Home Music Music Lists

The 9 Most Anticipated Reunions of 2020

Often a pipe-dream of many music fans, the frequent call for a reunion has been heeded by some of the biggest groups in the world in recent months.

2019 undoubtedly served as the year of the reunion, with some of music's biggest names ensuring that 2020 would be a hive of activity after many years away.

Jimmy Hubbard/Press; Paul Brown/Press

It’s the natural life cycle for any musical act to form, flower, and then flounder. Although countless bands have continued on for decades after common sense dictates they should, many of the greats have cut it short before their time, leaving us to wonder what the future holds. Once this inevitability occurs, the sought-after reunion may eventually come into play years down the line, with fans once again getting the chance to see their favourite acts live, and – hopefully – receive new music.

While the best of these are usually a rare occurrence that come after years of pleading from a vocal majority, 2019 has managed to bear witness to a number of famed acts announcing they’re getting back together. Now, with 2020 serving as the year these reunions are set to bear fruit, let’s take a look at a round-up of the biggest reformations of the past year and just what’s in store for their dedicated fans.

Image of My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance pictured rehearsing for their 2019 reunion show.

My Chemical Romance/Instagram

2

My Chemical Romance

Why They Split: Like many breakups, few reasons were given as to why My Chemical Romance called it quits in 2013. Given they had reportedly been in the process of recording a new album at the start of 2012, the release of unheard tracks from 2009 as Conventional Weapons prior to their breakup seemed to indicate that perhaps sessions for a new record hadn’t gone well, or that in-fighting had occurred.

Despite a diplomatic message heralding this unfortunate news, frontman Gerard Way later confirmed that there were “many reasons” for their split, reiterating that “there was no divorce, argument, failure, accident, villain, or knife in the back that caused this”.

Last Performance: Fittingly, the last performance for My Chemical Romance was a hometown show on May 19, 2012 at New Jersey’s Bamboozle Festival. Unfortunately, this show appears to have given the band something of a warning sign that the end was near, with Way having described their performance as “good. Not great, not bad, just good”, and noting that it was during this gig that he began to realise things were feeling different for him within the band than they had previously.

Years Off: Six

2020 Plans: Though their reunion was somewhat spoiled by Joe Jonas, of all people, My Chemical Romance made their live return with a special headline show in Los Angeles in December. With reports claiming they’re in fine a form as ever, it has made fans even more excited to see what their upcoming performances in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan are set to be like. A cryptic announcement on their social media preceded the reveal of a UK show, while new music appears to have been teased ahead of their recent US tour announcement. Stay tuned for big things from the emo icons.

Play video
1

Rage Against The Machine

Why They Split: For a group whose history is as volatile as the topics they approach, the details surrounding Rage Against the Machine’s split is not widely documented. Though their original break-up in 2000 was due to vocalist Zack de la Rocha’s departure due to his opinion that their “decision-making process has completely failed” and that it has “undermined our artistic and political ideal”, their four-year reformation ended in 2011 under unknown circumstances, with members giving conflicting responses to the topic of new material at the time.

Last Performance: After close to a year between gigs, Rage Against the Machine played their last live show to date at their own L.A. Rising festival on July 30, 2011. Performing as part of a lineup that featured the likes of Lauryn Hill, Muse, Immortal Technique, and Rise Against, the band were in fine company, closing out their second period of activity with the one-two punch of “Freedom” and “Killing in the Name” as their encore.

Years Off: Eight

2020 Plans: It was to the surprise of everyone that Rage Against the Machine announced a new reunion back in November, sharing plans for a number of dates in 2020. Set to take place at a trio of US border states throughout March, the crown jewel of this reunion tour will occur in April when the group headline Coachella for the third time. Appearing at the first festival in 1999 and playing the first show of their 2007 reunion at Coachella, it’s undoubtedly on track to be one of the year’s biggest shows.

Since their initial announcement, the group have slowly added a few US festivals to their itinerary, though news of a potential Australian return is yet to be revealed. Despite an apparently fake tour poster making the rounds recently, it appears that fans might be witnessing the gradual return of the musical icons. Whatever the case, you can be sure Rage Against the Machine will be the voice of reason the world needs ahead of the 2020 US election.