Tune into the king’s very surprising playlist
Band life isn't always easy. There's a lot of pressure that comes with touring, press obligations, and aligning creatively with your musical counterparts. The bands in this list have enjoyed huge success, but at the peril of losing members along the way.
Click through this gallery to see which famous groups had unlucky members leave right before they made it big.
Pushing heavy rock and hedonism to its limits, singer Paul Di’Anno (center) was paid to leave the band when his use of substances started to hinder his ability to perform.
After refusing to tour with the band due to fatigue, Andy Nicholson (center right) was replaced as bassist for the era-defining British rock band. He went on to perform as a DJ and started his own record label.
John Kiffmeyer (left) was replaced with Tré Cool in Green Day when he started attending college. His lack of presence saw his departure before the band reaped the rewards of success.
Songwriter Kim Hill (left foreground) was singing with the Black Eyed Peas in the early 1990s. Before the band received global affirmation with their hits ‘I Gotta Feeling’ and ‘Pump It,’ Hill felt that the record labels were trying to objectify her as a woman, so she quit.
Photographed (from left to right) are Jack Irons, Hillel Slovak, Flea, and Anthony Kiedis. After guitarist Hillel Slovak died from an overdose, Jack Irons couldn’t bear to be in the band, so he left. Anthony Kiedis and Flea carried the band into the future, with many other members coming and going.
After being a member of The Beach Boys for several years, David Marks (last on the right) left the band in 1963. He couldn’t stand to be around the famously irritating Murry Wilson (father of members Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson).
Feeling bitter about the favoritism that manager Mathew Knowles showed towards his daughter Beyoncé and her friend Kelly Rowland, both LaTavia Roberson (far right) and LeToya Luckett (far left) caused trouble and were squeezed out of the group.
Dave Mustaine (far left) was fired from Metallica for substance use, which he feels was unjust. He went on to form the also hugely successful Megadeath.
For Sid Vicious to be incorporated into the *** Pistols, Glen Matlock (far left) had to go. Matlock was asked to leave just as they gained mainstream success upon the release of ‘Anarchy in the UK’ and ‘God Save the Queen.’
Forming in 1998, the Sugababes were already enjoying moderate success within a few years but they reached their highest heights after Siobhán Donaghy (right) quit the band (apparently escaping through a toilet window).
During the early days of forming U2, the Edge’s big brother and guitarist Richard Evans (right) stepped down. Evans has since enjoyed moderate success with other bands.
Pink Floyd are another classic rock band that have had their fair share of struggles internally. Following their recording of ‘The Wall,’ Richard Wright (center left) was chewed out by the band after an altercation with Roger Waters (far left), and subsequently quit.
Pete Best (center left) was urged to leave the Beatles after George Martin, their producer, was unhappy with his drumming. Their manager delivered the blow to Best and in waltzed Ringo Starr.
Pictured are Tracii Guns (left) and Nikki Sixx (right). Guns N' Roses waved Tracii Guns goodbye for being too lazy. He simply stopped showing up for rehearsals and was gone a year before they made their first album.
Bob Welch (center rear) cashed in his chips with Fleetwood Mac in 1974 when he decided he had it with the fights and arguments with other members. Of course, the band famously struggled to keep the peace internally.
TV and film composer Gavin Skinner left Primal Scream when he could not stand arguing with guitar player Jim Beattie any more. Beattie would leave the band shortly after too.
Before drummer Keith Moon joined The Who and was detonating explosives on stage, the band had Doug Sandom on drums. Sandom was forced to resign in 1964 because he was "too old," just two years after joining.
A founding member and bassist of The Cure, Michael Dempsey (center left) was frozen out by the other musicians who felt he was too critical of the songs. He continued his career as a musician, playing with several bands including Roxy Music.
Taking solace in that Kasabian are not as celebrated where he lives in the US, guitarist Chris Karloff (left) was kicked out of the band during the recording of their second album. The reason was down to “creative differences.”
Jason Galasso decided to leave NSYNC before they even started performing because he had reservations about being a teen idol.
Simon Colley (far left) quit Duran Duran to form The Subterranean Hawks.
Pictured is Jason Everman (far right) with Soundgarden. Everman left Nirvana and Soundgarden to serve his country in the US Army Special Forces. He received a distinction for his service.
Losing interest in playing with the band after the release of their debut EP, John Berry simply stopped showing up for practice. His message was heard loud and clear.
Founding member Keith Levene (left) was ousted by the group before he had the opportunity to make their first record. Levene went on to form Public Image Ltd.
George Baldi III (rear center) quit Boyz II Men before the band reaped the rewards of commercial success with their beautiful soaring harmonies.
Tenor Elbridge Bryant (upper left) was replaced by another singer a mere year before The Temptations recorded and released their debut album with Motown Records, which indefinitely shaped popular music.
When tensions reached their heights within Val Halen, founder David Lee Roth left the band in the middle of a tour in 1984. He was replaced by guitarist Sammy Hagar (right), who was kicked out when David Lee Roth decided to return in 1997.
Bassist Dell Neal doesn’t regret making the call to leave The Killers a year before the band blew up. Neal was struggling with stress and reported that the financial side of things was less than ideal.
Pete Garner played with The Stone Roses for four years after his promotion from being their roadie. When the group met hard times in 1987, Garner left the band. The Stone Roses then went on to shape British pop music, alongside Oasis and Blur.
An early lineup of The Jam featured Steve Brookes playing guitar. The band had been through a healthy number of musicians when he left in disagreement with the musical direction they were heading in.
Sources: (NME)(Relix)(Thomann)
Bands whose members left right before success
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Band life isn't always easy. There's a lot of pressure that comes with touring, press obligations, and aligning creatively with your musical counterparts. The bands in this list have enjoyed huge success, but at the peril of losing members along the way.
Click through this gallery to see which famous groups had unlucky members leave right before they made it big.