Touring is the ultimate test for any band: endless travel, late nights, spending every second of every day together, and the pressure to perform perfectly night after night. Sometimes it’s a breeze and a way to bond and sometimes, even the biggest acts can’t make it to the final stop.
From breakups on the road to health scares, meltdowns, and downright chaos, these tours crashed and burned in spectacular fashion.
Between internal feuds, wild behaviors, and forces beyond anyone’s control, these stories reveal just how unpredictable life on tour can be.
Here are some unforgettable moments when bands hit the road but didn’t quite make it back.
1
Oasis in 2009
Noel Gallagher quit mid-tour after a backstage fight with Liam.
2
Aerosmith in 2009
Steven Tyler fell off stage and the tour was called off.
3
Fleetwood Mac in 1974
Between cheating rumors and Bob Weston being fired, the tour was canceled and their manager tried to replace the band with imposters to keep the dates going.
4
Amy Winehouse in 2011
Booed in Belgrade. Canceled tour shortly before her death. Making that her last concert.
5
Van Halen in 2007
Eddie Van Halen entered rehab, forcing a tour shutdown.
6
Beastie Boys in 2009.
Tour canceled when Adam Yauch was diagnosed with cancer.
7
David Bowie in 2004
A heart attack cut his tour short.
8
Bob Dylan in 1997
He was hospitalized with a severe chest infection, tour halted.
9
Metallica & Guns N’ Roses in 1992.
The Montreal show turned riot where Hetfield suffered burns and Axl Rose stormed off, makes this tour, one of rock’s most infamous failed co-headlining tours..
10
Black Sabbath in 1978
Ozzy Osbourne left the band and the tour fizzled.
11
The Who in 1979
Tour paused after tragic fan stampede in Cincinnati.
12
Led Zeppelin in 1977
Tour ended early after Robert Plant’s son died.
13
The Police in 1984
After months of barely speaking offstage, the band played their final show where Sting walked away citing exhaustion and burnout.
14
The Sx Pistols in 1978
After just seven shows in the band's first and only U.S. tour, Rotten quit on stage. The tour ended there and they broke up immediately after.
15
Nirvana in 1994
Tour was canceled after Kurt Cobain entered rehab, he died weeks later.
16
The Rolling Stones in 2006
Keith Richards fell from a tree and needed brain surgery. Tour was postponed and then he went back on stage a few weeks laters.
17
U2 in 2010
Bono injured his back and tour had to be rescheduled.
18
The Kinks in 1973
Already banned from touring the U.S. for four years, The Kinks finally returned in 1973. Only to have the tour cancelled because of brotherly fights and visa issues.
19
The Strokes in 2002
Vocal cord injury forced Julian Casablancas to stop mid-tour.
