Breaking the Band
All New Sunday, Apr. 19

Upcoming Episodes

Sunday, April 19

The Beach Boys

In the mid 1960s, with hits like Surfin USA and Good Vibrations, the Beach Boys became THE carefree sound of American youth. On stage the three brothers and cousin that formed the backbone of the band seemed like one happy family but nothing could be further from the truth. Its lead singer songwriter Brian Wilson battled with his mental health and the legacy of an abusive father. His drug-addicted brother Dennis redefined the meaning of excess. And frontman Mike Love’s obsession with the bottom dollar clashed with the rest of the band’s creative ambitions. Mental breakdowns and bitter fist fights would overshadow much of their 20 year reign as one of the world’s greatest ever bands. Show Less
In the mid 1960s, with hits like Surfin USA and Good Vibrations, the Beach Boys became THE carefree sound of American youth. On stage...Show More

The Eagles

The Eagles are one of the biggest bands in history, selling over 150 million records. Their music defined the 1970s, with songs like Hotel California, Take It Easy and Life In The Fast Lane and their greatest hits album was the greatest selling album of the twentieth century. Their music was the soundtrack to our lives. They were a band who left nothing to chance. Founder members Glenn Frey and Don Henley had a ruthless ambition for The Eagles and let nothing and nobody stand in their way. Yet after almost a decade together, the band suddenly fell apart amidst power struggles , bullying and feuding. the sex, drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle eventually caused them to self destruct. Show Less
The Eagles are one of the biggest bands in history, selling over 150 million records. Their music defined the 1970s, with songs like H...Show More

Van Halen

At the height of their success they were the biggest rock band in the world infamous for their excess and raucous live performances. With their strutting frontmen, wild hair and penchant for spandex they are often portrayed as the archetypal 80's American rock band. The band went through two 'break ups' covered by our timeline owing to a variety of factors but most prominently conflicts over the Van Halen brother's desire for total control and the destructive impacts of substance/alcohol abuse. By 1984 they were the biggest band in the world but, behind the scenes, all was not well and a battle for control raged between the brothers at the heart of the band and it’s lead singer, David Lee Roth. Years of touring, drugs and personality clashes had left them on the brink. When Roth’s ambitions grew beyond the band, the brothers moved quickly to force him out. Their millions of fans were left devastated, but rising from the ashes the they would regroup with a new front man, Sammy Hagar. Against the odds they reached even greater heights with a string of 4 consecutive No.1 albums. Apparently vindicated by their decision the band appeared harmonious. But as the success grew, new tensions emerged and in 1995 the tale of ten years earlier was repeated when Hagar too was ousted for his apparent disloyalty. Show Less
At the height of their success they were the biggest rock band in the world infamous for their excess and raucous live performances. W...Show More

KISS

Kiss blew glam rock out of the water when they formed in 1972, their larger than life cartoon personas and pyrotechnic on stage antics drove audiences crazy. By 1978 they were one of the biggest bands in the world, but the relentless schedule of touring and recording combined with the non-stop debauchery of a rock and roll lifestyle would divide the band; while Peter Criss and Ace Frehely descended into a world of drink and drugs, the bandleader’s Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons stayed sober and tried to keep Kiss recording and performing. Eventually tensions became too much and the original line up of the band split in 1980 when Peter Criss was sacked. Gene and Peter kept Kiss alive over the next decade, with session musicians hired to fill in for the absent Peter and Ace, but their popularity gradually waned. Then, in 1995, after a brief performance on MTV to a rapturous audience, the original line up reconciled and reformed. But when Kiss immediately began a relentless schedule of tours, old tensions soon resurfaced. By 2000 the band hung together by a thread, and the original line up of Kiss broke up when Peter Criss left for the last time. So what caused the original members of Kiss to finally split? We’ll reveal the truth behind the break up of the original Kiss. Show Less
Kiss blew glam rock out of the water when they formed in 1972, their larger than life cartoon personas and pyrotechnic on stage antics...Show More

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin split on December 4th 1980, 2 months after the tragic death of iconic drummer, John Bonham. Throughout the 1970’s, at the height of the bands powers, Led Zeppelin became the world’s first rock supergroup, selling over 300 million albums and headlining 600 concerts worldwide. Zeppelin’s rock star excesses became the stuff of legend, and dark rumours swirled around their closely guarded inner circle as everything Zeppelin touched miraculously turned to gold. But after nearly a decade at the top, disaster engulfed the band, and fans speculated that Zeppelin was finally paying the price for their huge success. And 40 years after the split, Zeppelin’s popularity still hasn’t faded; fans, new and old, clamour for a final reunion, which has been described as the “billion dollar tour” by promoters worldwide. But lead singer, Robert Plant, has sworn that he will never play with Zeppelin again, denying lead guitarist Jimmy Page and bass guitarist John Paul Jones the reunion they want. So what really happened to the once close members of the world’s greatest ever rock band? Why won’t they ever play together again? We’ll uncover the truth behind the break up of Led Zeppelin. Show Less
Led Zeppelin split on December 4th 1980, 2 months after the tragic death of iconic drummer, John Bonham. Throughout the 1970’s, at t...Show More

