Is there anything more rock 'n' roll than band breakups? Since the Beatles defined the fledgling genre in the ‘60s, only to have a very public split at the height of their fame, rock bands breaking up has become an expected casualty of the game. The classic “rock star” lifestyle doesn’t help matters: The pressures of fame mixed with grueling tour schedules tend to breed egos, substance addiction, and interpersonal conflict. Some rock bands' behind-the-scenes drama is as iconic as their music.

Luckily, those talented musicians often go on to do new things. The most common route is venturing off as a solo artist: Sting experimented with his sound after The Police broke up, Gwen Stefani became a superstar after leaving No Doubt, and Genesis produced two lead singers who would find great success solo: Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel. In some cases, truly legendary rock groups only formed after previous bands broke up.

10 Audioslave

Audioslave Was Formed By Ex- Of Soundgarden And Rage Against The Machine

Audioslave was a four-piece band featuring Soundgarden's lead singer Chris Cornell and three of the four founding of Rage Against The Machine: bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk. Soundgraden broke up in 1997, largely believed to be due to burnout, and Rage Against The Machine broke up twice, the first time being in 2000, just a year before Audioslave was formed.

Both Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine were hugely influential groups in the '90s, although they had distinct sounds. The former was one of the core "Seattle sound" acts that helped take grunge mainstream, while the latter fused alternative rock with heavy metal, rap, and funk. Audioslave combined elements of both bands but had formed its own unique sound by the time it disbanded in 2007.

9 Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Randy Bachman Formed BTO After Leaving The Guess Who

Bachman-Turner Overdrive was a Canadian rock band that produced hit singles like "Let It Ride," "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," and most famously, "Takin' Care of Business." The group was formed in 1973 by brothers Randy Bachman (lead guitar, lead vocals), Tim Bachman (guitar, vocals), Robbie Bachman (drums, percussion, backing vocals), and Fred Turner (bass guitar, lead vocals).

Bachman-Turner Overdrive's hit song "Hey You" was written about The Guess Who lead singer Burton Cummings after he and Randy Bachman had a falling out.

BTO came to fruition after Randy Bachman had a falling out with The Guess Who ("These Eyes"). Technically, the band didn't break up until 1975, but The Guess Who was never the same after Bachman's departure. Because of a legal loophole, the original bassist Jim Kale toured as The Guess Who with hired musicians for decades, leaving Cummings and Bachman (who wrote and sang the band's hits) unable to tour under that banner. The dispute was only resolved in 2024 (via Rolling Stone).

8 Crazy Horse / Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Neil Young Found Success In Two Bands After Leaving Buffalo Springfield

Los Angeles-based rock band Buffalo Springfield produced two influential acts of the late '60s and early '70s: Crazy Horse and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Buffalo Springfield was a short-lived folk-rock outfit founded in 1966 by Stephen Stills (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Dewey Martin (drums, vocals), Bruce Palmer (bass guitar), Richie Furay (guitar, vocals) and Neil Young (guitar, harmonica, piano, vocals). David Crosby (from The Byrds) ed in 1967 after Palmer was busted on marijuana possession charges.

After the band broke up in 1968, Crosby and Stills formed a new folk group with Graham Nash, who had just left The Hollies. Neil Young went his own way to start the more rock-oriented Crazy Horse. However, Young would the supergroup in '69, which changed its name to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to reflect the addition.

7 Derek and the Dominos

Eric Clapton Founded the Blues-Rock Group After Cream Broke Up

Eric Clapton is a true rock legend. The English guitarist spent time in The Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers before forming his own trio, Cream, with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce. The psychedelic, blues rock band was active from 1966 to 1968, producing some of the decade's most memorable songs, like "Sunshine of Your Love," "I Feel Free," and "White Room."

Derek and the Dominos included from Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, a rotating ensemble that included other rock notables such as Duane and Greg Allman, George Harrison, Steve Howe, Gram Parsons, and Rita Coolidge.

Following Cream's breakup, Clapton formed Derek and the Dominos with Bobby Whitlock (keyboards, vocals), Carl Radle (bass), and Jim Gordon (drums), who all played together with Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. The short-lived group produced just one studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, but this featured Eric Clapton's career-defining hit: "Layla."

6 Foo Fighters

Dave Grohl Started Foo Fighters After Nirvana Ended

Although Dave Grohl was not a founding member of Nirvana—arguably the most important band from the grunge movement—his addition in 1990 helped turn the band from a great act to a cultural phenomenon. His drumming style added variation and interest to enhance Kurt Cobain's songwriting, giving Nirvana mainstream appeal. After Cobain's death in 1994, Nirvana disbanded. Grohl started Foo Fighters initially to release solo work, although he's recruited various musicians over the years to record and tour with him.

