Shortest time to a reunion or return to a band

[GuitarGeek]

OK the longest time to return to a band thread has me wondering what's the shortest break between a band breaking up and reforming, or the shortest time where someone returned to a band after leaving. And I don't mean stuff like The Who threatening to break up once a week (or Pete Townshend getting kicked out on a Monday then rejoining on Wednesday or whatever). I mean stuff it was officially announced to the public that the band had broken up, then after a publicly measurable stretch of time, they got back together again later.

The one that always came to mind for me was Squeeze, who broke up in like 82 or 83, but then were back together just two or three years later.

And Joe Perry was only out of Aerosmith for something like 3 or 4 years (with Brad Whitford being out a year or so less).

And of course, Rick Wakeman was only out of Yes a couple years the first time he left.

[klothos]

And I don't mean stuff like The Who threatening to break up once a week (or Pete Townshend getting kicked out on a Monday then rejoining on Wednesday or whatever).

of which, the new thread title would be "Which band did the most Last/Final Tours?"

[Wisdomview]

Van Der Graaf Generator broke up in '71, and reformed in '75.

[klothos]

Didn't the Moody Blues disappear for a couple of years then get back together?

OK, I just Wikied it: Yup, they went on "hiatus" between 1974 and 1976......now, there's a slippery slope: there are a bunch of bands that have gone on "hiatus" without ever officially breaking up and some of these are still on hiatus after decades of non-existence

[trurl]

of which, the new thread title would be "Which band did the most Last/Final Tours?"

Gotta be The Who.

[BravadoNJ]

as per Squeeze, not sure they even broke up then. in between their 2 albums (1982&1985) Tillbrook & Difford did a an album together.

[battema]

Adrian Belew quit KC around 2000 and was back in the band a couple of days later (maybe even that same day) after a call from Fripp.

[GuitarGeek]

there are a bunch of bands that have gone on "hiatus" without ever officially breaking up and some of these are still on hiatus after decades of non-existence

Which would beg the question, what's the difference between "going on hiatus" and "breaking up"? If the band is inactive for a couple or more years, they may as well have broken up. I don't think The Rolling Stones ever "officially broke up", but there was a period there after Dirty Work but before Steel Wheels where if you asked anyone, they would have The Stones had split.

Presumably, "hiatus" is, at best, something that occurs with the intention of returning to active duty at some point, but as you point out, that doesn't always happen. Of course, sometimes that word might be used purely for diplomatic purposes, ie it's what the management is telling the press, because God forbid should people actually think the band is splitting up for good, even if that's exactly what's happening.

[GuitarGeek]

Gotta be The Who.

Well, that's what happens when your virtuoso bass player can't get a handle on his finances (I guess when you live in a mansion and you've got at least one ex-wife, a house full of vintage guitars, a parking lot full of vintage cars, a drinking habit, and apparently also a coke habit, you tend to have those kind of problems).

The funny thing was, Townshend actually admitted in 89 that they were touring "for the money", though he was kinda vague beyond admitting he realized that "America wanted to make me rich all over again". Every time they returned to the stage, Pete kept saying this would really be the last one. I think finally in 1997 or 2000, he finally admitted he was probably better off not saying things like "This really is the last tour! We mean it this time!".

[klothos]

Which would beg the question, what's the difference between "going on hiatus" and "breaking up"? If the band is inactive for a couple or more years, they may as well have broken up. I don't think The Rolling Stones ever "officially broke up", but there was a period there after Dirty Work but before Steel Wheels where if you asked anyone, they would have The Stones had split.

Presumably, "hiatus" is, at best, something that occurs with the intention of returning to active duty at some point, but as you point out, that doesn't always happen. Of course, sometimes that word might be used purely for diplomatic purposes, ie it's what the management is telling the press, because God forbid should people actually think the band is splitting up for good, even if that's exactly what's happening.

Exactly. Chris Nunley, Bill Balough, and Billy Taylor of The Royal Guardsmen ("Snoopy Vs Red Baron") are all goood friends of mine (Chris especially). They never really broke-up but, instead, those three (of the six original members) have continued to play together over the decades as The Royal Guardsmen or under pseudonyms as cover bands and continue to do so today (even more as The Royal Guardsmen in the past decade hitting the Resort Nostalgia Circuit)....but there are no recordings since their hey-dey to marl their existence. Heres a scoop: those three, with new members, are recording for the first time in decades and, although an indie release, I wonder if they will have the record for longest time between albums?

[GuitarGeek]

Exactly. Chris Nunley, Bill Balough, and Billy Taylor of The Royal Guardsmen ("Snoopy Vs Red Baron") are all goood friends of mine (Chris especially).

Oh wow! I grew up with the Merry Christmas Snoopy album. On 8-track! There's actually some pretty good songs on that album. Dammit, now I'm gonna have Down Behind The Lines stuck in my head tonight, which wouldn't be so bad except I'm working the Richard Pinhas show!

