6. Neutral Milk Hotel
It might be a bit of stretch to call these guys modern as they split back in 1999, but their musical imprint makes them as current as all of your Biebers and bands with Summer in their names. NMH’s second album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is every hipster’s favourite and it proved to be their epitaph as frontman Jeff Mangum decided to quit music, citing a nervous breakdown. Brief reformations in 2013 and 2014 have seen their rabid fanbase claw for tickets, but a new album looks unlikely.
7. Million Dead
Before he was the folk hero that we all love to sing along to when a few beers deep, Frank Turner fronted one of the most hard-hitting bands during the noughties. Although they were darlings on the alternative scene, Million Dead never quite broke out before they broke up and you can’t help but feel like Turner might have picked up the acoustic guitar a little prematurely.
8. Death Grips
We still can’t get over these guys’ split back in 2014, particularly because of the way they did it. Announcing your split by the way of a napkin might not fly for most bands, but it’s that kind of alternative thinking which saw Death Grips become true innovators. Although they might say otherwise, their music still had plenty of places to explore and their presence will be sorely missed.
9. Slint
Considering the grandfathers of post-rock were inactive for almost two decades, I would have little qualms with you questioning my choice of them as a modern band. However, their solitary album, Spiderland, has had such an influence on contemporary alternative musicians that you can hear their influence quite clearly. A fantastic reunion last year and re-release of Spiderland saw them cement their legacy.
10. Mclusky
A story not too dissimilar to Million Dead’s and Reuben’s, this Cardiff-formed trio deserved a lot better than the posthumous cult recognition they have today. Blending social critiques with irreverent anecdotes, Mclusky knew how to make a ruckus and frontman Andrew “Falco” Falkous would bring this eclecticism to his new band, Future of the Left, following their split in 2005.
Have any to add? The list is subjective so I’d like to hear which bands you think called it quits a little too soon. Leave a comment below!
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