Recent developments in the Innerpartysystem thread made me think about bands I've seen live who have later broken up or gone on hiatus. I was fortunate enough to see Oasis live in September 2008 before Noel quit the band. Sad thing is the show was abruptly cut short because an asshole attacked Noel during the performance, cracking some of his ribs. Noel tried to push through and managed to get through 4-5 more songs before having to go to the hospital. I never got to hear Champagne Supernova live, and that makes me die inside. I also saw Nine Inch Nails in November 2008. I don't know if the band is officially on hiatus, but Trent Reznor seems to be following other projects at the moment with no upcoming plans to resurrect the band. Have you been fortunate to see any bands before they broke up or went on break?
I have never been fortunate enough to see the crap bands of my early teen years go on hiatus or break up. Srs post: One weird thing from all of my concert experiences however was that every single band I've seen live, the show was promoting an album that afterwards was followed by a change in the band's sound. I saw LP, SOTY, Hoobastank, and P.O.D. in 2004; at least three of those four I know for sure then followed up with an album with a very different sound than what they were promoting at the time. Sevendust in 2005; everything from Alpha onwards has been different and very not-as-good. Dream Theater in 2005 and 2007; need I say more?
Saw Adema last year. They had gotten back together with their original lineup briefly and played all old material, it was pretty awesome. They are broken up again I believe.
This technically doesn't count on both counts, but I almost saw George Carlin! Almost! I had noted the date but I'm an absent minded dork who forgot to buy tickets before the show, and school was starting right at that time. then he died right after that ._. Missed opportunities bite.
As opposed to bands I saw after they broke up? Hur hur hur Poison The Well, Nine Inch Nails, To The North, Baryshnikov, Fear Before, Isis.
Went to RUFiO's farewell show in 2007. They reunited in 2009 but lost their original bass player and drummer. Their newest album sucked. Saw Bayside in 2004, before the band got into a major tour van accident in 2005 and unfortunately their original drummer died. The band is still going strong but I didn't like their latest album at all.
I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers before John Frusciante left the band. I saw Placebo twice before their drummer left the band. I saw RX Bandits this summer on their Farewell Tour, so they're probably finishing up after this. I saw Wolfmother before their line-up changes. So, I guess the only one that really counts is RX Bandits, but I felt the other ones were worth mentioning because of the significance those lineup changes had.
Well at least you were fortunate enough to have the opportunity; I had no idea who he was before he died, I had to discover him and his material afterwards (granted I knew about Rufus from Bill & Ted but I didn't know that was George Carlin).
Drowning Pool weeks before Dave Williams died. Greenwheel. Their single was "Breathe" which was then covered by one Melissa Etheridge, in which it became big. They've since changed their name to Go Van Gough and no news of the band has surfaced since 2008. Phantom Planet. They opened up for Incubus and are currently on Hiatus. Black Sabbath, but it was a reunion... I dunno if that counts. No One. Chicago Made Nu Metalz 3rd Strike. Moar Nu Metalz. Creed. The show before Scott Stapp had a meltdown. Vendetta Red, before their Hiatus... Apparently there was some talk about them last year? American Head Charge. Before their Guisarist died. A comeback was teased, but nothing's come from it. Brooks And Dunn. Country. Yes, I know... My favorite local bands: "Saraphine" "Swizzle Tree" "Innocent Criminal" and "Myllhous" Here is a favorite from Saraphine: [youtube]8BmXXlHh-0Q[/youtube] There are probably other countless opening bands that I'm missing here...
Blink-182 twice, Fall Out Boy, Nine Inch Nails, Alexisonfire along with some others that I'm not sure about the status of. Like Sugarcult. xD
Real shattered I didn't get to see Alexisonfire - but I'm still glad I skipped them for Glassjaw at soundwave last year.
Kiss with their original lineup, 3 times between 1996 and 2000. Korn with their original lineup. Taking Back Sunday with Fred Mascherino on guitar. My Chemical Romance with Bob Bryar on drums. Placebo with Steve Heweitt on drums. Julien-K with Brandon Belsky on keys. 10 Years with Matt Wantland on guitar and Brian Vodinh on drums. No Warning Styles of Beyond Countless midwest independent bands (mostly from Ohio) that have since broken up - The Merkurs, Sofapunch, Team Stray, etc.