12 Artists Who Wish They’d Never Joined Their Famous Bands

Fame and fortune can seem like a dream come true, but not everyone who reaches the top feels lucky to be there.

Some musicians joined bands that skyrocketed to success, only to find themselves wishing they’d never signed up in the first place.

Whether it was creative differences, personal struggles, or simply bad timing, these artists have complicated feelings about their most famous gigs.

Here are twelve musicians who’ve expressed regret, frustration, or second thoughts about joining the bands that made them household names.

1. Pete Best – The Beatles

Imagine being this close to becoming one of the most famous musicians in history, only to get replaced right before the magic happened.

Pete Best drummed for The Beatles during their early days in Liverpool and Hamburg.

However, in 1962, manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin decided Ringo Starr was a better fit.

Best was let go just as the band was about to explode into global superstardom.

Though he’s made peace with it over the years, he’s admitted the timing was brutal and life-changing in ways he never expected.

2. Tracii Guns – Guns N’ Roses

What if you helped name a legendary rock band but left before they became legends?

Tracii Guns was a founding member of Guns N’ Roses, contributing the “Guns” part of the name.

Creative clashes and lineup drama led him to exit early, and he formed L.A.

Guns instead.

While L.A.

Guns had moderate success, Guns N’ Roses became one of the biggest rock acts ever.

Tracii has reflected publicly on what might have been, admitting the departure stings when he sees their massive legacy today.

3. Kim Hill – Black Eyed Peas

Before Fergie became the face of the Black Eyed Peas, there was Kim Hill.

Hill was the original female vocalist, bringing soulful energy to their first two albums.

She left in 2000 to pursue solo projects, and shortly after, Fergie joined and the group hit mega-stardom with hits like “Where Is the Love?”

Hill has spoken about the bittersweet feeling of watching the band achieve massive success without her.

Though she’s proud of her contributions, the what-ifs linger in interviews and reflections.

4. Jason Everman – Nirvana and Soundgarden

Getting fired from one legendary grunge band is rough.

Getting fired from two is next-level unlucky.

Jason Everman briefly played guitar with Nirvana and later bass with Soundgarden, but he was let go from both before they hit it big.

Instead of chasing music fame, he joined the U.S.

Army Special Forces and became a decorated soldier.

While his military career is impressive, he’s admitted in interviews that missing out on grunge history still feels surreal and occasionally painful.

5. Dave Mustaine – Metallica

Few musicians wear their bitterness as openly as Dave Mustaine.

He was Metallica’s original lead guitarist, but his volatile behavior and substance issues got him kicked out in 1983.

Metallica went on to become metal gods, while Mustaine formed Megadeth to channel his rage and rivalry.

Though Megadeth achieved major success, Mustaine has never fully let go of the Metallica chapter.

Decades later, he still discusses the painful dismissal and what could have been in countless interviews and documentaries.

6. Syd Barrett – Pink Floyd

Syd Barrett was the creative spark that ignited Pink Floyd’s psychedelic beginnings.

His songwriting and vision shaped their early sound, but mental health struggles and substance use led to his departure in 1968.

The band continued without him, achieving monumental success with albums like The Dark Side of the Moon.

Barrett retreated from public life and lived quietly until his death in 2006.

Friends and bandmates have said he seemed haunted by what he lost, making his story one of rock’s saddest chapters.

7. Brian Jones – The Rolling Stones

Brian Jones founded The Rolling Stones and gave them their rebellious edge.

However, personal demons, substance abuse, and tension with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards led to his ousting in 1969.

Just weeks later, he was found dead in his swimming pool under mysterious circumstances.

Though he never publicly expressed regret, those close to him say he was devastated by losing the band he created.

His tragic end remains one of rock’s most heartbreaking and controversial stories, forever linked to the Stones.

8. David Lee Roth – Van Halen (Post-Reunion Drama)

David Lee Roth’s larger-than-life personality made Van Halen a superstar act in the 1980s.

He left in 1985 for a solo career, then returned for reunion tours decades later.

However, behind-the-scenes feuds with Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex made those reunions miserable.

Roth has hinted in interviews that the toxic atmosphere and unresolved egos made him wish he’d stayed away.

Sometimes the glory days are better left in the past, especially when nostalgia turns sour onstage.

9. Nico – The Velvet Underground

Nico’s haunting voice added an eerie beauty to The Velvet Underground’s debut album.

But she was pushed into the band by manager Andy Warhol, and the other members resented her presence.

After one album, she was out, and the band continued without her.

Nico later said she felt used and uncomfortable during her time with the group.

Though her solo career had artistic merit, she never escaped the shadow of that brief, awkward collaboration with Lou Reed and company.

10. Zayn Malik – One Direction

Zayn Malik shocked millions when he left One Direction at the height of their fame in 2015.

He cited the pressures of constant touring, lack of creative control, and the manufactured nature of the boy band.

Though his solo career has been successful, he’s been candid about the mental toll the band took.

In interviews, he’s expressed regret over how the experience affected his mental health.

While he doesn’t entirely regret leaving, he’s admitted wishing he’d never been thrust into that intense spotlight so young.

11. Robbie Williams – Take That

Robbie Williams became a massive solo star after leaving Take That in 1995, but the journey was brutal.

He’s openly discussed feeling trapped and creatively stifled in the boy band, leading to substance abuse and mental health struggles.

Though he found solo success, the trauma from those years haunted him for decades.

Williams has said in interviews that he sometimes wishes he’d never joined Take That, as the pressure and expectations damaged him deeply.

Fame came at a heavy personal cost he’s still processing today.