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By Tatiana Simonian
It’s that time of year again — festival season! No matter how sweaty, muddy, drunk or lost you got last year, it’s time to relive the pain and the glory of seeing way too many bands with way too many people...and using porta-potties. Will it be too expensive? Yes. Will one of your friends puke in your car? Most likely. Will you go anyway? Oh, hells yes.
Shenanigans aside, the best part of festival season has got to be band reunions. Every year, our favorite bands of the past announce reunions that are in no way, shape or form motivated by promoters throwing tons of dough their way. On the contrary, these reunions are for the love of music and for the art of rock. Never mind the fact that the Pixies called their 2004 tour, “The Pixes Sell Out,” they were just being ironic. Sort of. Anyhow, here’s a list of bands we’d like to see make up and sell out — er, play out.
Oh Morrissey, why must you spite us? In 2006, Mozzer broke a million hearts when he nonchalantly quipped at SXSW that he turned down a $5 million offer to reunite the Smiths for Coachella. The deal-breaker? Guitarist Johnny Marr had to be in on the action. Moz said, “No, thanks” and the phrase, “How Soon Is Never?” catapulted to fame. Since then, there’s been a whole lot of he said-he said between Marr and Morrissey. Marr, who now handles guitar duties for the Cribs, spurred reunion speculation two years ago when he commented that “stranger things have happened so, you know, who knows?” But when confronted just a few months ago with recent rumors about the reunited Smiths headlining Coachella 2009, Marr backpedaled and called the whole thing “rubbish.” Turns out he was right. Bummer. 
Here’s a reunion that almost actually happened! In 2005, the Cocteaus were announced as the headliners for Coachella. However, the whole thing fell apart before it could reach the stage. Rumors suggest it had to do with a Liz Fraser-Robin Guthrie rift — not surprising, since that’s what broke up the band in the first place. Since then, CT chanteuse Fraser has toured with Massive Attack, but hasn’t made any other public appearances. She was scheduled to perform at a casual gig in November with partner Damon Reece (ex-Spiritualized) and friends from Goldfrapp, Massive Attack and Echo and the Bunnymen; but once word of the show hit the papers, it was canceled. Meanwhile, bassist Simon Raymonde and shoegaze guitar god Guthrie are still running their successful label Bella Union. That’s all fine and dandy guys, but we want to hear Heaven or Las Vegas live. Now. 
Well, this long shot just got a whole lot longer with the recent (super vague) announcement that the Pumpkins’ original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has flown the coop. It’s times like this when a plural band name gets rather tricky, eh? On one hand, we concede that the Pumpkins will always be synonymous with Monsieur Corgan, but we gotta admit there will always be a giant itch to see all the old players back together as a four piece. We don’t even care that D’Arcy got a ton of plastic surgery and looked nearly alien at their final gig at Chicago’s Metro concert hall in 2000. There was something magical and dark about the original line-up that we’ll always miss. However, between Iha’s new power pop outfit Tinted Windows, J.C.’s departure and Darcy’s covert ops, it seems the Smashing Pumpkins as they were…will never be again. 
We’re goin’ with Henry Rollins-era Black Flag on this one because a) he was their longest-lasting singer and b) more importantly, he still looks pretty fit; no one wants to watch a sloppy old guy try to relive the hardcore days. But this is one of those reunion hopes that’s kind of tricky: on one hand, you want to see one of the most seminal American hardcore bands of all time and hear some of the old jams live again. On the other hand, maybe we should just leave the memories of their raw power in tact instead of trying to relive the glory days. In any case, it’s tough to imagine Rollins and Flag founder Greg Ginn ever being willing to share the same stage again, so the issue’s ultimately kind of moot.
Jarvis, knock off the solo career and put your band back together. If any band personified Brit Pop, it was Pulp. Jarvis Cocker’s deadpan tales of blue-collar British life pasted against catchy-ass guitar riffs became the dance anthems for every alternative club in the ‘90s. There’s no good reason for Pulp not to reunite short of Mr. Cocker’s ego. And while we’re totally down with the whole “I’m an artist” thing frontmen go through after they ditch their bands, this one’s gone on long enough. It’s been almost a decade Jarv; give us a reason to jump up and down in the pit again. 
So much time (and plastic surgery) has passed since the Jackson 5 burst onto the popular music scene in the late ‘60s. Still, the songs these guys churned out go down as some of the best pop and soul performances ever. Can you possibly hear the baby-voiced “ABC” without wanting to dance? However, it’s hard to imagine a Jax5 reunion being anything less than disastrous considering the disconcerting state of the Gloved One, but we can dream. 
