Band breakups are never just about the music. They’re about egos, business, personal demons, and sometimes full-on warfare.
With The Amity Affliction’s public implosion between Joel Birch and Ahren Stringer still unfolding, it’s worth looking at other bands that found themselves in similarly messy situations.
Some fought in court. Some traded insults in the press. Some even threw punches. Here are five legendary band breakups that make The Amity Affliction’s split look almost civil (for now).
1. Oasis – The Gallagher Civil War (And Surprise Reunion!)
Liam and Noel Gallagher didn’t just feud—they built a legacy on their hatred for each other. The infamous final blow-up came in 2009 when Noel smashed one of Liam’s guitars and stormed out, declaring Oasis dead. Since then, they’ve kept the drama alive with constant insults, lawsuits, and the occasional teasing of a reunion that never happens—until now.
After years of public feuding, Oasis have just announced an official reunion, shocking fans who thought they’d never see the band back together. Whether it lasts or collapses into another explosive fallout remains to be seen.
Lesson for Amity: If things don’t get resolved soon, expect years of indirect social media shots—though, as Oasis has shown, time can heal even the most bitter divides.
2. Fleetwood Mac – Sex, Betrayal, and Cocaine
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours wasn’t just an album—it was a document of their collective emotional breakdown. Affairs, drugs, betrayals, and personal grudges fuelled the tension between Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, and the rest of the band. Even decades later, the drama wasn’t over—Buckingham was fired in 2018 after a backstage fight with Nicks.
Lesson for Amity: Just because a band survives internal drama for years doesn’t mean it won’t eventually blow up spectacularly.
3. Guns N’ Roses – The Axl vs. Slash Saga
What started as one of the greatest rock bands of all time turned into a slow-motion trainwreck. By the mid-’90s, Axl Rose had taken full control of Guns N’ Roses, pushing out members one by one. Slash walked away in 1996, leading to a bitter, two-decade war of words before they finally reunited in 2016.
Lesson for Amity: If one person tries to run the show without compromise, it could take decades to fix the damage.
4. Blink-182 – Tom DeLonge’s Great Disappearing Act
Twice now, Tom DeLonge has ghosted Blink-182. The first time in 2005, he walked away citing creative differences (but really, he just hated everyone). In 2015, it got even uglier when Blink publicly called him out for blowing off recording sessions and ignoring band responsibilities.
Lesson for Amity: If someone mentally checks out but still owns a piece of the band, expect long-term headaches.
5. Queensrÿche – The Band vs. The Frontman in Court
In one of the most ridiculous band breakups of all time, Queensrÿche’s singer Geoff Tate was physically removed from the band in 2012. He responded by suing his former bandmates—and then starting his own version of the band with the same name. It took two years of legal battles before Tate lost the rights to the Queensrÿche name.
Lesson for Amity: When legal ownership is unclear, expect years of lawsuits before anyone wins.
What This Means for The Amity Affliction
Right now, The Amity Affliction isn’t just dealing with a personal falling-out—they’re dealing with a business divorce.
The complication? Joel Birch and Ahren Stringer still co-own the company that runs the band.
- Joel owns 25% individually.
- Ahren owns 25% individually.
- The remaining 50% is jointly owned by both of them.
That means no matter how much personal animosity exists, they are still financially tied together unless one of them sells their shares or they go through a legal battle.
Will this split get uglier? History suggests it absolutely could.
If The Amity Affliction wants to avoid the mistakes of the past, they’ll need to figure out their business mess behind closed doors—before this turns into a never-ending feud. Because as we’ve seen, when bands break up badly, the drama lasts long after the music stops.
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