Obituary is an important name in death metal. They helped shape the genre with their heavy sound and brutal riffs. The band broke up in the late 1990s, but after a few years, they reunited and continued making music. Let’s explore why Obituary broke up and what made them come back.
The Reason Obituary Break Up
According to Voices from the Darkside, their 1998 break was due to issues within the band.
Obituary reached a critical point by 1998. John Tardy revealed their internal struggles: “We stopped because there were a lot of politics in the band at the time. We were spending more than we were making, the label stopped supporting us and we were all getting older.”
Guitarist Trevor Peres provided additional insight. He pointed to the contrast between their early days and professional career, saying, “We had been together since we were teenagers, and then all of a sudden it turned into a professional thing and we were touring and for like 10 years we didn’t live like normal people, we were like animals, like monkeys in a cage.”
Why Did Obituary Return?
Louder detailed how Obituary’s return came through an unexpected source: Andrew WK. His appreciation for Obituary led to a collaboration with drummer Donald Tardy. This connection set events in motion for the band’s reunion.
WK organized a performance at an Ozzfest gig in Florida. He brought together John Tardy, Frank Watkins, and other members, and this opened the path to the band’s return. “It was the first thing we’d done in a number of years, and it played a part in getting Obituary back together,” Tardy says, “but I believe it would’ve happened eventually anyway.”
John Tardy acknowledges Andrew WK’s role in their reunion. He maintains their return was inevitable. “It played a part in getting Obituary back together,” he reflected. “But I believe it would’ve happened eventually anyway.” The six-year hiatus lasted longer than expected. This break allowed band members to reset and find their way back together.
Donald Tardy’s work with Andrew W.K. wasn’t just a casual collaboration. He joined Andrew W.K.’s touring band. Tardy made an appearance on Saturday Night Live and proudly wore an Obituary shirt during the performance to keep the band’s legacy alive.
Obituary’s Current Plans and Future
The band members remained active in music during their hiatus. For instance, Trevor Peres formed the band Catastrophic in 2001. The project released their album ‘The Cleansing’ that same year. Obituary officially reunited two years later, in 2003. They released ‘Frozen in Time’ in 2005. As for now, their latest album is ‘Dying Of Everything.’ They released it on January 13, 2023. They are also celebrating the 35th anniversary of ‘Cause of Death’ with a North American tour.
