The Smiths (1987)

The Smiths' breakup remains the most devastating loss in 80s indie music. Johnny Marr's departure in 1987 ended the band after just four studio albums—each a cornerstone of jangle-pop—and Morrissey's subsequent legal battles with drummer Mike Joyce over royalties kept wounds open for decades. The court awarded Joyce over £1 million in back royalties in 1996, a bitter feud that ensured the band refused to reunite, a fact that frustrates fans more than the breakup of any of the next five bands on this list.