The rock band has won 15 Grammys and has maintained relevance consistently over the last two decades, thanks to hits like "Learn to Fly," "Times Like These," and "Waiting on a War." They've released 11 studio albums alongside several others, including EPs, compilations, and one live album. The Foo Fighters are still together, though the group is on a hiatus.

5 Led Zeppelin

The "New Yardbirds" Gave Birth to Heavy Metal

The aforementioned English band The Yardbirds launched multiple careers (and rock bands). Jimmy Page ed the band on bass in '66 and eventually took over as lead guitarist when Jeff Beck exited. John Paul Jones was working as a session musician at the time and ended up playing on the 1967 album Little Games.

The Yardbirds disbanded in 1968. Page started a new band, originally conceived as "The New Yardbirds," which included Jones on bass and keys, as well as Robert Plant (vocals) and his childhood friend John Bonham (drums). After a few shows, the group changed its moniker, and the rest is history. Led Zeppelin gave us iconic albums and songs, like 1975's double-vinyl Physical Graffiti (the first on Swan Song Records) and "Stairway to Heaven," which contains arguably the most famous guitar solo of the decade.

4 Pearl Jam

The Grunge Heavyweight Formed After Two Other Seattle Bands Broke Up

The '90s grunge movement can be tied to just a few bands from Seattle: Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and, last but not least, Pearl Jam. Fronted by Eddie Vedder, the original lineup included Jeff Ament (bass), Stone Gossard (guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar) and Dave Krusen (drums). With hits like "Even Flow" and "Daughter," the band would go on to be the most successful Seattle sound act, eventually becoming one of the best-selling rock bands of all time.

Pearl Jam only exists because of tragedy. Previously, Gossard and Ament were in a band called Mother Love Bone, which was formed in 1988. MLB was signed to Polygram and was growing in popularity in the area; sadly, vocalist Andrew Wood died of a heroin overdose in 1990. The band's debut album Apple was released posthumously.

3 Velvet Revolver

The Hard Rock Outfit Featured From Guns N' Roses & Stone Temple Pilots

In many ways, Velvet Revolver was the best of both worlds. Formed from of Guns N' Roses (Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum), Wasted Youth's Dave Kushner, and Stone Temple Pilot's frontman Scott Weiland, the group combined the technical expertise of GNR with STP's alternative edge.

Velvet Revolver was active from 2002 to 2008 and released two studio albums and one EP. The band was formed after Slash, McKagan, and Sorum left Guns N' Roses in the mid-to late-'90s. In Sorum's case, he was actually fired from the band by Axl Rose due to an argument, while the other two left of their own accord - though there was tension between Rose and Slash. Weiland came on board after Stone Temple Pilots disbanded. During its run, Velvet Revolver produced a number of hits, most notably the Grammy-winner "Slither."

2 Whitesnake

David Cloverdale Founded Whitesnake After Deep Purple Disbanded

Whitesnake was formed in London in 1978 by David Coverdale, the former vocalist for Deep Purple. Considered pioneers of heavy metal, Deep Purple is best known for its radio staple "Smoke on the Water," as well as bangers like "Highway Star" and "Speed King." The band split in '76, and went off to pursue new projects.

Actress Tawny Kitaen starred in three Whitesnake music videos, all in 1987: "Still of the Night," "Is This Love," and "Here I Go Again."

Coverdale, who was only with DP from '73 to '76, saw great success with Whitesnake, which had a string of hits in the '80s, including "Here I Go Again" and "Is This Love." The group would shift its sounds to glam metal, and enjoyed regular rotation on MTV—thanks in no small part to Tawny Kitaen.

1 Wings

Paul McCartney Followed Up The Beatles With Wings

The Beatles are undeniably the most influential rock band of all time, comprised of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Understandably, the group's public and bitter dissolution piqued public interest and left fans devastated. There were several contributing factors to the band's breakup, but Paul McCartney's increasing dissatisfaction with the group is chief among them.

Shortly after The Beatles officially disbanded in 1970, McCartney formed a new project, Wings, with his wife Linda McCartney, Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine, and drummer Denny Seiwell. The band enjoyed commercial success throughout the decade, having 14 top-10 singles in North America but eventually disbanded in 1981. Ironically, Wings' remained active for the same number of years as the Beatles, though, understandably, never reached the same high levels of success as McCartney's previous group.

Source: Rolling Stone