A few weeks ago in The Stranger, we profiled the many ways bands can split up. To keep the universe in equilibrium, we now present a survey of how bands keep on keepin’ on, despite all the complications. If you think it’s easy to hold a group of unstable egomaniacs together while creating music that everyone in said group can stand playing over and over, well, you’ve probably never been in a band. The following seven Seattle groups have beat the odds and have persevered for several years. How in the hell did they do this?
Take Mudhoney, for example. They’re one of those catalytic rock bands you expected to flame out quickly, yet here they are 27 years after forming, still thriving with a substantial worldwide fan base. They had a brief spike of popularity thanks to the grunge hype machine’s hyper machinations, peaking with 1992’s Piece of Cake and an appearance on the million-selling Singles soundtrack. One key to Mudhoney’s longevity is that all four original members were friends…
