STACK #204 Oct 2021

MUSIC FEATURE

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It’s been 10 years since Mike Pedicone, drummer for New Jersey emo-pop-punk lords My Chemical Romance, was unceremoniously fired from the group – so we're looking back at some of biggest sackings in rock history. Words Zoë Radas OUTTA History's Biggest Band-Bootings "YOU'RE HERE!"

NICK OLIVERI QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Bassist Nick Oliveri and singer-guitarist Josh Homme had been buds for years when the former joined the latter in the newly minted Queens of the Stone Age in 1996; the two had performed together in wildly successful stoner rock band Kyuss, and Oliveri became an integral part of QOTSA for six years. But in 2004 he was kicked from the line-up, and had these words to offer: “Unfortunately, I was fired. Queens of the Stone Age as we all know it is no more. I heard it’s called ‘Queens Lite.’” The following year, Homme revealed to Zane Lowe the reason for the expulsion: Oliveri had physically abused his girlfriend. “A couple years ago, I spoke to Nick about a rumour I heard,” Homme explained. “I said, ‘If I ever find out that this is true, I can’t know you, man.’ Because music and my life are the same thing, there’s no rules until something massive happens... That’s not music anymore.” DAVE MUSTAINE METALLICA As one of the founding members of Metallica, guitarist Dave Mustaine considered his position within the heavy metal act a given. But before the group could release their debut album Kill ‘Em All (1983), there was trouble. “Dave was an incredibly talented guy, but he also had an incredibly large problem with alcohol and drugs,” recalled Metal Blade Records head Brian Slagel. “He’d get wasted and become a real

crazy person, a raging megalomaniac." Mustaine was famously bitter about the ordeal, but he turned lemons into lemonade, quickly marshalling celebrated bassist David Ellefson to form Megadeth. Their second album Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? was a hit, and established Megadeth as part of the “big four” pioneering thrash metal bands, alongside

for adopting me... Getting kicked out of this band was one of the best things that ever happened to me... it made me determined... ‘Well if they can do it, I can!’” DAVE NAVARRO RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS If you’re the charismatic guitarist for one of the ’90s most adored and pioneering alt-rock groups, Jane’s Addiction, you gonna end up on a particularly high pedestal amongst the princes of rock. And that’s exactly where Dave Navarro found himself when he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1993. But in 1998, his tenure came to an abrupt end. Navarro himself framed it as a resignation to pursue his own writing, confirmed by the band at the time. But in RHCP frontman Anthony Kiedis' 2004 autobiography, he wrote that once Navarro’s drug and alcohol intake affected the musician’s basic physical movements, it was time to part ways. Navarro confirmed the tale on his own podcast in 2018, adding: “What pissed me off about it… I f-cking waited around for six months for [Kiedis] to clean up, but you guys can’t wait a week for me to get my sh-t together?” After Navarro’s departure, the band’s former guitarist John Fruiscante re-joined, and the group went on to make their most successful ever album: 1999’s Californication.

Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer. COURTNEY LOVE FAITH NO MORE

Believe it or nay, there was a time when Hole frontwoman Courtney Love was the official vocalist for Cali-rock band Faith No More. At just 17 years old (in 1982), Love saw the band play a show and immediately approached them. Bassist Billy Gould has recalled: “This girl Courtney came along, she saw us play, and made the huge pitch about knowing what we wanted, and being able to do it... She was a very chaotic personality, she took a lot of work. It just got too much after a while.” It's been reported Love was axed because the band wanted “more male energy"; whatever the reason, earlier this year she had appreciative things to say. She posted footage of herself singing on-stage with the group in 1984 and wrote: “I was a homeless street kid, and I’m grateful to these guys

Metallica (The Black Album), the ground-breaking and hit-making 1991 record by Metallica, is out now on a range of remastered and expanded

formats, via Universal. Pictured: Superdeluxe Boxset, and standalone remastered vinyl.

Above: Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield, 1982. Right: Courtney Love at the 1998 MTV Video Awards.

78 OCTOBER 2021

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