Sonic Youth explained: How a divorce ended the band
The music industry is an interesting place. While genres and sounds are constantly changing, the same problems that have always plagued artists continue to do so. One of the most common issues across all of music has been the love triangle, something that has plagued the best of bands. “You get a love triangle, Fleetwood Mac situation […] Mind you they did make some of their best music back then,” said Rhys Derby in the build up to the best musical joke ever written. “Rumours,” replies a bystander. “No, that’s all true.”
Being in a famous rock band is a strain on anyone, but it can be especially tricky for couples who make music together. This was the case for Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore, two of the driving forces behind the band Sonic Youth, who had to call it a day with the band after their relationship began to crumble.
When we look back at the ‘80s, we are often inclined to see it as a decade filled with glitz and glamour, as various synth and disco sounds climbed to the top of the charts. While this did happen, there was an underground of music which was equally thriving, as bands were given more permission to try and experiment with various styles and sounds, which led to an uprising of punk-heavy, distortion-laden, noise-infused music.
The band had great success because it refused to limit its creativity. Every album saw it try something different, and when it was at its peak, it seemed as though the band was unstoppable. While there certainly is an argument for that, all good things had to come to an end, and Sonic Youth eventually called it a day.
When did Sonic Youth break up?
Sonic Youth broke up in 2011, thanks to Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore’s separation. Their final shows took place in Brazil. Both members have continued to make music since the band split and have been successful in doing so; however, it doesn’t look like any reunion is on the cards.
When Kim Gordon spoke about the reason behind their split and the subsequent split of the band, it made sense why she had no intention for a reunion, as she claimed that Moore had an affair, which ultimately brought their marriage to an end. During an interview, she said that Moore had an affair with somebody who had been involved with the band for a number of years, and while the two of them tried to work through it, they decided it made more sense to simply call it quits on their marriage and the band.
…and why did Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore split?
In an interview, Kim Gordon said that the reason she and Moore split up was because he had an affair. “We seemed to have a normal relationship inside of a crazy world,” she said when discussing their relationship. “And in fact, it ended in a kind of normal way – midlife crisis, starstruck woman.”
Gordon said it wasn’t a one-time thing and that Moore was living a double life with this other woman. “Thurston was carrying on this whole double life with her. He was really like a lost soul,” she said, before admitting that with regards to the other woman, they “Never got to the point where we could just get rid of her.”
The result was that the band split up and has no intention of getting back together. That being said, they have had success as solo artists and continue to make music for the masses.
