Top 10 bands that split at the peak of their powers but never released an embarrassing reunion album (deaths of key members excluded) The Beatles Fugazi The Jam Slint Simon & Garfunkel Fugees NWA The Smiths The Clash REM Other suggestions please.
Replies
Mansun
aug 31, 2025, 4:28 pm • 0 0 • view
Talking Heads
aug 30, 2025, 8:51 pm • 2 0 • view
Great shout.
aug 30, 2025, 8:52 pm • 0 0 • view
Talking Heads.
aug 30, 2025, 8:44 pm • 5 0 • view
Beat Happening
aug 30, 2025, 8:44 pm • 1 0 • view
The Clash would have had to quit after London Calling (maybe Sandinista) but those after all stunk.
aug 30, 2025, 9:03 pm • 1 0 • view
REM were way past their bed at the end. To be honest nothing they did post Berry really matches up the earlier stuff. May I offer Neutral Milk Hotel?
aug 30, 2025, 9:52 pm • 4 0 • view
I agree 100% on both counts.
aug 31, 2025, 6:18 pm • 1 0 • view
The Phantom Band Bitch Magnet Sopwith Camel The Damnation of Adam Blessing Band Digable Planets
aug 30, 2025, 9:50 pm • 0 0 • view
rage against the machine. they did reunion tours but never an album.
aug 30, 2025, 9:31 pm • 1 0 • view
Good shout, I like them and saw them a couple of times.
aug 30, 2025, 9:34 pm • 1 0 • view
Spacemen 3. Lift To Experience.
aug 30, 2025, 8:48 pm • 2 0 • view
I don’t think Collapse Into Now is a bad album per se but it was certainly not R.E.M. at the peak of their powers. That said, they were still able to bring it as a live band.
aug 30, 2025, 9:35 pm • 0 0 • view
Pavement
aug 30, 2025, 8:37 pm • 12 0 • view
Great shout.
aug 30, 2025, 8:41 pm • 2 0 • view
The White Stripes The Stone Roses (kinda sorta)
aug 30, 2025, 11:14 pm • 2 0 • view
That One For All single was one of the worst things I've ever heard.
aug 31, 2025, 1:46 pm • 1 0 • view
Yeah. They were so close to sunset riding. Hence my uneasiness.
aug 31, 2025, 2:06 pm • 1 0 • view
Chromatics New Young Pony
aug 31, 2025, 10:32 am • 0 0 • view
Roxy Music
aug 30, 2025, 10:59 pm • 2 0 • view
A little past peak but Zeppelin
aug 30, 2025, 8:42 pm • 3 0 • view
Debatable - Coda wasn't a proper reunion but it was still a half arsed final album only released to settle the tax bills & fulfil contractual obligations
aug 31, 2025, 7:13 am • 2 0 • view
The Replacements Buffalo Springfield (The Clash stuck around one album too long, but who's counting?)
aug 30, 2025, 8:50 pm • 1 0 • view
The Police
aug 30, 2025, 8:49 pm • 5 0 • view
came to say this
aug 30, 2025, 11:34 pm • 2 0 • view
The Replacements fizzled out but that last album is good, just in their catalog it’s not peak Mats.
aug 30, 2025, 8:44 pm • 1 0 • view
The Clash limped on minus Mick & Topper. "Cut The Crap" didn't🙄
aug 30, 2025, 10:46 pm • 0 0 • view
Big Black. Would also think The Clash split after an embarrassing album post Mick Jones.
aug 30, 2025, 8:38 pm • 7 0 • view
Yes on Big Black and Cut the Crap being crap
aug 30, 2025, 8:42 pm • 3 0 • view
Orange Juice
aug 30, 2025, 11:54 pm • 4 0 • view
The White Stripes
aug 31, 2025, 2:23 am • 1 0 • view
Talk Talk
aug 30, 2025, 8:53 pm • 2 0 • view
Good shout.
aug 30, 2025, 8:56 pm • 1 0 • view
The Pogues
aug 30, 2025, 8:50 pm • 1 0 • view
Limped on minus Shane.
aug 30, 2025, 10:50 pm • 1 0 • view
Sex pistols ( Sid doesn't count as a member, set up to fail )
aug 30, 2025, 8:42 pm • 1 0 • view
Uncle Tupelo
aug 30, 2025, 8:51 pm • 7 0 • view
Shit! 100%
aug 30, 2025, 8:51 pm • 1 0 • view
Neu! should be #1.
aug 30, 2025, 9:06 pm • 1 0 • view
Neu! are the perfect musical vehicle and thank you for reminding me of this fact x
aug 30, 2025, 9:09 pm • 0 0 • view
Sonic Youth
aug 30, 2025, 11:20 pm • 3 0 • view
Japan. Bauhaus. Aphrodite’s Child. Galaxie 500.
aug 30, 2025, 8:49 pm • 4 0 • view
Fuck, yeah.
aug 30, 2025, 8:50 pm • 2 0 • view
Cocteau Twins Kyuss White Zombie Minor Threat The Everly Brothers
aug 31, 2025, 12:26 pm • 1 0 • view
The Human Abstracts they released 3 albums and the last one "Digital Veil" is the peak of the genre
aug 30, 2025, 11:39 pm • 1 0 • view
I will offer The Housemartins. Your original list is excellent btw.
aug 30, 2025, 10:39 pm • 4 0 • view
Husker Du
aug 30, 2025, 8:46 pm • 3 0 • view
Word
aug 30, 2025, 8:50 pm • 1 0 • view
There's definitely an element of death with this one. I would've loved to see them, though.
