While some fairytales end with “happily ever after,” anyone living in the real world knows that’s not always the case. Sometimes, love just isn’t enough to keep a lasting partnership, marriage or alliance in place. And when these breaks happen, you have the inevitable consequences that also come from them.
One of the ways you can comfort yourself if and when you experience any sort of breakup is by knowing that humans have experienced this kind of heartbreak all throughout history. Bad blood, rising tensions, creative disagreements and, of course, irreconcilable differences have all been named as reasons people don’t end up spending their entire lives together — or their entire lives doing the things they love to do.
For a little schadenfreude to feel better about your own life, here are some of the most unforgettable and game-changing breakups of all kinds throughout modern and not-so-modern history.
What Led to the Guns N’ Roses Breakup
Kevork Djansezian / AP Photo
As early as 1991, Izzy Stradlin, the rhythmic guitarist, left the group in order to continue life sober. A few years later, they went on a hiatus from 1994 to 1996, though they continued to write music.
But personality clashes and ongoing tensions with frontman Axl Rose made lead guitarist and band personality Slash quit in 1996. After that, drummer Matt Sorum was fired in 1997, which likely led to Duff McKagan, the bassist, quitting later that year. The group still exists with Axl Rose as the frontman, but the original players who made it legendary no longer play together.
