Breaking the Band
Saturday

Upcoming Episodes

Saturday, February 01

The Supremes

The Supremes were the greatest girl band ever. Over the course of the 60’s they had 12 Billboard chart topping hits, including 5 consecutive number 1’s - still a record for a girl band. They were an international sensation – three teenage, African American girls from the Detroit projects who conquered the world. Berry Gordy, the boss of Motown, moulded Mary Wilson, Flo Ballard and Diana Ross into music stars as The Supremes. When they first got together, they were inseparable, but as their fame grew something happened to shatter the bonds between these friends. Diana Ross rose to become a superstar, but for another band member it would end in a tragedy of drink, despair and death. Told through the first hand testimony of those that were there, including original band member Mary Wilson, and with expert psychological analysis from Dr Linda Papadopoulos, this is the story of the Break Up of the Supremes. Show Less
The Supremes were the greatest girl band ever. Over the course of the 60’s they had 12 Billboard chart topping hits, including 5 con...Show More

Spice Girls

In the late 1990’s five ambitious young girls took the pop world by storm. Racking up total earnings of up to $800m between 1996 and 1998, with hits like Wannabe, Stop and Spice Up Your Life, The Spice Girls remain the best-selling girl group of all time. They began as 5 separate wannabes manufactured into a group with a mission to break the stranglehold boy bands had on the music charts. Then, thanks to a combination of relentless hard work, ruthless hiring and firing of managers, they conquered the global music charts in record time. The mantra that powered them, their fans and global brands eager to cash in on their success was Girl Power. But that same bombastic Girl Power, their over-ambitious workload and a desire to seize control from their management would burst their bubble after just 2 years at the top. Show Less
In the late 1990’s five ambitious young girls took the pop world by storm. Racking up total earnings of up to $800m between 1996 an...Show More

Sunday, February 09

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

Motley Crue

Motley Crue has sold over 100 million records making them one of the most successful rock bands in the world. The rise of the Sunset Strip bad boys was an 80s journey of debauchery and excess, until their hair metal hedonism ended in tragedy and addiction. Behind the fame, fortune and larger than life lifestyles was recrimination, rehab and bitter resentment. Show Less
Motley Crue has sold over 100 million records making them one of the most successful rock bands in the world. The rise of the Sunset S...Show More

Guns N' Roses

Formed in 1985, Guns N’ Roses is regarded as one of the best rock bands of all time and its album, ‘Appetite for Destruction’ is the best-selling debut in U.S. history. The band’s potent mix of hard rock and beautiful melodies, coupled with insightful and emotional lyrics helped them cross over into the mainstream, resulting in over 100 million record sales. But behind the immense fame and success lay chaos, as the famous front man’s antics led to a spate of late on-stage appearances, cancelled concerts and a series of riots, earning Guns N’ Roses the moniker, ‘The Most Dangerous Band in the World’. Throughout the turmoil, the band members battled drug addiction and the volatile mix of strong personalities ignited tension and conflict, eventually ripping the band apart. In August 1997, the last original band member quit leaving singer Axl Rose to front Guns N’ Roses with a whole new team of musicians. So what exactly caused the classic line-up of Guns N’ Roses to finally implode? Show Less
Formed in 1985, Guns N’ Roses is regarded as one of the best rock bands of all time and its album, ‘Appetite for Destruction’ is...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

Motley Crue

Motley Crue has sold over 100 million records making them one of the most successful rock bands in the world. The rise of the Sunset Strip bad boys was an 80s journey of debauchery and excess, until their hair metal hedonism ended in tragedy and addiction. Behind the fame, fortune and larger than life lifestyles was recrimination, rehab and bitter resentment. Show Less
Motley Crue has sold over 100 million records making them one of the most successful rock bands in the world. The rise of the Sunset S...Show More

Monday, February 10

Guns N' Roses

Formed in 1985, Guns N’ Roses is regarded as one of the best rock bands of all time and its album, ‘Appetite for Destruction’ is the best-selling debut in U.S. history. The band’s potent mix of hard rock and beautiful melodies, coupled with insightful and emotional lyrics helped them cross over into the mainstream, resulting in over 100 million record sales. But behind the immense fame and success lay chaos, as the famous front man’s antics led to a spate of late on-stage appearances, cancelled concerts and a series of riots, earning Guns N’ Roses the moniker, ‘The Most Dangerous Band in the World’. Throughout the turmoil, the band members battled drug addiction and the volatile mix of strong personalities ignited tension and conflict, eventually ripping the band apart. In August 1997, the last original band member quit leaving singer Axl Rose to front Guns N’ Roses with a whole new team of musicians. So what exactly caused the classic line-up of Guns N’ Roses to finally implode? Show Less
Formed in 1985, Guns N’ Roses is regarded as one of the best rock bands of all time and its album, ‘Appetite for Destruction’ is...Show More

The Clash

The Clash where icons of the punk rock revolution in Britain. They were political and challenging and their controversial music sold millions of albums. Their story centred around two musical talents, Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, and their manager Bernard Rhodes. Breaking the Band will investigate how the aggression and attitude that would bring the Clash success, would also lead to their self-destruction and ultimate break up. Show Less
The Clash where icons of the punk rock revolution in Britain. They were political and challenging and their controversial music sold m...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

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