Bands That Were Close Friendship-Wise

We always hear about bands that didn't get along. I read a line earlier that read, "That's why its called the 'music business' and not the 'friend business'"

There have been many bands that started out friends, but it usually didn't end well, or there might be "camps", half the band-mates are battling the other half.

But what about a band that were good friends for the entire time they were a band? I can't think of one, but out of hugely successful bands, I never heard of many problems between Led Zeppelin, and I know Bonham and Plant were friends before.

 

Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor seem like best buds.

 

Rush. Geddy, Alex and Neal always mentioned they'd hang out together when off work.

 

Genesis and R.E.M. are pretty classic examples. Not necessarily close friends but no documented bad blood (except a bit with Genesis and Steve Hackett, but even that seems to have blown over).

The E Street Band seems pretty tight as well.

 

Jimmy Iovine (I think) said that U2 would tour for two years and then
go on vacation together.

 

Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. Formed Talking Heads in 1974, married in 1977....still together.

 

There are two types of bands : bands made of great musicians who don't always like each other, and bands who are people who get on together, and who make music together.

I'm reminded of a conversation I had with Mike Edwards from Jesus Jones, where he said he didn't choose the best players, but he chose the best people who could all get on well together and be friends, which is why the only lineup change they've ever had is that of the drummer, who later came back when his replacement left to help another band out. He felt it was more important that everyone could spend 20 hours a day in a hot bus driving through America than play like the devil.

 

Radiohead have been friends since secondary school

Black Francis and Joey Santiago were friends at college and after The Pixies Split, Joey did play a bit of guitar on Franks first two solo albums,if u read interviews with them,they always seem to get along well. The same can't be said for Frank and Kim tho!

 

Alex and Geddy have been best friends since 1968.

 

Glenn Frey and Don Felder. Sorry couldn't resist.

I misunderstood the title at first and was going to post that Thin Lizzy and Rush were good pals.

 

George and Ringo. Other than a brief blip in 1976 they were close friends for forty years.

 

Lewisohn's book makes the point that their close friendship was a factor in George pushing Paul and John to ditch Pete Best and get Ringo in the Beatles, and Ringo always felt gratitude to George for that.

 

Dinosaur Jr.

Just kidding.

 

The Zombies seem like they are all pretty chummy, both the original line-up and the 21st century line-up. They've done a few tours together, both line-ups alternating sets, and they often post images on Facebook of themselves sightseeing or dining out together. They sure seem like nice people.

 

I get the sense that Flea and Anthony are chums.
Crosby and Nash were extremely close, like on the phone everyday for decades close, until recently.

 

Oh, TH have their difficulties.

 

Don and Phil Everly. Brothers and friends. Well....brothers anyway.

 

Sadly, considering how Bob Stinson was fired, I once read Paul Westerberg say something in Rolling Stone like how you should form a band with friends, so even if you fail, you did it with friends......



I used to also think The Dictators were all friends, until after the final breakup where HDM continued with his remnants band Manitoba/Dictators NYC and bashed Andy and Scott from the stage.
That was pretty disheartening to see and hear. The original band just seemed like more than an incredible band, what with songs like Hey Boys and - it's too depressing. A friend of mine once said they seemed to be about male bonding. So much for that, if it was true. Years of friendship ended. That's always sad...

 

Watched some documentary about them which ended with them having s long , leisurely meal together at a fancy restaurant. They seemed very close.

 

U2 have been friends for over 40 years since they were in high school.

 

Paul and Art grew up together and hung out a lot in their early teens and started performing together at age 14 I think. So I'd say they were close friends first before getting into the music business. They fell out in 1970 or something, but seems like they were actual friends for many years.

 

Tina and Chris are still on good terms with Jerry Harrison... David Byrne not so much

 

Didn't speak for 10 years, right?

 

I don’t think Neil saw Alex and Geddy much when they weren’t working, although there was clearly a huge amount of admiration, love and respect on all sides.

 

The R.E.M. guys always came across as people who cared about one another and prioritized everyone being on the same page.