Break Up Just to Make Up-It’s Reunion Time

The reunion has been an integral part of music since the beginning of time. The first people to ever bang rocks and sticks together, and then break up over creative differences probably had a reunion show in the original cave where they started. Some reunions are epic and some tend to be better in theory. Typically the yearning to see a band one last time is actually more satisfying than the reality of seeing said band play one last time, but there are those select few that bring bands and fans together in a glorious assembly of nostalgia. Late 2009 and the entirety of 2010 have seen a wild blossom of reunions. Chalk it up to the bad economy/need for money or the nostalgia of making it through the first decade of the new century, whatever the reason, there have been a remarkable number of bands that have decided to give it another go.

Bush

Starting with the most recent reunion, Gavin Rossdale announced this week that Bush would reunite for the Epicenter festival in Fontana, California. The band called it quits in 2002, working on various unremarkable projects ever since. Now with reunions being the theme of 2010, Bush has jumped on the bandwagon. Rossdale announced their first new song since 2001′s “Golden State” titled “Afterlife” in an interview on KROQ. You can hear the new song here, and there’s little doubt that fans will have to wait long for a reunion tour.

Soundgarden

In March of this year another ’90s grunge reunion brought the flannel-clad masses to their knees when it was announced that Soundgarden would play this summer’s Lollapalooza festival. The band officially reunited at a secret show in their hometown of Seattle, Washington in April. Check out a video of their performance here:

Pavement

The band that would never reunite decided to do so this year. Pavement was the most unlikely of reunions anyone could have guessed. The band met a tumultuous end, and the members seemed quite happy with their paths ever since. Originally announcing a single show at New York’s Central Park SummerStage Festival, the overwhelming response by fans pushed the band to add several more festival dates as well as a brief world tour, including their first ever hometown show at the Bob Hope Theater in Stockton, California. Here’s one of their first reunion shows in Dublin, Ireland:

Hole

This might not be an objective statement, but nobody seemed to be too devastated when Hole disbanded in 2002. It seemed inevitable. They had a rocky career with near break-ups, fighting, constant line-up changes, and well, Courtney Love. After some time apart and Love’s not-so-successful jaunt into acting, Hole, or at least some variation, has reunited – though not without drama, of course. Original co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist, Eric Erlandson, has voiced heavy disapproval stating there cannot be a Hole reunion without his involvement. Nonetheless, with Love as the only original member, Hole has performed several shows including SXSW and on a handful of TV show appearances such as this one on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Sublime (with Rome)

So this is not a real reunion, but it’s worth a mention. The two remaining members of Sublime have struggled since the death of their lead singer and guitar player Bradley Nowell. They tried touring as Sublime with some dude as their lead singer shortly after Nowell’s death, then formed Long Beach Dub Allstars which transitioned into the even less successful Long Beach Dub Shortbus. Drummer Bud Gaugh also started a couple of bands, but now they seem to have struck a chord with their newest incarnation, Sublime With Rome, which is the name agreed upon after lengthy legal battles with Nowell’s family. Rome Ramirez is said to sound remarkably like Nowell, and the band has found a happy medium without completely desecrating the name Sublime. The band embarked on a brief US tour, and is now recording an album. Check out a live performance of Sublime featuring Rome here:

Cap’n Jazz

You may file this one under who-gives-a-shit, but that would make you an idiot. Cap’n Jazz was a highly influential avant-indie rock group formed in Chicago in the late ’80s. They had a strong cult following throughout their short career, but the aftermath of their break up lead to the formation of The Promise Ring, Joan of Arc, Owls, and American Football just to name a few. The band played a reunion show in Chicago for the re-release of their anthology album “Analphabetapolothology” which sold out in two days, prompting them to embark on a reunion tour around the US. Here’s a song from their reunion show:

**********

Now that we’ve taken care of the recent reunions, here’s a list of bands that should reunite (but probably never will).

The Smiths

The Morrissey/Marr feud was a legendary one and will most likely never be resolved. It was simply too much genius for one band, and it eventually drove the band apart. Both have found highly successful careers since The Smiths split in 1987. A reconciliation is extremely unlikely, but we can always dream, can’t we?

Fugazi

The band has been on “hiatus” for 8 years now. The members have managed to keep busy in various facets of music, but the lack of an “official” break-up has left fans believing a reunion is possible. It could be likely since there wasn’t any internal drama (or from what we know) or unfortunate deaths. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see on this one.

Jurassic 5

This mammoth group featuring four soulful lyricists, and two blisteringly fast DJs was an alternative hip-hop crew who defied genres and blew minds. Touring with other hip-hop groups as well as being included in the Warped Tour (which was underrated in their time) may have contributed to their mysterious break-up. The members have stayed active, most notably their DJ Cut Chemist, who has found a successful solo career since leaving the J5.

Talking Heads

The seminal new wave band left with a lot of bad blood, though a reunion may not be completely out of the question. The band played a handful of songs in honor of their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they have since continued to be critical of one another.

Operation Ivy

Operation Ivy was one of the most short lived, yet influential bands in the punk/ska community. While the genre has faded, the legacy that Op Ivy left still carries on. The break-up of the band led to the formation of Rancid and lead singer Jesse Michaels has since formed several side projects as well as a sturdy solo career. All members of the band have voiced sentiment for their past lives, but have also stated that a reunion is highly unlikely.

Make predictions on the next reunion or reunions you would like to see in the comments section. Let us know if there are any recent reunions we need to add.