As far as artists continuing to perform without releasing new material for decades, I remember an interview with Little Richard back in the 90's, where he said he hadn't recorded an album since 1972 or something like that. And I think the same is true with Chuck Berry. I remember VH-1 doing one of those "where are they now" shows on all the performers who were on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. I think it was one of the guys from The Tramps who said they hadn't had a record deal in over 10 years, but they still went out and performed for people who wanted to hear Disco Inferno one more time. And I imagine similar stories are told by a lot of people who had hits 20 or more years ago, but they're still touring, at least doing the occasional "nostalgia circuit" gig. I mean, when was the last time The Turtles put out an album?

[bRETT]

as per Squeeze, not sure they even broke up then. in between their 2 albums (1982&1985) Tillbrook & Difford did a an album together.

Yeah, they broke up twice-- First in 1982 (after which came the Difford/Tilbrook album), and then again in 1998 (at which time even Difford was gone). The current reunion began in 2007.

[bRETT]

Exactly. Chris Nunley, Bill Balough, and Billy Taylor of The Royal Guardsmen ("Snoopy Vs Red Baron") are all goood friends of mine (Chris especially). They never really broke-up but, instead, those three (of the six original members) have continued to play together over the decades as The Royal Guardsmen or under pseudonyms as cover bands and continue to do so today (even more as The Royal Guardsmen in the past decade hitting the Resort Nostalgia Circuit)....but there are no recordings since their hey-dey to marl their existence. Heres a scoop: those three, with new members, are recording for the first time in decades and, although an indie release, I wonder if they will have the record for longest time between albums?

What about "Snoopy vs. Osama", apparently by the real Guardsmen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpFreidxEMs

[klothos]

What about "Snoopy vs. Osama", apparently by the real Guardsmen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpFreidxEMs

Never heard it or seen that before...plus, the vocalist doesnt sound like Chris.... I will see Chris sometime this week: i will ask him about this and report back to this thread, even if it falls, because this is interesting

[simon moon]

Spinal Tap.


Nigel Tuffnel left for one performance, then returned when he found out they had a hit in Japan.

[bRETT]

Never heard it or seen that before...plus, the vocalist doesnt sound like Chris.... I will see Chris sometime this week: i will ask him about this and report back to this thread, even if it falls, because this is interesting

Please do report back, I'd be really curious. (Someone gave me the single awhile ago, and I didn't think it sounded good enough to be the real thing).

[SteveSly]

What about Kansas? They broke up in 84 (there was one new song on the "greatest hits" album), and then reformed in 85 with a different lineup. They pretty much did the same thing in 89 and reformed again in 90.

Steve Sly

[ChrisXymphonia]

I think Jem Godfrey pulled the plug out of Frost after the first gigs promoting Milliontown and started it up again within 12 months.

[flowerking]

Michael Sadler left Saga after the 10,000 Days tour, they did one album and tour without him and then he returned. It was about 2 years later?

[trurl]

Kevin Cronin left for, what, two REO albums in the 70's and came back... hmm, wiki says he was out 3 years, between '73 and '76. Longer than I thought.

[jupiter0rjapan]

The Who only had one "Farewell Tour". Now Pete has said he was "done" and threatened retirement in interviews ever since 1974. That is Pete being Pete. Dude contradicts himself like it is his job! Still, only one tour was billed as a "farewell" tour. Other tours were just saying "This could be the last..." I don't think it was dishonest, Pete just is not able to commit to one ideal. The rest of the band never wanted to stop.

Now OZZY has actually retired a dozen times.

[Mister Triscuits]

The OP kind of ruled it out, but I can't help citing Ringo's quitting the Beatles for a grand total of two weeks during the White Album sessions.

[Yanks2014]

What about Kansas? They broke up in 84 (there was one new song on the "greatest hits" album), and then reformed in 85 with a different lineup. They pretty much did the same thing in 89 and reformed again in 90.
Steve Sly

Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope left Kansas in 84, and Elefante in 85. I don't think the band the band ever actually broke up, but were left with just Ehart and Williams. Hard to be a band with just a drummer and guitarist. If it was a breakup, it was pretty damn short lived before Walsh returned, bringing Billy Greer with him, and them recruiting Steve Morse.

How about Pink Floyd? Rick Wright was fired by the band right after the Wall was finished. Then they go and hire him again for the live shows! After Waters left in 83, it was only 2 years before Gilmour and Mason began recording, and of course last minute hired Wringt, again.

Yes, essentially broke up in late 1980, but Squire and White continued to work together -nearly recording with Jimmy Page for XYZ, and eventually formed Cinema with Trevor Rabin. So not really a full breakup.

[JIF]

What about Paul Cook's exit and return to IQ?

[klothos]

Please do report back, I'd be really curious. (Someone gave me the single awhile ago, and I didn't think it sounded good enough to be the real thing).

Yup - Snoopy VS. Osama is a project by original member Barry Winslow and the Royal Guardsmen's original drummer. Not sure who owns the name (and i didnt ask), but apparently their are "two" current Royal Guardsmen ( the group I know, which is three original members and also includes the guitarist that replaced an original member back in the 70s), and the other version that did that single which included two original members. Also, from what I understand is that Chris isnt on it, but Bill and Billy may have helped out in some way..........also, there doesnt seem to be any "legal disputes" about name use.

So, i learned something today