Break ups are hard. They’re even more traumatizing when they’re so sudden. It only leads one to keep asking, “What went wrong? Weren’t things going great? How did this happen?” Some revel in those moments, believing it builds character, while others — most, actually — just think the whole thing’s quite bitter and depressing.
With Christopher Owens’ announcement that he’s leaving Girls, despite the band’s recent (and incredibly young) success, we all sort of felt lightheaded with déjà vu. Haven’t we been here before? How many other countless acts have called it quits in the pinnacle of their success? How many have thrown up the stop sign when everyone else was speeding around at 88 mph? The short answer: Too many.
The longer, more intriguing answer? That awaits you.
At The Drive-In
Life and Death: 1993-2001
Resurrected: 2012
Founded in 1993 by Jim Ward and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, At The Drive-In spent the majority of the ’90s underground as an aggressive post-hardcore act. In a little over seven years, the El Paso collective managed to release three studio albums, one compilation album, five EPs, and six singles. Their final album, 2000’s Relationship of Command, proved to be a major breakthrough hit, cracking the Billboard 200, and spawning three equally successful singles. The following year, amidst a world tour and at the band’s commercial peak, guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez announced that the band was going on indefinite hiatus. Not too long after, Rodriquez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala formed The Mars Volta, while Tony Hajjar, Paul Hinojos, and Ward created Sparta. -Michael Roffman
Swan Song: “One Armed Scissor”
Black Flag
Life and Death: 1976-1986
Resurrected: 2003
Spearheaded by guitarist Greg Ginn in 1976, Black Flag surfaced in Hermosa Beach, CA, twisting heads with its trademark furious hardcore punk. After spending four years touring with alternating vocalists, the likes of which included Keith Morris, the band enlisted Henry Rollins and released their highly influential debut LP, 1981’s Damaged. Over the next four years, Black Flag would go on to issue five more albums with Rollins, ending with 1985’s rather progressive In My Head. However, despite their creative drive and relentless touring, the band called it quits in 1986, citing inner conflicts and a revolving fanbase. As Rollins stated, “Why don’t we make a record that was like the last one so people won’t always be trying to catch up with what we’re doing?” -Michael Roffman
Swan Song: “Retired at 21”
