We need to talk… about band breakups

With the recent announcement of rock group Panic! At The Disco parting ways, the question comes to mind as to why successful bands with countless awards, memories and fans decide to break up. Photo collage by SIMRAH AHMAD, staff photographer

On March 14, 2015, junior television writing and production major Charli Masson attended a One Direction concert in Bangkok, Thailand. Not only was this Masson's first time seeing her favorite band in person, but it was also her first concert ever. Whether it was seeing Harry Styles in the flesh or hearing her favorite song "Kiss You," Masson had to see them again. 

So, four days later on March 18, 2015, she saw them again in Hong Kong. Little did she know that six days later, Zayn Malik would announce he would be leaving the group to start a solo career — with the four remaining members continuing to perform until the group commenced an indefinite hiatus in August 2015.

"I was a die-hard fan," Masson said. "Every inch of my room was covered in posters. I knew all of their songs. It was borderline obsessive. I remember being so upset (about the breakup) and thinking, 'How could (Zayn) do this? He's leaving them.'"

While the loss of One Direction happened over seven years ago, there are still successful bands all over the world breaking the hearts of their fans by going their separate ways. The most recent example is rock group Panic! At The Disco, who announced on Jan. 24 that after nearly 20 years of music, the group "will be no more." 

Even though the lead singer of Panic! At The Disco, Brendon Urie, took on the group as a solo project in 2015 after the other original members parted ways, the legacy and continuation of the name will cease to exist — which results in many crying in the corner of a room blasting "Death of a Bachelor." 

All of this begs the question as to why these bands would break up after so many awards, albums, memories and loyal fans?

Psychology professor Samantha Gardner told The Panther that friction and an ultimate dissolution of a group happens due to social identity theory. This theory suggests that any group that people associate themselves with, whether that is an extracurricular club, volunteer organization or a band, helps boost their self-esteem and reduce uncertainty in one's identity. 

But once the values of the group change course, Gardner said that is when tensions rise. 

"The group members may have thought, 'I don't think this identity of being a member of this group is really who I am or it's not what I envisioned,'" Gardner said.

For Panic! At The Disco, Urie stated on Instagram that he wanted to put his "focus and energy on his family," but oftentimes bands like The Beatles or TLC stated there were creative differences that led to a strain in the group dynamic. Gardner said that when members feel unheard, they become a peripheral member, meaning they are marginalized and no longer feel equal to other members of the group. 

"Whenever we are feeling excluded, the part of our brain that's responsible for feeling pain lights up," Gardner said. "So it's actually a very painful response to feel like you're being excluded. And that can happen whenever you think people aren't listening to what you have to say. It's really critical that whenever you're in any kind of group, that you make sure that everybody's voice is being heard, thought about, considered and that people feel valued for what they're doing."

Even though these musicians may feel like they are disappointing their audience by announcing a breakup, Masson said it shouldn't be broadcasted as a major life-altering event. She suggests musicians ebb and flow with their creative passions, even if that means leaving a group to pursue solo music but then ultimately returning back to the group once more. 

"The breakup of a band doesn't have to be as dramatic as it is,” Masson said. “I feel like people could go off and do their own solo thing and get back together. It doesn't need to be one or the other." 

Another hardship of a music group detachment is the effect it holds on fans. Senior strategic and corporate communication major Giovanna Sestito, who was "devastated" by the breakup of her favorite band Fifth Harmony in 2018, said she placed responsibility on herself and fellow Harmonizers for the demise of the girl-group. 

"I definitely blamed myself in the beginning for Fifth Harmony's breakup," Sestito said. "I was like, 'Oh, we could've helped them or we could have streamed the album more.' But it's out of your hands."

Despite the emotional turmoil fans feel when their favorite band ends, Masson said it's crucial to reflect on the notion of being in the shoes of the musician. Sure, the life of a rockstar seems like a rollercoaster of fame and fortune, but they are also people trying to navigate their life just like everyone else. 

"Yes, (bands) make music, but they are also human beings who need to prioritize their own lives and mental health and whatever they want to do," Masson said. "So I feel like just reminding people that their music is not going anywhere, you can still listen to it, you can still enjoy it. But you might find that the stuff they do solo or the stuff they do outside of music is just as cool. It doesn't have to be them as an entity — they're all their own individual people."

Sestito said mourning the loss of a favorite music group is similar to closing a chapter of your life. Music can be a scrapbook of recollections, thinking of a different memory when hearing each tune. Luckily, those keepsake moments and pop anthems are never going away. 

"Even though they broke up, the friendships and the people I met through (Fifth Harmony) will last a lifetime," Sestito said.