We knew it was over for Guns ‘n’ Roses the moment Axl got cornrows. True, we got into the whole Chinese Democracy hype — it’s hard not to be fascinated by an album that takes that fucking long to finish — but it’s hard to consider the 21st century Guns legit when the entire band has become a rotating cast of players, sans heavy hitters like, oh, y’know Slash. If we’re going to stand around waiting for hours to hear “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” it had better be coming out of Slash’s Les Paul with Duff on bass and Izzy on rhythm guitar. We’d add Steven Adler on skins, but considering his current stints on Celebrity Rehab and Sober House, we’re gonna have to opt for Matt Sorum on this one. 
Paul Weller might be the best-aging rock star on the planet. And while the Modfather continues to pursue a successful solo career that we won’t rag on [well, maybe you won’t — EditorDan], who could resist seeing him kick out some old school, er, jams? Weller’s former henchmen Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler have gone the time-honored “Fine, we’ll do a reunion tour without you” route the past few years, cleverly calling themselves “From The Jam.” But we all know that they, the Style Council or solo Weller will never truly match the fire and skill of the original Jam. 
While reunions featuring Dez from Black Flag and Marky Ramone were indeed tasty, nothing can satisfy our desire to see the Misfits as Satan originally intended them to be: with Glenn Danzig barking out “Last Caress.” The influence of the veteran punk act is unrivaled on numerous levels, and we’re guessing a Misfits reunion would be a way bigger draw than Danzig’s Samhain “reunion” a few years back. However, considering the success of Danzig’s solo career, his long-standing antipathy towards original bassist Jerry Only, and the fact that he’s already stated that his tours from 2004 to 2006 — during which he was joined onstage by Walk Among Us-era guitarist Doyle for 30-minute sets of Misfits tunes — were “the closest thing to a Misfits reunion that anyone is ever going to see,” we kinda figure this one ain’t gonna happen.
The demand for a Stone Roses reunion remains perpetually high; the groundbreaking Mancunian band seems to always wind up in the Coachella rumor mill, and the British music press seems to report on the activities of members Ian Brown, Mani and John Squire with unusual abandon for a band that’s been dead 13 years. (While their acclaimed drummer Reni has managed to remain covert, we’re pretty sure if he came out of hiding, the press would be all over him too.) Considering the recent peak of interest in Hacienda-era bands (like, y’know, Joy Division), we think it’s high time the Stone Roses got back to selling their soul and letting us adore them. 
The Minneapolis hardcore legends disbanded in 1987 over personality clashes and drug problems, and subsequent royalty disputes have haven’t done much to heal the rifts. Bob Mould and Grant Hart performed two Hüsker Dü songs at a 2004 benefit show for Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller (who was dying of cancer at the time), but Mould made it clear via his blog that fans shouldn’t get their hopes up for a full-band reunion. Mould has a new album coming out in April, Hart has been busy recording with epic Montrealers God Speed You Black Emperor!, and bassist Greg Norton has opened a successful Minnesota wine bar and restaurant (appropriately called Mr. Norton’s) and has a math rock-ish side project called the Gang Font. Nevertheless, the greatness of the ‘80s punk trio is undeniable — everyone from Green Day to Nirvana to the Pixies has cited the Dü as an influence — and their legend continues to grow with each passing year. And how cool would it be to see them blast through “Reoccuring Dreams” one more time?
Remember when the term “emo” didn’t imply copious amounts of hair product and fluorescent clothes? Back in the glory days of bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Texas is the Reason, At The Drive-In burst on the scene with more energy and staying power than all the rest...or so it seemed. The post-hardcore quintet from El Paso was known for their bombastic sound (and Cedric Zavala-Bixler and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’ massive ‘fros), and lasted seven years before splitting up and forming Sparta and the Mars Volta. And while the MV have become the more successful of the two bands, we gotta admit that we’d if we had a choice, we still rather see ATDI. 
The cumulative talent of the original Talking Heads lineup was pretty insane. First you had David Byrne, who wrote most of the songs and provided the band with its oddball image. (Remember the giant suit from Stop Making Sense?) Then there was the married rhythm section of Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, who also had a little side project called the Tom Tom Club that was responsible for the oft-sampled ‘80s jam, “Genius of Love.” Lastly, there was keyboardist/guitarist Jerry Harrison, who was a member of the equally awesome Modern Lovers, and has since gone on to produce everyone from the Violent Femmes and the Von Bondies to Foo Fighters and No Doubt while also co-founding Garageband.com. So why don’t the Talking Heads reunite? Well, the problem seems to be lingering bad blood between Byrne and the remaining three members; the quartet managed to get it together once in 2002 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction, but there’s been nada since then. C’mon, dudes; can’t we all get along?
