5 Bands That Need to Make a Comeback

Oasis are now well underway of their reunion tour which people had been begging for since they broke up in dramatic fashion in 2009. In honour of this, I have compiled a list of five bands that I feel need to make a comeback and reunite. This could be a one off show, a tour or for good.

1. Title Fight (2003-2018)

   
   

Founded when the band members, Ned Russin (bass, vocals), Ben Russin (drums), Jamie Rhoden (guitar, vocals) and Sean Moran (guitar) were 14 years old in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Title Fight are a pivotal band to hardcore music, with the 2009 release of The Last Thing You Forget a compilation of early EPs Kingston and a split with the band Erection they started getting more attention in the hardcore scene and started working on their debut album. The 2011 release of the classic album Shed which includes their most well known song the harrowing 'Safe in Your Skin'. This album really established Title Fight as one of if not the best hardcore bands of all time and they gained a cult following. The 2012 release of Floral Green followed which blended elements of alternative and indie rock with their classic hardcore punk sound furthering their popularity and bringing a new refreshing sound to their music. Their final album was released in 2015 called Hyperview which saw a complete change in the sound of Title Fight to a more shoegaze/indie rock sound.

The band would go on tour to support the release of Hyperview but have not played a show since January 2018. Although no formal announcement was made the band has not been active since. Ned Russin, the main vocalist, now has a new band called Glitterer who released an album as recently as February 2024, Ben Russin has been the drummer for the iconic emo band Citizen since 2023 and the other two members are not known to be involved in music anymore. No reason has ever been given for the unofficial break up but sources close to the band have said that it was due to burnout and band members losing interest. With the current rise of hardcore music with bands such as Turnstile and Knocked Loose playing on Jimmy Kimmel, headlining festivals and playing to large crowds at Coachella and Glastonbury it would be the opportune moment for a Title Fight reunion.

Likeliness Rating: 6/10

2. The Smiths (1982-1987)

The Smiths need no introduction, although the term "indie" was popularized by The Buzzcocks in 1977 with the independent release of their EP Spiral Scratch, I don't think there can be an argument that The Smiths created the indie genre. The Smiths actually were together for the shortest amount of time on this list but managed to release four albums that are all essential listening for all music fans, The Smiths (1984), Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987). An imperative band in British music history whose music still sounds fresh and resonates with people today.

The Smiths broke up in 1987 after in July that year guitarist Johnny Marr left the band. In a 2016 Guardian interview Marr spoke about the break up and blamed it on him having to manage the band after multiple managers were fired. Marr had this to say in the interview "It’s what split the band up, to this day I haven’t met anyone who thinks a major rock group should be managed by the 23-year-old guitar player.” In the same interview Marr also spoke about a time in 2008 where him and Morrissey met at a pub in Manchester and discussed the idea of reuniting. Marr said "The Cribs and I talked about the possibility of me playing some shows with The Smiths. For four days it was a very real prospect. Morrissey and I continued our dialogue and planned to meet up again. I went to Mexico with the Cribs, and then suddenly there was radio silence. Our communication ended, and things went back to how they were". Things now look even more unlikely with the passing of bassist Andy Rourke in 2023 and drummer Mike Joyce suing Morrissey and Marr for an equal share of royalties in 1996 it would only be Morrissey and Marr of the original line up. To make things clear Marr recently went on the Stick To Football podcast and said that he had turned down an eye watering amount of money for a smiths reunion as "the vibe's not right".

Likeliness Rating: 3/10

3. Modern Baseball (2011-2017)

Modern Baseball is the essential band of the 2010s fourth wave emo revival. Formed when co-lead vocalist and guitarist Bren Lukens and co-lead vocalist and guitarist Jake Ewald met in high school as Lukens was interested in Ewald's sister but they eventually became friends through the music they were both into, their name is inspired by a book in Ewald's basement that was titled Modern Baseball Techniques Lukens and Ewald then met bassist Ian Farmer at Drexler University in Philadelphia with drummer Sean Huber joining shortly after their debut album recorded at the University, Sports (2012). For more on the history of modern baseball you should watch their documentary Tripping in the Dark. Modern Baseball released three albums in their time together, Sports (2012), You're Gonna Miss It All (2014) and Holy Ghost (2016). What makes Modern Baseball one of the best emo bands of all time and one of my personal favourite bands is their ability to blend folk, indie, pop punk and classic emo into their music and their ability to write such introspective and impactful songs which you can scream along to or lay down to and reflect on the complexity of life and life's emotions. Songs such as Tears for Beers, Your Graduation and the underrated gem from the EP MoBo Presents: The Perfect Cast EP Featuring Modern Baseball, The Thrash Particle.