Van Halen

At the height of their success they were the biggest rock band in the world infamous for their excess and raucous live performances. With their strutting frontmen, wild hair and penchant for spandex they are often portrayed as the archetypal 80's American rock band. The band went through two 'break ups' covered by our timeline owing to a variety of factors but most prominently conflicts over the Van Halen brother's desire for total control and the destructive impacts of substance/alcohol abuse. By 1984 they were the biggest band in the world but, behind the scenes, all was not well and a battle for control raged between the brothers at the heart of the band and it’s lead singer, David Lee Roth. Years of touring, drugs and personality clashes had left them on the brink. When Roth’s ambitions grew beyond the band, the brothers moved quickly to force him out. Their millions of fans were left devastated, but rising from the ashes the they would regroup with a new front man, Sammy Hagar. Against the odds they reached even greater heights with a string of 4 consecutive No.1 albums. Apparently vindicated by their decision the band appeared harmonious. But as the success grew, new tensions emerged and in 1995 the tale of ten years earlier was repeated when Hagar too was ousted for his apparent disloyalty. Show Less
At the height of their success they were the biggest rock band in the world infamous for their excess and raucous live performances. W...Show More

KISS

Kiss blew glam rock out of the water when they formed in 1972, their larger than life cartoon personas and pyrotechnic on stage antics drove audiences crazy. By 1978 they were one of the biggest bands in the world, but the relentless schedule of touring and recording combined with the non-stop debauchery of a rock and roll lifestyle would divide the band; while Peter Criss and Ace Frehely descended into a world of drink and drugs, the bandleader’s Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons stayed sober and tried to keep Kiss recording and performing. Eventually tensions became too much and the original line up of the band split in 1980 when Peter Criss was sacked. Gene and Peter kept Kiss alive over the next decade, with session musicians hired to fill in for the absent Peter and Ace, but their popularity gradually waned. Then, in 1995, after a brief performance on MTV to a rapturous audience, the original line up reconciled and reformed. But when Kiss immediately began a relentless schedule of tours, old tensions soon resurfaced. By 2000 the band hung together by a thread, and the original line up of Kiss broke up when Peter Criss left for the last time. So what caused the original members of Kiss to finally split? We’ll reveal the truth behind the break up of the original Kiss. Show Less
Kiss blew glam rock out of the water when they formed in 1972, their larger than life cartoon personas and pyrotechnic on stage antics...Show More

Monday, April 20

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin split on December 4th 1980, 2 months after the tragic death of iconic drummer, John Bonham. Throughout the 1970’s, at the height of the bands powers, Led Zeppelin became the world’s first rock supergroup, selling over 300 million albums and headlining 600 concerts worldwide. Zeppelin’s rock star excesses became the stuff of legend, and dark rumours swirled around their closely guarded inner circle as everything Zeppelin touched miraculously turned to gold. But after nearly a decade at the top, disaster engulfed the band, and fans speculated that Zeppelin was finally paying the price for their huge success. And 40 years after the split, Zeppelin’s popularity still hasn’t faded; fans, new and old, clamour for a final reunion, which has been described as the “billion dollar tour” by promoters worldwide. But lead singer, Robert Plant, has sworn that he will never play with Zeppelin again, denying lead guitarist Jimmy Page and bass guitarist John Paul Jones the reunion they want. So what really happened to the once close members of the world’s greatest ever rock band? Why won’t they ever play together again? We’ll uncover the truth behind the break up of Led Zeppelin. Show Less
Led Zeppelin split on December 4th 1980, 2 months after the tragic death of iconic drummer, John Bonham. Throughout the 1970’s, at t...Show More

The Eagles

The Eagles are one of the biggest bands in history, selling over 150 million records. Their music defined the 1970s, with songs like Hotel California, Take It Easy and Life In The Fast Lane and their greatest hits album was the greatest selling album of the twentieth century. Their music was the soundtrack to our lives. They were a band who left nothing to chance. Founder members Glenn Frey and Don Henley had a ruthless ambition for The Eagles and let nothing and nobody stand in their way. Yet after almost a decade together, the band suddenly fell apart amidst power struggles , bullying and feuding. the sex, drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle eventually caused them to self destruct. Show Less
The Eagles are one of the biggest bands in history, selling over 150 million records. Their music defined the 1970s, with songs like H...Show More

The Beach Boys

In the mid 1960s, with hits like Surfin USA and Good Vibrations, the Beach Boys became THE carefree sound of American youth. On stage the three brothers and cousin that formed the backbone of the band seemed like one happy family but nothing could be further from the truth. Its lead singer songwriter Brian Wilson battled with his mental health and the legacy of an abusive father. His drug-addicted brother Dennis redefined the meaning of excess. And frontman Mike Love’s obsession with the bottom dollar clashed with the rest of the band’s creative ambitions. Mental breakdowns and bitter fist fights would overshadow much of their 20 year reign as one of the world’s greatest ever bands. Show Less
In the mid 1960s, with hits like Surfin USA and Good Vibrations, the Beach Boys became THE carefree sound of American youth. On stage...Show More

About Breaking the Band

Sold out tours, chart-topping hits, and runaway world domination can all mean nothing when you’re in a band on the brink of collapse. Tempers flare, arguments erupt and the sweet sound of musical success comes to an abrupt end. Breaking the Band shows the battling egos, power struggles and inter-band rivalries. From crippling drug addictions to scandalous affairs Breaking the Band uncovers the incredible true stories by recreating the key moments the cameras missed in addition to using rare band interviews and off-stage footage to piece together each dramatic tale.
Personality Quiz: What Broke Your Band?

Personality Quiz: What Broke Your Band?

Before the break up, it felt like you could do no wrong. You had a big record contract, a sold out international tour, and your band's Instagram account was unrivaled. What could have happened? Take our personality quiz to find out! Don't miss Breaking the Band — Sundays at 10ET/9PT on REELZ