Emily Flores
You’d think the drummer—the heartbeat of any band—would be safe. But nope. Band breakups don’t just hit lead singers; drummers get the boot too, sometimes in wild, messy ways. Behind the kit might be sticks and rhythm, but behind the scenes? Fights, faxes, and the occasional flying cymbal.
Bill Ward — Black Sabbath
Before the band excluded Ward in the 2011 reunion over a contract disagreement, the drummer had left multiple times, citing health issues and financial disputes. However, insider info maintains that Ward once disappeared for days during recording sessions due to heavy drinking. Then, Ozzy Osbourne publicly called him “overweight and not up to it.”
Pete Best — The Beatles
The Beatles fired Best in 1962, just before they achieved international fame, and replaced him with Ringo Starr without directly informing him. Fans even started “Pete Best fan clubs” to protest. Thankfully, he received a financial windfall as compensation in the ’90s when early Beatles recordings were released.
Jimmy Chamberlin — Smashing Pumpkins
Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin’s time with Smashing Pumpkins was as chaotic as it was iconic. Following a 1996 heroin incident that left keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin dead, the band let Chamberlin go—by fax. Still, Billy Corgan couldn’t quit him for long, rehiring him multiple times for the group’s most successful albums.
Peter Criss — KISS
Like Chamberlin, KISS fell out with Criss due to substance abuse and erratic behavior, such as bringing a handgun to a band meeting. Still, the band brought him back for reunion tours because he was quality. Music and KISS fans remember him for inspiring the band’s first ballad, “Beth,” which became a surprise hit. However, he left again amid disputes.
Steven Adler — Guns N’ Roses
Although Adler played on most of “Appetite for Destruction,” a best-selling album of all time, the band kicked him out in 1990. While his drumming style influenced a generation of hard rock percussionists, the band let him go when his heroin addiction started affecting his drumming. In 2016, he briefly reunited with GNR for two shows.
Mick Fleetwood — Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood was the drummer and namesake of this legendary band, who helped them through many breakups and shakeups. He kept the band going through 18 lineup changes, but he had his tension. Despite being the glue, Fleetwood was once kicked out of his band for a short time during a legal dispute.
Mike Portnoy — Dream Theater
Mike Portnoy co-founded Dream Theater and served as their drummer for 25 years, but when he asked for a break in 2010, the band decided to continue without him. He cried when he wasn’t allowed back and had to join Avenged Sevenfold as a temporary drummer. However, Dream Theater welcomed him back in 2023, 13 years after his departure.
Mick Avory — The Kinks
Avory officially left in 1984 after years of musical and personal tension. One of such incidents was Avory reportedly often clashing with guitarist Dave Davies, once hitting him with a cymbal stand. Another was walking off mid-show after a fight on stage. Despite the fights, he played on many of the band’s biggest hits.
Scott Raynor — Blink-182
Fans still debate whether Blink-182 fairly handled Raynor’s firing during a 1998 tour. Most maintain that laying off their original drummer over the phone wasn’t proper. Officially, the team attributed his departure to “alcohol-related issues” and replaced him with Travis Barker, who had been filling in initially.
Dave Abbruzzese — Pearl Jam
If “Vs.” and “Vitalogy,” two of Pearl Jam’s most iconic albums, ring a bell, then you’d remember Abbruzzese as their drummer. The band fired him in 1994 over creative and personality conflicts. Besides being kicked out, he wasn’t inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame alongside them, despite playing on their Grammy-winning tracks.