In January 2017 Bren Lukens announced that he would not be joining the band on their upcoming EU/UK tour to focus on their mental and physical health, see the statement here.

In February 2017 the band officially went on an indefinite hiatus with Jake Ewald sharing the following statement citing the need for the band to focus on their mental health: "Over the past few months the band has become an immense source of anxiety for me, and it wasn't until I opened up to Sean, Ian and Bren about it that we realized we were all feeling the same way". Ewald and Farmer went on to focus on Slaughter Beach, Dog a solo project Ewald started in 2016 which is now a full band with Farmer on bass. Sean Huber is focussing on his band Steady Hands which began as a solo project in 2012 and is now a 7 piece band with Huber on lead vocals and guitar. Bren has kept a pretty low profile not being a part of music and really focussing on their mental health. They have been posting a lot on Instagram lately and seem to be doing better now. This reunion seems inevitable in a way as it ended on good terms and all members are still friends with each other. I hope to see this happen soon.

Likeliness Rating 7/10

4. The Sundays (1988-1997)

Formed in Bristol when vocalist Harriet Wheeler and guitarist David Gavurin met while attending Bristol University, they soon moved to london and added bassist Paul Brindley and drummer Patrick Hannan to the line up. The band played their first show in August 1988 which was attended by people in the music press, this show received positive reviews in the press and when they had their second show people from major labels turned up and the band eventually decided to sign to Rough Trade records. the band would release three albums in their time together, their iconic debut album Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990), Blind (1992) and their last album Static & Silence (1997). The band achieved a number 1 single on the alternative rock charts in the US with Here's Where The Story Ends off their debut album. The band reached number 15 in the UK charts in 1997 with their single Summertime whilst the highest any album charted was number 4 in the UK with their debut. Their music is beautiful blend of indie and dream pop and I would recommend for fans of Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star and Wolf Alice as Wheeler's vocal style is similar to Ellie's of Wolf Alice.

Wheeler and Gavurin who had been in a relationship since meeting at university had their first child, Billie, in 1995 and married after the band had broken up. It seems very fitting that their last album was called Static & Silence as that's what it has been since the band broke up. Nothing. There are unofficial reasons for the band break up such as Wheeler and Gavurin stopped to raise their two children and focus on family. However, this is not official and all research points to that they just didn't want to be famous and wanted to focus on other things in life. In April of 2014 the silence was briefly broken in an in-flight magazine interview for American Airlines. Wheeler and Gavurin had not stopped making music, Gavurin had this to say: "First let’s see if the music we’re currently writing ever sees the light of day, and then we can get on to the enjoyable globe-trotting-meets-concert-planning stage”. The only member that is still actively involved in music is bassist Paul Brindley who played drums for indie band Theaudience who were fronted by Murder on the Dancefloor singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Brindley also did session work for many artists and currently works as a sound engineer and tour manager. The Sundays are in their early 60s now and a reunion seems very far away despite the cult following they have and a burst in popularity with a new generation.

Likeliness Rating: 2/10

5. Led Zeppelin (1968-1980)

   
   

Led Zeppelin were founded in London in 1968 out of the implosion of blues band The Yardbirds of which guitarist Jimmy Page was a member. Page recruited Robert Plant to be the singer who was part of the band Band of Joy along with drummer John Bonham who Plant recommended to Page. The final member John Paul Jones applied for the vacant bassist position and as Page knew him from being session musicians together let him join as the final member. Led Zeppelin are one of the best selling bands of all time. Selling 143.1 million certified units with claimed sales of between 200 and 300 million, this is good enough for 7th on the all time best sellers list. The 1970s was their peak with legendary albums such as Led Zeppelin 3 (1970), Led Zeppelin 4 (1971) and Physical Graffiti (1975). We all know just how amazing and influential Led Zeppelin is and all have a favourite album by them.

So why would one of the best selling and most loved bands of all time stop? On the 25th of September 1980 drummer John Bonham was found dead in his bedroom at Jimmy Page's house after Led Zeppelin had been rehearsing nearby at Bray Studios. Bonham had choked on his vomit in the night after drinking around 40 shots of vodka. After this tragedy Led Zeppelin released a statement on the 4th of December 1980 saying ""We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were." They have reunited for live aid in 1985 with drummers Tony Thompson (Chic) and Phil Collins, they reunited again in 1988 for the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert with John Bonham's son Jason Bonham on drums. The three remaining members would reunite one more time in 2007 for a tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun with Jason Bonham on drums again. Led zeppelin are now well into their 70s with Jimmy Page being 81 so even a one off reunion for a Glastonbury headline slot seems very unlikely but it would be great for the new generation and old fans to see them a last time, a farewell concert like Black Sabbath did earlier this month.

Likeliness Rating: 4/10