Top 10 Bands That We Wish Would Get Back Together
When a popular band announces they’re breaking up on a Monday, rumors that they’re going to stage a reunion usually begin by that Friday (maybe even late Thursday). Indeed, countless bands have split up only to have successful reunions years or even decades later, albeit not always with the original line-up. Lately, though, it seems that audiences are less interested in hearing new music from a reunited band than they are going to see them live to listen to them play “the old stuff” (and of course, live music has become a lot more complicated in the last year-and-a-half or so because of the ongoing health crisis).
But show us a reunion and we can probably find you a quote from at least one member saying that it will never happen. Among the most surprising reunions of the past few decades: the original line-up of Kiss in the mid-’90s, the Police in 2007, David Lee Roth returning to Van Halen that same year, Brian Wilson touring again with the Beach Boys in 2012, and most of the original, classic line-up of Guns ‘n’ Roses reuniting beginning in 2016.
Understanding how surprising this was, some of these reunited bands even give their tours names like “Not in this Lifetime” (G’n’R) or “Hell Freezes Over” (the Eagles). The reinstating of the original Beach Boys and Kiss members fell apart quickly, illustrating clearly that with a lot of these, you need to catch ‘em while you can (supposedly during the 2007 Van Halen reunion tour, fans flew in from different parts of the country for the earliest dates, fearing that the whole thing would fall apart before it could get to their regions).
Here are ten currently defunct bands that we’d like to see reunite (but please note: these are the ones we would most like to see, not the ones we predict will).
#10. THE DONNAS
Photo Credit: Nigel Crane
Palo Alto, California all-female pop-punk band the Donnas spent more than a decade (starting when all four members were still in high school) seemingly just on the cusp of major stardom which never came. They disbanded in 2012 but supposedly reunion offers come to them fairly regularly – let’s hope they decide to accept one.
#9. GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
Photo Credit: Hulton Archive
Bassist Mel Schacher and drummer Don Brewer, the original rhythm section from seminal ’70s hard rock trio Grand Funk Railroad, do currently tour under the band’s name, but no doubt many hold out hope that they’ll eventually reunite with original lead singer and guitarist Mark Farner.
#8. ELASTICA
Photo Credit: Hulton Archive
This British power pop band made major waves in the mid-’90s with their self-titled debut album (which included the classic “Connection”). But they waited nearly five years to release the follow-up (The Menace) only to have it become a commercial and critical failure, and broke up not long after. A reunion of some sort has supposedly been at least discussed.
#7. OASIS
Photo Credit: James Fry
We can imagine that since officially breaking up in 2009, Oasis became the most hoped-for band reunion in the UK since the Beatles. But the sibling rivalry between the Gallagher brothers (lead singer Liam and guitarist and songwriter Noel) is the stuff of legend, so this one is probably a long shot despite how successful it would inevitably be (just as was the case with the Fab Four).
#6. THE KINKS
Photo Credit: Barrie Wentzell
The legendary Kinks were one of the major figures in the original ’60s British Invasion, practically inventing the riff-based rock song with “You Really Got Me.” They achieved comebacks at the beginning of both the ’70s (“Lola”) and ’80s (“Come Dancing”), but packed it in after more than three decades in 1994. Although the relationship between brothers Ray and Dave Davies has always been at the very least somewhat strained (see: Oasis), small steps towards a reunion have apparently been being taken for in the past few years.
#5. R.E.M.
Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels III
When R.E.M. announced their breakup in 2011, many fans probably assumed (and hoped) that it was just a dramatic way of saying they were going on hiatus, particularly since the band made a point of emphasizing that the split was amicable and the former members remained close friends. But the ex-members of R.E.M. have stuck to their guns, as no serious move towards a reunion has ever been reported (plus, lead singer Michael Stipe has publically declared “I despise nostalgia”).
#4. THE SMITHS
Photo Credit: Paul Slattery/Photoshot/Retna Pictures
Even though as a solo artist and icon lead singer Morrissey has pretty much eclipsed his former band, hopes still remain high that the Manchester, England ’80s alternative rockers will someday stage some kind of a reunion. What do band insiders say about the chances? Well, Morrissey’s spokesperson told Rolling Stone: “The Smiths are never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever going to reunite. Ever.” (sounds like we shouldn’t get on line for tickets).
#3. DIRE STRAITS
Photo Credit: Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns
One of the most successful rock bands of the ’80s, several former members have been touring together doing the songs for a while, but honestly, it’s little more than a tribute act without a lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mark Knopfler, who’s stated that he has no interest in re-joining (let’s hope he changes his mind at some point).
#2. THE TALKING HEADS
Photo Credit: Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns
There are legions of fans that would love to see the highly influential New York City alternative band back together, and supposedly three-quarters of the classic line-up is ready and willing. Unfortunately, the sole holdout is the lead singer and band mastermind David Bryne. So the likelihood of this one happening is the same as it ever was (same as it ever was)… not great, in other words.
#1. PINK FLOYD
Photo Credit: A. Powell/S. Thorgerson
Pink Floyd is easily one of the most popular and influential rock bands of all time. They’ve been through several line-up changes (only drummer Nick Mason has been on every album), and two longtime members (Mason and guitarist/vocalist Dave Gilmour) released new music under the band’s name as late as 2014. But even after the death of keyboardist Richard Wright in 2008, fans still hold out hope that bassist/vocalist Roger Waters will want to reunite with the other surviving members – even though the only thing they seem to agree on is that there’s absolutely no possibility.
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