Bands That Broke Up in 2016

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new record shop, looks back at the bands that broke up in 2016

We all know that bands come and go. Perhaps they no longer see eye-to-eye creatively or they want to pursue other opportunities. But no matter what the reason, it hurts to hear that your favorite band will no longer be performing together.

The year that was 2016 saw a lot of great bands call it quits. Bands like Yellowcard and Dillinger Escape Plan are in the midst of epic farewell tours, while others like Mötley Crüe have already finished and retired to their post-band lifestyles. Others, like Presidents of the United States, just drifted off into the night without much of a word.

Gone but not forgotten, here are seven popular bands that have decided to call it quits in 2016:

1.       Yellowcard: Yellowcard announced their final, self-titled album back in June, along with the news that they would be embarking on one last world tour after which they would be breaking up. The tour is still going on overseas and the band will make their grand finale at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA in March. Best known for their single “Ocean Avenue,” as well as songs like “Only One,” “Light Up the Sky,” “Way Away,” “Lights and Sounds” and more, the band released 10 albums over their 20 year career.

2.       Dillinger Escape Plan: Dillinger Escape Plan also released a final album this year, ‘Dissociation,’ and are currently on a finale world tour behind it. The band will officially disband after their appearance at Rock on the Range in Ohio in May. Dillinger Escape Plan has released six albums since forming in 1999.

3.       Brand New: After five albums, Long Island’s Brand New have decided to call it quits. Earlier this year, the band celebrated the 10^th anniversary of their breakout album, ‘The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me’ with a tour, playing the album front to back during each date. The band was supposed to release a new album in 2016, but as far as anyone knows, it is still unfinished. And while the band has not come out and said it, they have hinted that they will be breaking up. “Send flowers.”

4.       The Presidents of the United States: This one came as a bit of a shock. Not much has come from the PUSA camp since they released ‘Kudos To You’ and ‘Thanks for the Feedback’ in 2014. It wasn’t until lead singer Chris Ballew announced last month that the band broke up in 2015. He said that the reason for the split was that they were “old people now,” but later clarified that statement, saying that “it is just time to move on…creative interests change and mutate and I am just trying to follow my instincts and do what thrills me the most.”

5.       Mötley Crüe: Technically, the band broke up in 2015 and finished their farewell tour on New Year’s Eve. Footage from their final show was turned into a concert film, ‘Mötley Crüe: The End,’ and screened over the summer in theaters as a one-night-only event. There is currently a pre-sale going on for a retrospective collection with the same name that spans the band’s entire 35-year career.

6.       The Go Gos: The most successful female band ever, The Go-Go’s were best known for songs like “Vacation,” “We’ve Got The Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” They embarked on their official farewell tour this past summer, ending their more than 38-year-long run. The tour was supposed to happen in 2010, but was postponed due to lead singer Jane Wiedlin’s knee surgery.

7.       Eagles: Chances are that if we didn’t lose Glenn Frey this year, this break up probably wouldn’t have happened. Best known for songs like “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy,” Eagles’ only performance after Frey’s passing in January was at the Grammy Awards. When Don Henley was asked about the band’s career earlier this year, he made it clear that this was the end of their “crazy, wonderful ride.”

While these bands have come to an end in 2016, one can take comfort in all the brilliant music that came from each of them throughout their careers. There is always a place for fandom, even if the band is longer creating new music.

Relive the music of all these bands and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of new and used titles on vinyl, CD, cassette and DVD, as well as memorabilia and more. Stop by during our extended holiday hours or shop online 24/7.