In Memoriam: Bands We Lost In 2013

In Memoriam: Bands We Lost In 2013

Each fall Stereogum identifies the year’s best new bands. Then around this time of year we memorialize all of the acts who called it quits.

But before we revisit those breakups, there are some other 2013 music biz casualties worth noting. Bookended by the demises of Audiogalaxy and Winamp (two great tools that first set many of us on the path to digital music consumption/obsession) these past 12 months were as tumultuous as ever for music fans. The DJ platform Turntable.fm was killed after two and a half years, and MP3 blog aggregator Elbo.ws went offline after eight. Twitter #Music ended its run as well, though that only lasted six months. Venerated Hoboken club Maxwell’s shut its doors in July and NYC’s historic Roseland Ballroom announced it will be closing too. The New York City Opera and Bleecker Bob’s both went out of business. Music festivals like ATP Camber Sands, Homebake, Hop Farm, and Kanrocksas called it a day. So did Lady Gaga’s career (just kidding, Lady).

As for notable groups that split up, we said goodbye to a popular At The Drive-In offshoot, an Irish black metal trio, a huge UK reality TV act, and a curiously high number of grown-up boy bands.

Thanks to Matt Neatock for helping me edit this tribute video. Grab your tissues and watch below.

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