It's interesting to hypothesize, especially for relatively young bands. Obviously guys like the Stones won't break up until one of them dies. So breakup due to death of a bandmate I won't count.

Also, "bands" that are essentially one person don't count. Nine Inch Nails and Iron & Wine can't break up.


My top picks are Pearl Jam and Guster.

Reasoning:
-They've attained enough of a fanbase that they can continue to produce and release albums that will find purchasers. They don't have to worry about creating hit singles or winning over new fans.

-All the members of the band seem to be good friends and on equal footing. No real power struggles or ego clashes can be expected.

-Longevity, thus far. They've been at it long enough that it is their job. They're not about to say "you know, this music thing isn't working" and throw in the towel and go and get a real job.

Things like that.


I can't think of a ton that I'd be confident enough to say "yeah, they won't break up" but I'm sure a ton will come up by other posters.

Feel free to offer counter-arguments as to why someone's pick will break up.

OK. So this band has been around a while, but I don't think The Residents will ever break up.

As for more recent artists...? Nothing comes to mind.

Audioslave.

sonic youth

!! I would be ok with a never-ending career of Sonic Youth.
I've actually thought that before.. I can't imagine Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon ever stopping.

Drive By Truckers

The Three Fifths

The Shambolic Trumpets

Los Lobos

Van Halen

Deep Purple.

Isbell just got kicked out though.


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... =173793613

Ween.

oh, damn!...this deserves it's own thread

tom petty & the heartbreakers. obviously, tom petty is never going to break up, but i believe this band has been pretty much the same nucleus (apart from adding a new drummer 10+ years ago) since the beginning. they might not do a lot, but i could see them doing a tour every year or two until a death in the band.

r.e.m. again, with the exception of the drummer (and two touring guitarists), they've been pretty much the same band members since the beginning of their tenure. i also think they are involved with enough other things to keep them from ever getting burnt out on being together. their albums may not come out as often as they once did and they won't tour as often anymore, but they'll pop in just to remind everyone that they still exist often enough.

aerosmith, unfortunately

Tragically Hip

Howie died a couple years back, hooker and OD in AZ, so they brought back the original bassist, Ron Blair. Plus on drums, steve ferrone... but they started with stan lynch

I knew.

metallica, unfortunately.

I thought Carlene was with him at the time.

haha...I actually forgot about that.

Those two waterheads break up and get back together every couple of weeks. It's like Luke and Laura minus Laura plus a second Luke.

Wow, Kit comes in with the nicknames of the year.

He was quoting me from a couple of months ago, Dwyer. But, yeah...it FUNGEE.