We're Breaking Up: Bands Who Need to Quit

In the middle of August's festival cycle, The Maccabees said, “You know what? We're done.” They've had a decent run, so why call it quits?

The Skinny reckons the indie Londoners did something more bands should do; the honourable thing. The right thing. They recognised that they've given all that they've got, and now they've gone home. Here's a list of bands we wish wouldn't continue to over stay their welcome. 

The Rolling Stones

Formed: 120 AD 
Should have broken up in: No time in the last 41 years would have been too soon. 

This one's a no-brainer. They'll clearly never find that satisfaction that they so loudly crave, and we fear Keith will keep on rocking into eternity. C'mon, this has to end at some point... Doesn’t it?  

The Cure

Formed: 1977
Should have broken up in: 2000

It's a tragedy, but it's true. Once creative cultural forces, all your long established heritage bands will – one day – become a museum piece, consistantly producing diminishing musical returns. The Cure are one of the greatest bands of all time – but now, nothing feels quite right. The songs are still there, the fans are still there, Robert Smith's hair is still there, but the magic is long since gone. 

Primal Scream

Formed: 1982
Should have broken up in: 2001

It’s painful to think that the same band who made the spleen venting, frenzied electro-punk of XTRMTR were having a jolly good country rock hoe-down on the excruciating Country Girl just 6 years later, but there you go. Let Bobby Gillespie and gang be a warning to you all.

The Libertines

Formed: 1997
Should have (stayed) broken up in: 2002

The good ship Albion is tattered and rusted, and the Libertines myth has evaporated into patchy solo careers, Pete Doherty's inexplicable typewriter collection and a lukewarm reunion that gamely tried to recapture past glories. Instead, Pete, Carl, Gary and John look – and sound – like a band out of time. Camden's not cool any more. Have you heard Gunga Din? 

The Strokes

Formed: 2000
Should have broken up in: 2003 (2006 if we’re generous)

Imagine how annoying it must be to have people CONSTANTLY. BANGING. ON. about Is This It. It's a close-to-perfect debut album, sure, but The Strokes could remake a glorious interpretive mash up of Dark Side Of The Moon and Pet Sounds, and you'd still get whingers crying on. "When are you going to do another Last Nite?" Their hearts clearly aren't in it anymore, and we can't blame them. 

Bloc Party

Formed: 2003
Should have broken up in: 2007

Forget Silent Alarm, it's 2016 and Bloc Party bears almost no resemblance to the band that were once so invigorating. Since a multitude of break-ups and misguided side projects, Bloc Party resemble a punctured balloon with the air slowly leaking from it. 

* See also: Kaiser Chiefs; Stone Roses; Catfish and the Bottlemen; Kings of Leon; Courtney Love; anything involving a Gallagher.