Breaking the Band - Season 2

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.

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, as the famous front man's antics led to a spate of late on-stage appearances, cancelled concerts and a series of riots, earning Guns N' Roses the moniker, ‘The Most Dangerous Band in the World'. Throughout the turmoil, the band members battled drug addiction and the volatile mix of strong personalities ignited tension and conflict, eventually ripping the band apart. In August 1997, the last original band member quit leaving singer Axl Rose to front Guns N' Roses with a whole new team of musicians. So what exactly caused the classic line-up of Guns N' Roses to finally implode?

In the late 1990's five ambitious young girls took the pop world by storm. Racking up total earnings of up to $800m between 1996 and 1998, with hits like Wannabe, Stop and Spice Up Your Life, The Spice Girls remain the best-selling girl group of all time. They began as 5 separate wannabes manufactured into a group with a mission to break the stranglehold boy bands had on the music charts. Then, thanks to a combination of relentless hard work, ruthless hiring and firing of managers, they conquered the global music charts in record time. The mantra that powered them, their fans and global brands eager to cash in on their success was Girl Power. But that same bombastic Girl Power, their over-ambitious workload and a desire to seize control from their management would burst their bubble after just 2 years at the top.

New Kids On The Block has sold over 80 million records, making them one of the most successful boybands of all time. These five childhood friends, became a record breaking group, put together as the vision of musical mastermind Maurice Starr. With hits like Hangin' Tough and Step By Step, they exceeded all expectations - winning teenage hearts across the world and grossing over a billion dollars in under five years. But fame came at a price. As their success grew, the relentless pressure of touring and recording, and the scale of their fame began to take its toll. And behind the scenes, tensions and secrets began to drive the group apart. In less than five years at the top, it was over.

Formed in 1987, Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the 1990s, with their 1995 album, ‘Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness' launching them into rock superstardom. But just 5 years later, as relationships between bandmates had completely broken down, the band split up. In this episode, we tell the story of Smashing Pumpkins rise to fame, whilst looking at the complexity of personal & inter-band problems that brought about the band's demise – from Billy Corgan's need for total musical control, to battles in the studio, pressures to succeed leading to depressive episodes & suicidal thoughts, bandmates battling addiction and - at the height of their fame – the death by overdose of their touring keyboardist.

The Clash where icons of the punk rock revolution in Britain. They were political and challenging and their controversial music sold millions of albums. Their story centred around two musical talents, Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, and their manager Bernard Rhodes. Breaking the Band will investigate how the aggression and attitude that would bring the Clash success, would also lead to their self-destruction and ultimate break up.