aug 30, 2025, 8:49 pm • 0 0 • view
Was lucky enough to see them twice. First time in 1986 has only been bettered by Pixies MK 1.
aug 30, 2025, 8:53 pm • 1 0 • view
I saw Sugar and I saw Nova Mob, but I was a bit too young to catch the Huskers.
aug 30, 2025, 8:55 pm • 0 0 • view
Saw Sugar in 92 and they were great but really really loud. Missed Nova Mob which I regret. Not sure if they ever played Sheffield.
aug 30, 2025, 8:58 pm • 2 0 • view
Josef K
aug 30, 2025, 8:36 pm • 2 0 • view
I think the Clash is a bit of a stretch. Have you heard ‘Cut The Crap’? Hardly the ‘peak of their powers’.
aug 31, 2025, 7:00 am • 3 0 • view
Fair comment.
aug 31, 2025, 1:44 pm • 2 0 • view
Big Star
aug 30, 2025, 9:31 pm • 1 0 • view
I believe that there is a latter day Big Star album. I haven't heard it and don't really want to.
aug 30, 2025, 9:33 pm • 1 0 • view
3rd/Sisters Lovers or another? Lots of live stuff issued too, mostly just Alex though. I saw the Alex Chilton/Posies line up in 2000 because it felt like my only chance. It was decent to be fair and glad I went but it wasn’t Big Star.
aug 30, 2025, 9:41 pm • 0 0 • view
XTC The Go-Betweens Felt
aug 30, 2025, 9:01 pm • 2 0 • view
The Go- Betweens DID come back but the records were great.
aug 30, 2025, 11:32 pm • 3 0 • view
Spacemen 3
aug 31, 2025, 6:18 pm • 1 0 • view
Blimey, yes! Great shout.
aug 31, 2025, 6:18 pm • 1 0 • view
The La’s. More seriously: Talk Talk !
aug 30, 2025, 8:54 pm • 2 0 • view
The popularity of The La's will always baffled me.
aug 30, 2025, 8:56 pm • 1 0 • view
I must disagree: I loved them and still do !
aug 30, 2025, 9:00 pm • 1 0 • view
As do most people. They've never tickled my fancy.
aug 30, 2025, 9:01 pm • 0 0 • view
And to their advantage (supposing you like them of course): they never had the time to disappoint.
aug 30, 2025, 9:07 pm • 1 0 • view
Cast just added to the general sense of horror.
aug 30, 2025, 9:11 pm • 0 0 • view
🤣
aug 30, 2025, 9:13 pm • 1 0 • view
savages
aug 30, 2025, 9:25 pm • 0 0 • view
Aztec Camera Lloyd Cole & The Commotions Replacements XTC Galaxie 500 Shack
aug 30, 2025, 10:23 pm • 5 0 • view
Wow, somebody who knows about Shack! Love it. Nice one and Nice list! 👍
aug 30, 2025, 10:42 pm • 3 0 • view
Indeed , seen them many times and Michael 3 times ❤️🖤
aug 30, 2025, 10:46 pm • 2 0 • view
Awesome! Never had the Chance to See them. I live in Germany. But I habe been to Union Chapel I n London two times to see Michael. Much love!
aug 30, 2025, 10:50 pm • 3 0 • view
Girls at Our Best.
aug 31, 2025, 10:34 am • 1 0 • view
Op Ivy, Old Man Markley
sep 1, 2025, 1:04 am • 0 0 • view
Title Fight, Modern Baseball, Transit
aug 31, 2025, 9:08 pm • 0 0 • view
JSBX!
aug 30, 2025, 8:41 pm • 2 0 • view
Ooof!
aug 30, 2025, 8:42 pm • 1 0 • view
Their last album slaps
aug 30, 2025, 8:43 pm • 1 0 • view
Big Black
aug 31, 2025, 10:18 am • 2 0 • view
The Minuteman and for that matter Firehose - fortunate to see the second at the Fulham Greyhound and Rough Trade West in the same weekend (1988 I believe)
aug 30, 2025, 9:21 pm • 1 0 • view
Minutemen, ffs
aug 30, 2025, 9:26 pm • 2 0 • view
D Boon died in a horrible road accident. Minutemen are not eligible for this thread. They are without doubt one of the greatest bands to have ever existed, so let's do a digital high 5.
aug 30, 2025, 9:31 pm • 1 0 • view
Sorry, I see my mistake which was in fact not paying full attention to the question posed 🙄😁
aug 30, 2025, 10:30 pm • 2 0 • view
I think reunion tours should disqualify, because it does alter the image of the band who spilt at their peak (whether it's in a good or bad way). Otherwise I would say The Police, but then no.
aug 31, 2025, 2:55 am • 2 0 • view
Credence Clearwater Revival.
aug 30, 2025, 9:17 pm • 0 0 • view
Super Furry Animals
aug 31, 2025, 12:00 am • 2 0 • view
To be fair, I would welcome another Furries album with open arms.
aug 31, 2025, 1:45 pm • 1 0 • view
Galaxie 500
aug 30, 2025, 8:44 pm • 3 0 • view
Best answer so far.
aug 30, 2025, 8:48 pm • 0 0 • view
I’d argue REM split a few years after their peak.
aug 30, 2025, 10:20 pm • 2 0 • view
Sundays Delgados Strange but true: Dire Straits
aug 30, 2025, 9:16 pm • 0 0 • view
Led zeppelin
aug 30, 2025, 9:18 pm • 0 0 • view
Abba
aug 30, 2025, 9:19 pm • 0 0 • view