Top 10 Songs Written About Former Bandmates

Rather than looking to the future, this band’s final single paid tribute to their former frontman. Queen’s “No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young)” is nothing like Billy Joel’s upbeat yet scandalous song with a similar title — instead, it’s an epic elegy for Freddie Mercury. Released six years after his death at 45 from AIDS complications, the lyrics compare Mercury to Icarus, who flew too close to the sun in Greek mythology. On the second verse, Roger Taylor makes reference to “paying every due,” seemingly a call-back to Mercury’s opening line in “We Are the Champions.” With the remainder of Queen praising his creative passion and lively spirit, “No-One But You” isn’t just written in memory of a bandmate, but a true friend.

Instead of waiting to see how his solo material fared first, this Rolling Stone threw a boulder of shade on his first album. Guitarist Keith Richards embarked on his 1988 debut, “Talk Is Cheap,” motivated by his feud with Stones frontman Mick Jagger after decades of collaboration. On the track “You Don’t Move Me,” Richards takes several shots at Jagger, even calling him out for his lack of friends. “You drove them all around the bend,” he sings. Richards also criticizes Jagger’s commercial motives when it comes to music, calling him “greedy” and “seedy.” Thankfully for the guitarist, his solo album was a success and he’d make up, break up, and make up again with Jagger several times throughout the years.

They began their dominance by singing about never-ending friendship, but five would eventually become four. When Geri Halliwell, a.k.a. Ginger Spice left the Spice Girls in 1998, the remaining members bid her adieu on “Goodbye.” Unlike some other songs written about living ex-bandmates, it’s made up of genuine well-wishes for the future. The bittersweet pop ballad contains obvious nods to Halliwell, such as the lyrics “So glad we made it, time will never change it” and “We never dreamt you’d go your own sweet way.” At the same time, it’s just vague enough that it could relate to a listener’s own life. While Halliwell would later reunite with her sisters in spice, “Goodbye” was the perfect sendoff for the end of an era.

Of all the things she said, these lyrics are among the realest. On t.A.T.u. member Lena Katina’s debut solo single, “Never Forget,” she addressed her complicated feelings about former duo partner Julia Volkova. The pair played up something of a fabricated queer relationship as t.A.T.u. in the 2000s, but feuded in their later years. “Never Forget” came on the heels of Volkova criticizing Katina’s solo career, and served as a mature farewell to her. Rather than sparring back, Katina took the high road by acknowledging the good memories while agreeing to part ways. Fortunately, the pair have had a few reunions over the years, most notably at the 2014 Winter Olympics and performing as recently as 2023.

After lead singer Bon Scott’s untimely death at 33 in 1980, AC/DC wanted to honor him with a resurrection of sorts. “Back in Black” is written in part by Scott’s replacement, Brian Johnson, and acts as an ode to the late star. With lyrics about having nine lives like a cat and being “let loose from the noose,” it’s clear that Scott’s legacy lives on in his physical absence and the group is committed to celebrating his memory. Beyond being just a mournful song, “Back in Black” is a victory lap praising everything AC/DC had accomplished as a group — plus, it’s become one of the most recognizable songs in rock history.

They’ve got talent, the voice, the x-factor, and they’re certainly American idols — but once upon a time, the reality competition that best summed up Destiny’s Child was “Survivor.” When a radio station jokingly compared their musical chairs-like lineup to the game of outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting, “Survivor” was born. The song isn’t just an inspiring ode to perseverance, but a message at former members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, who left on bad terms with Beyoncé’s father and then-manager, Mathew Knowles. With lyrics about the group’s sales without them and not stooping to their level, it’s seemingly directed, at least to a degree, at the departures. In 2013, original member Kelly Rowland would release the solo “Dirty Laundry,” in part about standing in Beyoncé’s shadow.

Diana Ross was technically still a Supreme when she sang “Someday We’ll Be Together,” but it simultaneously acted as her swansong from the group and warmup for going solo. Remaining members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong don’t sing on the studio track, and while the lyrics don’t mention them by name, Ross’s departure from the Supremes is clearly a major theme. The song begins with her longing for a lost love she’s said goodbye to, promising to reunite someday in the future. While there’s definitely a romantic element at play, the rest could easily be a fond farewell to her time with the group. Later, they would indeed fulfill the prophecy, performing the song together 14 years later for the “Motown 25” special.

Tragedy struck the Rolling Stones at the end of the 1960s, when founding member Brian Jones sadly passed away. The surviving Stones dedicated the 1971 song “Shining Light” to him, which Mick Jagger had first begun writing in 1968. Although the third verse references Jones’ alcohol use, the song as a whole is a glowing tribute to his memory. The first two verses refer to Jones as “my sweet honey love,” and the chorus asks “the good Lord” to “shine a light on” him, “warm like the evening sun.” Assisted by an organ and a gospel sound, the Stones have never sounded so heavenly.

Every member of Pink Floyd is a rock legend, but few have been mythologized quite like Syd Barrett. As the original frontman, Barrett was known for his visionary guitar work before exiting the group in 1968 amid declining health. In the ‘70s, the remaining members of Pink Floyd processed their feelings about him with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” Split in half on the tracklist, the nine-part suite book-ended their “Wish You Were Here” album. With lyrics painting Barrett as a tortured genius who shines bright despite becoming unrecognizable, it’s equal parts tragic and complimentary. He later famously visited Pink Floyd in the studio, and was reportedly able to hear some of the work he inspired.

After the Fab Four parted ways, some of them weren’t content to let it be. On John Lennon’s “Imagine” album, the track “How Do You Sleep?” takes aim at his fellow former Beatle, Paul McCartney. Previously, McCartney’s song with wife Linda, “Too Many People,” threw shade at Lennon and Yoko Ono, especially with the line “Too many people preaching practices”. In Lennon’s response, he calls out McCartney for surrounding himself with yes-men and compares his relevance to the Beatles song “Yesterday.” Not to mention, the first verse fuels the popular “Paul is dead” conspiracy theory. To add insult to injury, George Harrison joined Lennon on the track with a slide guitar. At least two of them could come together?

Of all the friendships and feuds between bandmates, which one warms or breaks your heart the most? Let us know in the comments.