The End For Them Trivia Quiz

Answer: Deep Purple

In 1975, Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple because he wasn't happy with the band's musical direction. The group was moving towards a funkier, more polished style, especially on the 'Stormbringer' album, which didn't match the heavier, dramatic sound he preferred. He felt frustrated that his own ideas and musical tastes, which leaned more toward classical and baroque influences, weren't being taken seriously. Over time, this made him feel disconnected from the band and limited in what he could create.

Instead of staying and compromising, Blackmore formed Rainbow, a new band where he could lead the music completely. Working with vocalist, Ronnie James Dio, he explored a more theatrical and melodic style, blending heavy rock with classical touches. Rainbow let him make the kind of music he had always wanted without the creative conflicts he experienced in Deep Purple. His departure marked a major change for both him and the rock scene, showing how a musician could leave to follow his own artistic vision.

Answer: Kiss

In 1982, Ace Frehley departed KISS because he felt limited creatively and out of step with the band's direction. After his solo album did well, he realised he enjoyed making music on his own more than working within KISS. The makeup and theatrical side of the band also became a problem for him, as it caused allergic reactions and felt more like a burden than fun. He decided leaving was the best way to focus on his music, even though it was a risky and costly choice.

He has said he wasn't fired, as he quit both times he left. He didn't like the band moving toward a more polished, commercial sound in the early '80s, and he felt his ideas weren't being valued. Also, the stage spectacle was starting to take priority over the music, and he wanted to make rock that felt raw and real. After leaving, he started Frehley's Comet, a project where he could fully express his own musical vision without compromise.

Answer: Van Halen

David Lee Roth left Van Halen in 1985 while the band was at the height of its fame. It wasn't simply about going solo, because he wanted more creative freedom and control over his projects. He had released the solo EP 'Crazy from the Heat' and originally hoped to keep working with the band, but when his idea to turn the EP into a movie was rejected, tensions grew. Roth felt frustrated that his vision wasn't being taken seriously and decided it was time to step away.

Roth has said he thrived on constant movement and creativity, while the rest of Van Halen was starting to slow down. He wanted to explore his own ideas and lifestyle, which didn't match the band's pace. Leaving gave him the chance to follow his own path and fully focus on his solo career. Even though the movie never happened, the break allowed him to pursue the kind of music and projects he wanted, and he eventually returned to the band decades later.

Answer: Journey

Steve Perry quit Journey in 1998 after a hip injury made it difficult for him to keep performing. Doctors suggested hip replacement surgery, but he didn't want to have it right away. After months of delay, the band gave him an ultimatum: get the surgery and tour, or be replaced. He decided to step away, saying later that he didn't regret it and that he had simply lost the passion for performing.

He described leaving as emotionally complicated, saying he didn't fit the flow of the band's pace and needed time to reconnect with his love for music. He said he had to stop because the joy had faded and he didn't want to force it. Years later, he returned to making music when he felt ready, choosing projects on his own terms. His departure and comeback were both defined by following his own timing and staying true to himself.

Answer: Guns N' Roses

Izzy Stradlin left Guns N' Roses in November 1991. At that point, he was sober and couldn't keep up with the band's lifestyle. He grew tired of the constant chaos, late shows, unpredictable schedules, and the tension that came with Axl Rose's control over decisions. He said that once he quit drugs and alcohol, the problems around him became harder to ignore. The environment that once felt normal now seemed impossible to deal with.

Another big issue was business. Stradlin said management tried to cut his share of royalties, even though he had been a founding member. That, along with the drama and excess surrounding the group, convinced him it wasn't worth staying. He later explained it simply: he was burned out, didn't like how things were run, and wanted out before it got worse. Walking away gave him space and control over his own life again.

Answer: Europe

Kee Marcello, born Kjell Hilding Lövbom, quit the Swedish band Europe in 1992. Part of the reason was creative: he wanted to explore a darker, heavier sound, which didn't fit with the band's more mainstream rock style. Over time, he felt that his musical ideas no longer matched the direction Europe was heading.

Personal issues also played a role. Marcello struggled with a cocaine addiction, which made it harder to continue with the band. After he left, John Norum returned as the guitarist. When Europe reformed in 2003, he was invited to rejoin but turned it down, saying their musical direction still didn't align with his own vision.

Answer: The Rolling Stones

Bill Wyman left the Rolling Stones in 1993 after being part of the band for over 30 years. He explained that he had simply 'had enough' of the rockstar lifestyle and wanted to pursue other interests. He had always been more private and less comfortable with the constant media attention and touring demands. He later admitted that he should have left earlier, saying, 'I should've done it a lot earlier... in the eighties'.

After leaving, he focused on personal projects like archaeology, photography, and music with his band, the Rhythm Kings. He also started a family with his third wife, Suzanne Accosta. Reflecting on his decision, Wyman said, 'I just had this whole other life I wanted to live'. Despite his departure, he reunited with the Stones for their 50th anniversary show in 2012, but he doesn't regret stepping away when he did.

Answer: Westlife

In 2004, Brian McFadden left Westlife after six years with the band. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family and felt the pressures of touring were taking a toll on his personal life. Looking back, he admitted that his decision was probably impulsive and came too soon. He later reflected, 'The idea of why I left has changed. The more I think back on it... different things come into my head, that's why I wanted to leave'.

He also mentioned that the band's demanding schedule and the pressure to perform songs he didn't connect with contributed to his decision. He said, 'I was standing there trying to sing a song like 'Mandy' and be all emotional when I've never even met a Mandy'. Despite his departure, he's not sorry he made the decision and has since focused on his solo career and family life.

Answer: Bon Jovi

Richie Sambora walked out on Bon Jovi in 2013, and he has said it was because his daughter, Ava, needed him. He felt family had to come first. Sambora explained that he had 'a lot of conscious work to do around [his] personal life' and that it was a time of 'psychological maintenance for the family'. He acknowledged that he wasn't perfect but realised that Ava needed him to be around at that point in time.

He also mentioned that the rock and roll lifestyle had taken its toll on him, citing long tours and the pressures of being on the road. He had previously struggled with addiction and felt that it was time to step back and focus on his personal life. Despite the controversy surrounding his departure, he has expressed no regrets about his decision.

Answer: One Direction

Zayn Malik quit One Direction in 2015, saying he wanted to be a 'normal 22-year-old' and have some private time away from the spotlight. He later explained that the band's rapid rise and constant attention left him feeling overexposed and disconnected from his true self. In a 2023 interview, he described the experience as 'a rush, it was fun and then repetitive fun over and over again,' acknowledging that the fame eventually took its toll.

He also revealed that he felt creatively stifled within the band, saying there was 'never any room for me to experiment creatively', and that his attempts to add his own style were often overruled in favour of a more generic pop sound. Reflecting on his departure, he admitted it was 'selfish' but driven by a desire to be the first to go solo and pursue his own musical vision.