SWEET HARMONY

In May, Mercury-nominated indie rockers The View made the papers once more when their comeback gig at the Deaf Institute in Manchester took an unexpected turn when lead singer Kyle Falconer took an on-stage swing at bassist Kieren Webster whilst screaming “I'm going to fucking kill you!” - not believed to be lyrics to new material, but the culmination of reported on-stage bickering between the Scottish bandmates. The bassist had temporarily taken vocal duties, appearing to kick the mic stand on his way back to his normal position, an apparent red rag to Falconer, a frontman with a reputation for rock 'n' roll / highly embarrassing behaviour (In 2016 he was arrested following an air rage incident where, disgruntled that he couldn't sit next to his girlfriend, he hurled abuse at a seated couple and a homophobic slur at a member of cabin crew, resulting in the plane being diverted and Falconer arrested.)
Ending their Manchester show midway and postponing the next night's London performance, the band whose comeback album released June (publicity stunt???) insist they'll fulfil their remaining roster of shows, putting the scuffle down to "a brotherly bust-up that went too far".

When it comes to brotherly bust-ups in music, there are few more famous than the perma-spat of Gallaghers Liam and Noel, whose band Oasis ruled the 90s music scene and occupied the tabloids with perpetual tales of ego, indignation and general gobshitery. Despite selling some 70 million albums, winning every award going and releasing some timeless classics, the brothers are known almost as much for their animosity towards one another (as well as seemingly every other fucker on planet Earth except The Beatles) as for their music. Continued spats over professionalism, public perception, songwriting credits and the price of milk seemingly came to a head in August 2009 when the siblings had a physical fight backstage at Paris' Rock en Seine festival which purportedly saw the younger of the two, Liam smash big bro's guitar, a spat which dissolved the band and has seen them on barely-swearing-at-eachother terms ever since. Rumours of a 2025 Knebworth reunion run are circulating but it remains to be seen if the boys can return their toys to their prams in time.

As for their beloved Beatles, surely the most famous band break up of all time, the musical icons called it a day in 1970 after nearly a decade of pioneering music and world domination. Various factors were attributed to the split, including manager Brian Epstein's 1967 death, Lennon's drug use and bed-bound protests / thinly veiled laziness alongside Yoko, George Harrison's urge to write more and Paul McCartney's perceived megalomania. Ultimately, no single, easily definable action – such as lamping your bassist mid-show – appears to be to blame for the demise of the Fab Four, but for those seeking a little clarity, Peter Jackson's 2021 documentary Get Back may provide some answers... if you've got a spare eight hours.

1970 also saw the end of another popular “boyband”, the glorious harmonies of longtime friends Simon and Garfunkel belying a bitter rivalry amid artistic disagreements which eventually undid them. (But hey if they hadn't split up we might never have got Simon's solo masterpiece Graceland...) Art Garfunkel, jealous of the greater songwriting plaudits afforded Simon and rebuked by one of his solo forays, would regularly demean him about his diminutive size and stoke his various insecurities whilst Simon, according to their manager Mort Lewis, was resentful that Garfunkel (merely a featured singer) was generally perceived as the “star” of the outfit. According to Lewis, “They both envied the other's place in the team.” Presumably, Simon didn't envy Garfunkel's surname… or his hair.

Few Rock 'n' Roll stories remain more (melo)dramatic than the recording of the 1977 Fleetwood Mac classic Rumours. The 11th LP by the band, it's considered one of the greatest records of all time despite the utter affair-based chaos unspooling during its inception. Against a backdrop of megastar-level alcohol and drugs (as opposed to boring old middle age ennui), a dizzying number of affairs were taking place between the musicians and their entourage. Christine and John McVie's marriage, already on the point of collapse, limping along in the wake of Christine's affair with the band's sound engineer, came under further “strain” when she openly began affairing off their lighting director. Meanwhile, couple Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, whose relationship had long been rocky but remained intact “for the sake of the music” would further test that refrain when married drummer Mick Fleetwood acted on his thought-affair and professed his love for Nicks. (In fairness, haven't we all?) Although they later attributed it largely to their reliance on alcohol and cocaine, another great big affair began between two bandmates. Not to be left out, guitarist Bob Weston exercised his right to affair and did a big affair... with aforementioned affair-haver Mick Fleetwood's wife Jenny. Phew!....Absolutely class album though.

Rounding out this motley crew (oh yeah, what about Mötley Crüe.....??) of mostly naughty boys, Pete Doherty deserves an honorary mention for the general carcrashery of his time with The Libertines. Whilst hounded by the press and estranged from his on-the-cusp-of-greatness band due to spiralling heroin and crack cocaine addictions, in 2003 Doherty broke into bandmate Carl Barât's flat, stealing a laptop, guitar, NME award and £200 cash. Clearly the type of behaviour world famous supermodels find attractive, Doherty subsequently dated Kate Moss for two years during which time she smashed up his treasured Gibson guitar and set fire to his favourite teddy....

Kids. DON'T DO DRUGS!