Minor Threat are without a doubt one of the most influential bands of the 1980s, not only for their in-your-face sound but for their non-music related impact on both the scene and music business. See those X’s on your non-drinking veggie friend’s wrists? Thank Minor Threat for their 1980 song “Straight Edge,” which launched a movement that continues to this day. Hate major labels and wanna keep it DIY? Thank Minor Threat’s Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson for proving with their label Dischord Records that bands don’t have to sell out in order to keep up. All ex-Minor Threat members have gone on to equally awesome involvements ranging from Fugazi to Bad Religion to guitarist’ Lyle Preslar’s attorney gig. Nothing could be more awesome than seeing Minor Threat reunite and school a whole new generation of kids who seem keen on abusing the words “hardcore” and “punk” — however, money-grabbing reunion shows are the sort of music biz conventions that Minor Threat rebelled against in the first place.
Of all the bands listed here, the only one currently in talks to actively reunite is Stockton, California’s Pavement. The torchbearers of the ‘90s American indie rock sound broke up in 2000 after frontman Steven Malkmus decided he’d had enough. Malkmus also decided not to inform several of his bandmates of this decision which led to some of the guys hearing of their band’s demise through the Internet. (This would be the updated version of Frank Black’s “band break up via fax” method.) While rifts between members went on for awhile, all seems to be well as of January 2009 when Pavement guitarist Scott Kannberg told an indie rag, “2009 would be our 20-year anniversary, so that'd be a good time to do it, but I think that's too soon, it might have to be pushed back later.” 2009 also happens to be the 20th anniversary of Pavement’s label Matador Records, who are rumored to be having a big fete that may feature said cement-related band.
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i need the misfits danzig doyle plz come back plz
what about soundgarden?! save chris cornell and bring him back to rock
If only the original GNR would get back together...*sigh*
i would DIE if smashing pumpkins reuinted.. at the drive-in... the misfits... minor threat? ohh man this is just my dream team line up!! and of course the jackson 5 (RIP MJ).. if only dreams came true!!!
Would love to see At The Drive-In reunite.
Oh Smashing Pumpkins.....if they were reunited i'd be fricking stoked
Talking Heads for sure...along with the original "wardrobe".
to xcoreyx it looks like the get up kids are doing something because they are playing here this november. Totally STOKED! for that day. I agree with this list, but we could always argue for a different perspective on the list, or say that there time's have past; but it is always a nice feeling to hope and dream that they will get back together and be just like no time has passed....oh the joys of imagination. :)
Husker Du!
At The Drive-In! Yes! -Karen@31
The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, Talking Heads and Minor Threat please! <3
Woot! Id be thrilled to see The Smiths and the original GNR! And, Talking Heads...
I don't really seeing the Jackson 5 reuniting now... R.I.P. Michael Jackson
Let us go back in time and see The Velvet Underground!
I would say I'd love to see Refused reunite, but after the last T(I)NC record, maybe not.
and Jackson 5, holy crapp!
I think I'd pretty much die if ATDI reunited (... and it feels so good)! We always joke at work with the people who don't know why Sublime isn't together anymore, and we always have a conversation about how amazing a comeback tour from Nirvana and Sublime would be. Sadly, they don't get it. :O)
thumbs up tp all of these.. but what about the movie life? and the early november?
Sunny Day Real Estate? This fall? Hmmmm
What about Genesis (Original Line up)!? I loved the Peter Gabriel fronted years with Phil Collins on drums!!! :)
there is a reason why these bands broke up... and why they shouldnt reunite. lol and yeah, it bums me out to not have the chance to see some bands ever again (or simply ever), but i appreciate a band that understands that all things have a lifespan. As long or as short as they may be. reunion shows tend to be not worth their weight in actual "wait" time. like the misfits. or bay city rollers. or the majority of these peeps trying to recapture a bygone feeling of self-worth. if youre truly a worthy musician, you can carry on in other projects. if youre truly a worthy person, then you don't need the ego-trip down memory lane.
i would kill a donkey to see at the drive-in reunite...okay maybe i wouldn't really kill a donkey, but i'd think real hard about it...
