Indie rock break-ups, make-ups

When artists die, their work becomes more desirable. Maybe it’s the shroud of mystique. Maybe it’s the fan’s longing for something they can’t ever have again. But more likely, it’s the hope that lightning can be recaptured. When a band breaks up, it’s not unlike a death. But it’s a death with the tangible possibility of resurrection.

Sure, band reunions are often anticlimactic (The Pixies) or even downright regrettable (The Smashing Pumpkins ), but that doesn’t stop the incessant chatter of “what if?”

A&E compiled a list to document, remember and rumor some of the premiere ’90s/2000s indie bands who called it quits too soon.

At the Drive-In (1993-2001)

The legacy: At the Drive-In suffered from classic The Replacement s Syndrome. That is to say, their demise occurred just as they were starting to gain headway. What started as no-frills post-punk on early records evolved into a massive — and slightly prog-y — wall of sound. The interplay of frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s stream-of-consciousness shrieks and guitarists Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Jim Ward’s varying guitars made At the Drive-In a formidable rock beast.

The breakup: Shortly after the release of the band’s final LP, “Relationship of Command,” creative tensions within ATDI came to a head. Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez claimed they felt creatively stifled; years of relentless touring had drained energies and the pressure of being dubbed “the next big thing” proved too much for the El Paso quintet. And in February 2001, At the Drive-In went on a still-ongoing “indefinite hiatus.”

Sloppiness of breakup (1-10): 8

The future: Post-breakup, both camps of ATDI scurried to new projects that came to signify the internal difference that had been brewing in ATDI’s later years. Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez found great success with the indulgent prog of The Mars Volta, while Ward and ATDI rhythm section Paul Hinojos and Tony Hajjar assumed the more traditional alt-rock sound of Sparta.

As for a reunion, the forecast was grim until this past month, when Bixler-Zavala told Drowned in Sound , “I wouldn’t mind it. Y’know, it might happen. We just have to iron out a lot of personal things.” Possible? Yes. Likely? We’ll see.

Likelihood of reunion: 7

Neutral Milk Hotel (1991-1998)

The legacy: Neutral Milk Hotel didn’t mess around. The cerebral Lousiana folk-rockers — one of the flagship bands of the famous neo-psychedelic label Elephant 6 — recorded just two LPs. Their last, “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,” is considered one of the finest indie records of all time — even garnering a perfect 10 from the notoriously hard-to-impress Pitchfork.com.

The breakup: After touring to support “Aeroplane” in 1998, frontman Jeff Mangum suffered a nervous breakdown . Mangum has been somewhat of a recluse since then, but did offer Pitchfork this reunion skepticism in 2002 , “I don’t know. It would be nice, but sometimes I kind of doubt it.”

Sloppiness of breakup: 5

The future: NMH’s non-recluse members have all busied themselves with other projects, so it appears the ball’s securely in Mangum’s court. As a possible sign of encouragement, last fall Mangum performed Neutral Milk Hotel songs publically at the Elephant 6 Surprise Holiday Tour — one of the few times he’s done so since 1998. Still, the outlook is murky, at best.

Likelihood of reunion: 4

Pavement 1989-1999

The legacy: Much like the Pixies prior to their 2004 reunion , Pavement doesn’t have a thing left to prove. There’s no well of untapped potential; there’s no “what ifs,” — Pavement did it hard, did it right and did it consistently for a decade. Over the course of seven years, the quintessential indie group recorded five stellar records spanning the spectrums of noise pop, indie rock and even some experimentalism. Still, if something rocks so hard, it’s awfully hard to set it free.

The breakup: Despite the band’s cohesiveness over the years, the relationships started to wear. In 1999, at what would be their final concert in London, frontman Stephen Malkmus reportedly handcuffed himself to his mic stand and said, “These symbolize what it’s like being in a band all these years.” Guitarist Scott Kannberg later stated Malkmus was misquoted, but considering the group’s label provided a formal announcement of their demise some weeks later, things were not OK.

Sloppiness of breakup: 7

The future: In the years following Pavement, members have joined indie rock royalty the likes of Sonic Youth and the Silver Jews . All the while, Malkmus has focused on stellar solo work with his band, The Jicks. As for a reunion, at this juncture, it almost seems certain. It was rumored Pavement would reconvene at this year’s Coachella festival, but things never fully panned out.

Last year, though, Malkmus told Entertainment Weekly that, “Something small in 10 years like the Zeppelin thing sounds good to me,” alluding to the rock dinosaur’s one-night-only 2007 reunion show. Will 2009, the post-breakup 10-year mark, be the year? Signs point to yes.

Likelihood of reunion: 9

Others:

The Promise Ring (1995-2002)

Pioneering Milwaukee emo band before the term emo was tainted. Hugely influential.

Sloppiness of breakup: 2

Likelihood of reunion: 5

The Moldy Peaches 1999-2004, 2007-2008

Cult favorite anti-folk duo comprised of Adam Green and Kimya Dawson , whose song “Anyone Else but You” gained unlikely notoriety in the 2007 film “Juno.”

Sloppiness of breakup: 3

Likelihood of reunion: 6

The Unicorns (2000-2004 )

Essentially one-album wonders who’ve still managed to cultivate an air of significance. Two members went on to form the group Islands.

Sloppiness of breakup: 8

Likelihood of reunion: 2