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This episode charts the rise and fall of the world’s most successful band seen through the prism of the turbulent relationship between its two key members, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From meeting as teenagers in the UK city of Liverpool we hear how the early trauma of losing their mothers brought them together but how their different personalities and musical aspirations would ultimately tear them apart. Using first hand testimony from colleagues and close friends we examine the key factors that led to the breakup. From the introduction of Yoko Ono to the death of their beloved manager, Brian Epstein, ‘Breaking the Band: the Beatles’ reveals the psychological factors that ended the most successful song writing partnership in history.

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The Supremes were the greatest girl band ever. Over the course of the 60’s they had 12 Billboard chart topping hits, including 5 consecutive number 1’s - still a record for a girl band. They were an international sensation – three teenage, African American girls from the Detroit projects who conquered the world. Berry Gordy, the boss of Motown, moulded Mary Wilson, Flo Ballard and Diana Ross into music stars as The Supremes. When they first got together, they were inseparable, but as their fame grew something happened to shatter the bonds between these friends. Diana Ross rose to become a superstar, but for another band member it would end in a tragedy of drink, despair and death. Told through the first hand testimony of those that were there, including original band member Mary Wilson, and with expert psychological analysis from Dr Linda Papadopoulos, this is the story of the Break Up of the Supremes.

On the 27th of February 1974 Cher filed for divorce from her husband Sonny, citing ‘involuntary servitude’ aka. slavery. It was a scandalous end for the duo, who had charmed America with their kooky relationship and heart felt songs. A decade earlier Sonny & Cher released their international chart topping single ‘I got you babe’. In the decade that followed they sold over 40 million records making them one of the most successful duos of all time. But after just a few years at the top, the couple would be pulled apart by financial ruin, infidelity, and a demand for total control by one over the other. This is the story of what really broke up America’s oddest couple, from those who were there.

In the mid 1960s, with hits like Surfin USA and Good Vibrations, the Beach Boys became the carefree sound of American youth. On stage the three brothers and cousin that formed the backbone of the band seemed like one happy family but nothing could be further from the truth. Its lead singer songwriter Brian Wilson battled with his mental health and the legacy of an abusive father. His drug-addicted brother Dennis redefined the meaning of excess. And frontman Mike Love’s obsession with the bottom dollar clashed with the rest of the band’s creative ambitions. Mental breakdowns and bitter fist fights would overshadow much of their 20 year reign as one of the world’s greatest ever bands.

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At the height of their success they were the biggest rock band in the world infamous for their excess and raucous live performances. With their strutting frontmen, wild hair and penchant for spandex they are often portrayed as the archetypal 80's American rock band. The band went through two 'break ups' covered by our timeline owing to a variety of factors but most prominently conflicts over the Van Halen brother's desire for total control and the destructive impacts of substance/alcohol abuse. By 1984 they were the biggest band in the world but, behind the scenes, all was not well and a battle for control raged between the brothers at the heart of the band and it’s lead singer, David Lee Roth. Years of touring, drugs and personality clashes had left them on the brink. When Roth’s ambitions grew beyond the band, the brothers moved quickly to force him out. Their millions of fans were left devastated, but rising from the ashes the they would regroup with a new front man, Sammy Hagar.

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Formed in 1985, Guns N' Roses is regarded as one of the best rock bands of all time and its album, 'Appetite for Destruction' is the best-selling debut in U.S. history. The band's potent mix of hard rock and beautiful melodies, coupled with insightful and emotional lyrics helped them cross over into the mainstream, resulting in over 100 million record sales. But behind the immense fame and success lay chaos.

In the late 80s, notorious LA rap group NWA rocked the world with their brutal, violent music about racism and police brutality. Known as ‘the most dangerous band in the world’, their first album Straight outta Compton changed the face of rap music and went triple platinum, yet after only three short years the band split up. Breaking the Band – NWA uncovers the greed, violence and recriminations that led the members of NWA to tear themselves apart, as told by the people who were there.