Thumbs up to The Smiths. I think the past may as well stay just that, though.
maybe instead of reunite...we can build a time machine & go back to watch them in their glory days.
tribe called quest did reunite for some shows!
the smiths in concert would be godly.
Tribe Called Quest?
I think I might be willing to sell everything i own to see Pulp live again(sigh). Why did Jarvis have to move to France anyway?!
talking heads would indeed rule!!!
bring back husker du! ready go!
Yeah man, the original lineups of the Smashing Pumpkins & Guns N Roses were sweet.. but I must say, if The Misfits had the recording quality of today, THAT'D BE SOO BADASS :D haha
I never did get to see the Jam, The Smiths, Pulp, or The Stone Roses. As much as I love all of these bands I am not sure I would want to see them reunite. I doubt that most of them really like each other or that the energy or passion would be there. I think sometimes it is better to remember them as they were.
i would give my left leg to see rollins and mackaye school the new generation. maybe an arm too...
We dont need a smiths reunion when we have Morrissey! What about a Q and not U reunion show?
I agree with these for sure: Smiths ATDI Black Flag Jackson 5 (most of all) Minor Threat
Dead Can Dance!!!
It would be nice to see At the Drive-In play another show together, but I'm happy just as long as the Mars Volta is around. I think Omar and Cedric are able to do more with their talent in the Mars Volta rather than ATDI
I agree. I really liked at the drive in together. But their new bands are okay...
I would agree with At the drive-in, and the Talking heads. I don't disagree that Ian Mackaye should reunite with some of his old projects, but minor threat might be my last choice. I personally would rather be lulled into a blissful coma watching Ian do some "long division" or sit in a "waiting room" with the rest of Fugazi. I feel fully satisfied with the new misfits line up and don't think i would like to see jerry only suplex danzig on stage. They both play the same songs with great intensity no need to put them in the same room together. As for the rest of the brittish pop or pseudo-indy/brittish pop inspired music on this list I say good riddance. Not featured on this list that I think everyone would be better for seeing is the Murder City Devils. There is nothing quite like watching someone play a keyboard that is on fire! A reunion of Mr. Dibbs and Slug(Atmosphere)the live band thing is cool but I miss dibbs. Maybe one of Mike Parks' projects like skankin pickle or any of those 90's asian man bands. how about Jello Biafra back with the dead kennedys(if it hasn't happened already). or we could find some way to raise the dead, bring back eazy e and tupac, and reform the original N.W.A. and the digital underground.
now that stereolab is on hiatus/broken up for the time being, i nominate... STEREOLAB! i miss them already.
...the talking heads FOR SURE even though I think that David Byrne is still creating some AMAZING sounds and art on his own-the catchy-indy-pop-fantastic-ness that was the heads needs to be recaptured....I know Rage is performing of late together, but an album out of them would be rad-and seriously-I would love to see any of the old RIOT GRRRL bands back together....L7 anyone??
Minor Threeeaat! Black Flag! The Smiths! The Misfits! any of those would be great!
I agree that At the Drive-In should get back together, but The Mars Volta is on fire especially now that they have Thomas Pridgen drumming for them. But a reunion would be awesome.
Blind Faith, Cream, Traffic...The Band...those would work for me.
Refused? Jawbreaker? Mineral? Cap'n Jazz? Modern LIfe Is War? Just a thought.
I would absolutly kill to see Bush back together. That would be amazing!!
Totally second Refused and Jawbreaker.
uhm, the police reunited for like the last 2 years
While, I'm perfectly content with their CD's...The Police might also be a fun one too just for S-n-G's.
I second every band on this list... I also would love to see Cap'n Jazz Refused and Jawbreaker. I got to see Refused and Jawbreaker the first time around... so good... Seriously, two of the best moments of my life... For Jawbreaker, several moments... =)
sugar
i'm with scorpiogirl way down at the bottom..... Death From Above 1979!!!...... and ATDI :)
ahhh ok minor threat def. hell yea! but hello sceeching weasel....we thought it happened for a brief moment but no not really...
totally agree about refused. international noise conspiracy is just a slap in the face.
While Refused's absence on this list confounds me, a Get Up Kids reunion would cause more joy for me personally.
The Misfits songs are better. Sorry Jem and the Holograms. You should have looked a little more deathrock.
How about some Soundgarden? They were much more dynamic than their grnge-movement piers and could still be going strong. With all the rumored internal conflicts, I can't see it actually happening. Regardless, I'd love to see Chris Cornell to get back his "rock", as opposed to his MTV-friendly, yawn-inducing solo project.
