Rock bands have to fire their members all the time, often because of creative differences, excessive drug use, or something entirely nonsensical. Some of the biggest rock bands of all time have fired members for good reason, but others were worse for it. Let’s look at just a few rock bands that fired one of their members and shouldn’t have!
1. Smashing Pumpkins
D’Arcy Wretzky was a big part of the Smashing Pumpkins. The band has been through a lot through the years, and it’s been through a few core members as well. That being said, the band never really recovered after firing this particular bassist. She was a standout contributor to the band’s first six albums, including legendary records like Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and Siamese Dream.
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Wretzky was fired in 1999 over her drug use, though Billy Corgan said that she was specifically let go for being “mean-spirited”.
2. Sex Pistols
Rock bands have fired members for silly reasons, but it’s pretty crazy to fire someone because they like The Beatles. At least, that was the story behind Glen Matlock’s dismissal from punk rock pioneers Sex Pistols. Matlock went on to say that he quit, namely because of how abusive his bandmates were.
With his departure came the loss of Sex Pistols’ best songwriting. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious, who was only with the band for a short amount of time before getting the boot as well.
3. Alice In Chains
It’s always the bassists, isn’t it? Alice In Chains’ OG bass player Mike Starr was an incredible contributor to the band’s first two albums. According to frontman Layne Staley, Starr left because he had “a difference in priorities”. Starr, on the other hand, said that he was outright fired because of his drug use.
Sadly, the band was never the same without him. And both Staley and Starr have since passed away.
4. Placebo
This writer is a huge fan of Placebo, and it’s hard to admit that they fumbled big time when they fired Steve Hewitt. Hewitt joined the band in 1996 and made it possible for the band to really branch out their sound. He was a great drummer on Without You I’m Nothing and Meds.
Unfortunately, Hewitt said he was fired by the band’s manager and “thrown out.” It was a bad idea, honestly. Placebo has yet to produce a song with a drum beat as good as “Pure Morning”.
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