The Eagles are one of the biggest bands in history, selling over 150 million records. Their music defined the 1970s, with songs like Hotel California, Take It Easy and Life In The Fast Lane and their greatest hits album was the greatest selling album of the twentieth century. Their music was the soundtrack to our lives. They were a band who left nothing to chance. Founder members Glenn Frey and Don Henley had a ruthless ambition for The Eagles and let nothing and nobody stand in their way. Yet after almost a decade together, the band suddenly fell apart amidst power struggles , bullying and feuding. the sex, drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle eventually caused them to self destruct

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Fleetwood Mac has sold over 100 million records making them one of the most successful bands in the world. It was their album Rumours that propelled them into the rock and roll stratosphere but behind the scenes the record was a story of two couples at war. Hit songs like Dreams and Go Your Own Way were evidence of the bitter conflict. Out of fame and extraordinary fortune came jealousy and infidelity, raging egos, addiction and unadulterated excess. Yet they held it together for another decade and the biggest surprise was how they kept going for so long. ‘Breaking the Band: Fleetwood Mac’ reveals the story of the legendary band.

Motley Crue has sold over 100 million records making them one of the most successful rock bands in the world. The rise of the Sunset Strip bad boys was an 80s journey of debauchery and excess, until their hair metal hedonism ended in tragedy and addiction. Behind the fame, fortune and larger than life lifestyles was recrimination, rehab and bitter resentment.

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Kiss blew glam rock out of the water when they formed in 1972, their larger than life cartoon personas and pyrotechnic on stage antics drove audiences crazy. By 1978 they were one of the biggest bands in the world, but the relentless schedule of touring and recording combined with the non-stop debauchery of a rock and roll lifestyle would divide the band; while Peter Criss and Ace Frehely descended into a world of drink and drugs, the bandleader’s Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons stayed sober and tried to keep Kiss recording and performing. Eventually tensions became too much and the original line up of the band split in 1980 when Peter Criss was sacked. Gene and Peter kept Kiss alive over the next decade, with session musicians hired to fill in for the absent Peter and Ace, but their popularity gradually waned. Then, in 1995, after a brief performance on MTV to a rapturous audience, the original line up reconciled and reformed.

Led Zeppelin split on December 4th 1980, 2 months after the tragic death of iconic drummer, John Bonham. Throughout the 1970’s, at the height of the bands powers, Led Zeppelin became the world’s first rock supergroup, selling over 300 million albums and headlining 600 concerts worldwide. Zeppelin’s rock star excesses became the stuff of legend, and dark rumours swirled around their closely guarded inner circle as everything Zeppelin touched miraculously turned to gold. But after nearly a decade at the top, disaster engulfed the band, and fans speculated that Zeppelin was finally paying the price for their huge success. And 40 years after the split, Zeppelin’s popularity still hasn’t faded; fans, new and old, clamour for a final reunion, which has been described as the “billion dollar tour” by promoters worldwide.

Journey: For more than three decades San Francisco rock band Journey have been selling out stadiums around the world. The band began in the early 1970s as a prog rock oufit, but their biggest success came when lead singer, Steve Perry, joined the band in 1978. Steve Perry known as The Voice, brought a new sound and a wider audience. Journey's Escape album became the bands biggest selling album to date reaching number one and selling a million copies. It scored three top ten hits: "Who's Crying Now," "Don't Stop Believin'," and "Open Arms." But behind the scenes multiple changes in the bands line up were evidence that not everyone was happy with the new change of direction.

The Police: In the early 1980s, The Police were hailed as the biggest band in the world, selling over 50 million albums. Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland dominated the charts and packed out stadiums and then, shockingly, split while at the peak of their rock and roll stardom. Rumors of Sting's fast growing ego, personality clashes and physical fights grew but was this band's implosion really down to just the ambitions of lead singer, Sting or were other factors at work? Breaking the Band: The Police tells the story of a band that defined an era, and reveals the truth behind why they were torn apart.