The ‘70s gave us some timeless tunes that still hold up to a ton of pop and rock hits of today. And although the tunes themselves marched forward in time, the bands who made them were halted by, well, a myriad of reasons.
Personality clashes, disagreements over creative direction, financial disputes, substance abuse, and the pressures that come with touring and fame all seem to have played a role in these breakups. The decade kicking off with the breakup of The Beatles probably didn’t help matters. Maybe these bands thought, “If The Beatles can’t make it, what chance do we have?!”
Luckily for us, we got some seriously amazing albums and live moments from these bands before they called it quits. And hey, it’s not like they ceased to exist as individuals! Many would go on to make some pretty awesome music on their own or with new bands, but we’ll get to that another day. Today we’re focusing on their first big ‘70s bands who sadly couldn’t stand the test of time.
1
The Everly Brothers
During their final show in 1973, Phil smashed his guitar and walked off stage. Don performed solo the following night, telling the audience, "The Everly Brothers died 10 years ago."
2
Black Sabbath Kicks Ozzy Out
While the band continued, Ozzy Osbourne's replacement by Ronnie James Dio in 1979 marked a significant shift in the band's sound.
3
Aerosmith
On July 28, 1979, at the “World Series of Rock” festival, pandemonium erupted backstage when Joe Perry's wife, Elissa, threw a glass of milk at Tom Hamilton's wife, Terry. Following the show, Tyler confronted Perry, and after a huge fight, Perry quit.
4
Led Zeppelin
Tensions and declining output were evident in the late 1970s, and drummer John Bonham's death in 1980 marked the definitive end. Out of respect for Bonham, Robert Plant stated that the band felt they couldn't continue without him.
5
The Doors
On March 11, 1971, Morrison took a leave of absence from the band and moved to Paris. When he tragically passed away only 4 months later, the band continued as a trio for a couple of albums and eventually disbanded in 1973.
6
The Eagles
After significant feuds and line-up changes in the '70s, they officially broke up on July 31, 1980. During that final show, they threatened to beat each other up while playing songs.
7
Pink Floyd
During the recording of The Wall in 1979, the band fired founding member Richard Wright for his lack of contribution. Relationships within the band reached an all-time low on that tour, where they travelled separately to shows and refused to speak to each other off-stage. This continued until their breakup in the mid ‘80s.
8
Simon & Garfunkel
Their relationship was deteriorating before and during the recording of Bridge over Troubled Water. While they officially separated in 1971, the duo has reunited for performances several times since.
9
The Supremes
After lead singer Diana Ross left to pursue a solo career in 1970, Jean Terrell replaced her, and the group never regained their peak popularity. By the mid ’70s, Mary Wilson was the only original member, and the group officially disbanded in 1977.
10
Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)
The band broke up in 1972 due to deep internal conflicts. Tom Fogerty left in 1971 and John Fogerty’s tight creative control caused friction amongst the remaining members. They called it quits after the poorly received Mardi Gras album.
11
The Byrds
The Byrds broke up in 1973 after a brief reunion of the original lineup for a self-titled album. Founding members like Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, and Chris Hillman moved on to solo work or joined other projects, effectively ending the group.
12
ABBA
Beginning in 1972, ABBA was composed of 2 married couples. After both couples divorced in the early ‘80s, they continued to work professionally for a short time before going on an indefinite hiatus in 1982.
