrifically emotional ways, capitalize on it.
Go Your Own Way- Fleetwood Mac
Rumours
3. No Doubt (Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal)
We all remember early No Doubt, right? I remember being in fourth grade and blasting Tragic Kingdom up as high as it could go, singing along to Don't Speak as though my nine year old brain could fathom the heartache that Gwen experienced after her break up with No Doubt's very own bass player. I know some would argue this, but since No Doubt's break out album was Tragic Kingdom, and most of the songs are obviously Gwen singing about her relationship with Tony Kanal being ripped at the seams (I wonder how awkward he must have felt during those recording sessions), I'll just make a blanket statement; No Doubt owes its early funk to the wily, heart breaking, bass playing fiend. Now if only Gwen had quit then...
Don't Speak- No Doubt
Tragic Kingdom
2. Belle and Sebastian (Isobel Campbell and Stuart Murdoch)
You see, now this makes me sad. Because this is the sort of story that makes me want to scream at bands, "DO NOT SLEEP WITH EACH OTHER! FIND GROUPIES/BAND AIDS INSTEAD!" Stuart and Isobel were all blissed out in their musical love up until the turn of the century (it's great to be able to say that), and something went wrong. That something ended with Isobel leaving the band and taking her cello with her. 2003 saw the release of Dear Catastrophe Waitress, but compared to their four previous LPs, it was a drastic turn towards a very produced sound. I actually really like Dear Catastrophe Waitress, it's a really good album. But that doesn't mean that I don't mourn the loss of Isobel's wistful vocals and the gritty spontaneity of the old B&S team.
You Don't Send Me- Belle and Sebastian
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
1. Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick and Paul Kantner)
Jefferson Airplane is without a doubt the worst inter-band break up of all time. Not only was it an ugly split, but it resulted in ugly music. That can be documented by their band's name changes.
Jefferson Airplane: Oh fun! Grace Slick wailing on White Rabbit, making me want to go back in time to the psychedelic rock fest that was that 60s. This is good! This is very good! OK, so you divorced your first husband and had a daughter named China with Paul...questionable name, but whatever, you seem to be happy! Oh wait...oh no...you're losing band members...
Jefferson Starship: Hm...Slick, you're smelling a little like...is that grain alcohol? But you can still sing, right? And you and Paul and...China are doing all right? Oh...not so much? Is that why you got up drunk on stage in Germany and blamed all Germans for wartime atrocities? Uh oh, there goes Paul taking legal action! Guess you two aren't an item anymore. I guess you're just...
Starship: The eighties aren't treating you too well, are they? Couple albums in and Slick's gone. Looks like all (Jefferson) Airplane/Starship has left are some sadly nostalgic reunion tours and a couple B-sides to get through the lonely nights.
That's what you get for starting a relationship with a bandmate in the 60s.
Somebody to Love- Jefferson Airplane
Surrealistic Pillow
4 comments:
if you haven't already you should get the Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan album Ballad of the Broken Seas.
I'm raping your music collection when you get back. Actually, I'm hoping it'll be more consensual, as I'm offering up my library for pillaging as well...if you're into it...
(and then maybe later, we'll get hot by the refrigerator, in the kitchen next to the pantry, you think that might be what you fancy?)
ps. You wouldn't feel like telling me how to link songs like that, would you?
Thank you! It took me a while to figure it out, as I'm not familiar with del.icio.us, but I got it down. Thanks.
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