Minkyagogo, mad props for the Jem reference! ;)
... and speaking of the misfits, my favorite lineup is actually the one from 85-88 that featured my ladies pizzazz, roxy and stormer. they RULED on jem and the holograms! this song is the jam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A5XFA84tMs&feature=related
I'd die happy if I could see Floyd and Styx reunited...
I agree Minkyagogo. And also, I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Zapatista juggernauts known as Bell Biv DeVoe. Let's not forget what they said about Tennille, "that girl is poison".
I'm excited about The Mummies first US show since they reunited in Spain last autumn. It's already sold out.. but I got a ticket! Yay! Oh, & there is a Screeching Weasel reunion in Austin this summer, but I heard Jughead is not involved :(
Tennille... Hahaha, you win
considering today's social/political climate, i would say the captain and tennille are more relevant than ever. don't try to deny it. toni tennille will jack you up with one swift blow from her golden microphone.
people keep saying soundgarden, but which lineup do they mean?
You said it yourself 80’s and 90’s Britpop. Even the British punk you mentioned has a Britpop punk feel to it... Outside of the obvious - Misfits, Jacksons, GnR, Minor Threat, Black Flag - and keep in mind I did write “kinda”, you have to admit there are 7 or 8 bands that have that Brit-pop or Britpop-punk sound.
the photo in the actual article is from '78... the photo in the tile we used is newer. either way, i think it's universal that the original misfits should get back together... devilocks or not... \m/
to jrenkiewicz5000 - the photo in the article is from 78.
its kinda wierd that they show a picture of the 1996ish misfits when they suggest that the original 1977 group get back together... just sayinnnnnn..... little confusing
i camped out with at the drive in for star wars episode I tickets in high school!!!
Modern Life Is War and Soundgarden!
smiths in the number 1 spot is awesome and makes me smile...will it ever happen
Uh. Why are people saying Rage Against The Machine? The band REUNITED A YEAR AGO. Since then they have done a ton of shows around the globe. So stop saying them! I agree 100% about ATDI. But that will never happen knowing how Cedric and Omar pretty much gave a huge fuck you to the rest of the members (Don't believe me? Check out One Armed Scissor from Jools Holland, see how the took a fit on live TV, its one of their last performances).
I so agree with Guns N' Roses. Axel has ruined everything that band was.
Oh yeah -- I could really go for a REAL Undertones reunion, not one with the fake Feargal!
Lessee... there's 70s British punk bands on this list, 80s hardcore, 80s and 90s Britpop, new wave, metal, alt-rock, and the Jackson Five. How exactly is this a one-side list, Reggie?
I often find myself trying not to care but I just can’t on this one. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. (I’ll give you The Smiths, Black Flag and GnR but once again I see a kinda one sided list) With today’s social/political climate Rage would not only be the most relevant but also the best… On top of that I would give my unborn child for a Rage Against the Machine, System of A Down show.
this really needs an edit/delete comment option
I also think a Sugar reunion would be way more fun than a Husker Du reunion.
While a good number of these bands, I think some of them would just give off that "old dudes playing old tunes" vibe that makes so many touring classic rock bands seem pathetic. I do think Pulp and Pavement could still seem fun on record and live. i also agree with adizzle1986 that a jawbreaker reunion would be awesome
Rage, Zeppelin, Floyd.....nuff said!!
I would pay any amount of money for either a Smiths, At The Drive-In or Jawbreaker reunion!
author's personal list: sunny day real estate, slowdive, roxy music, ride... but the cocteau twins are my no.1. jane's addiction was before that but i got to see them this year!
Where do I begin with my wishlist? Uncle Tupelo, X-Ray Spex, Whiskeytown (lineup from the first album), Generation X, Lone Justice, Roxy Music, Rank and File....Dear God, don't get me started.
Death from Above 1979!!!
Refused and Rage are hereby seconded.
i am still waiting for the smashing pumpkins reunion! i would love to see it happen. and thank you poptart, it would be awesome to see rage back together!
I still think Rage should be on this list!
I give props to the ATDI mention. My honorable mentions (top of my head here): 1. Sunny Day Real Estate 2. Soundgarden 3. Refused 4. Quicksand 5. Hum
abba... oh mark... you patron saint of nordic sound.
this list needs a little abba action, pronto! ummm... wouldn't mind seeing cocteau twins again (although they were never the best live band). don't think husker du will ever happen since bob and grant hate each other's guts. seriously. (ps - tina weymouth looks like she has one arm in this photo... she's totally pulling a def leppard!).