Funny that ytserush should mention that, because I was pondering the concept of band chemistry and bands being friends for the last few days. And it occurred to me that often (not always) the reason a band will put out some of their best work at the beginning is because it is usually at that point where everyone is hanging out together, they are friends, and that atmosphere creates good chemistry. Yes, good art can also be produced under tensions as well...but it doesn’t seem too often that something amazing comes from a distant group that has grown indifferent to one another beyond a working relationship.
I also think that’s a big reason why Rush was able to release one of their most highly regarded albums at the end of their career. It was BECAUSE they were best friends who enjoyed each other’s company and truly loved working together. Not sure if I can think of any other rock band with the internal friendship that Rush had.
But this whole thing might be for another thread
We should have a thread on this, because I think just the opposite. I think some of my LEAST favorite albums are made when all members of the band are all kumbaya and cozy. I think it is just as likely to breed complacency and laze than it is "good music".
For me, Marillion is still, largely, chasing the first four albums, and that period is WELL documented. They weren't best friends. Fish was an outsider, in geography, age and temperament. He has written thousands of words about how they were a gang, not "best mates" but with an attitude of "taking on the world".
Pearl Jam; Stone and Jeff - best friends by many accounts - tried and got close, but no cigar (Green River, MLB, TOTD) and only hit it when the outsider - Eddie Vedder - joined, and only REALLY hit their "RnRHoF" stride when Eddie took over the band. You read about the recording of their middle period albums, and almost every one had a moment of "the band almost broke up". On PJ20, Stone even admits it (and doesn't look happy about doing it) when he says "it went from my band to Eddie's band, and I had a choice. Go with it, or leave."
Jagger/Richards
U2; Achtung Baby, arguably their best album, was acrimonious at best. Another "I thought the band was over" album.
Sabbath. Maiden (Bruce and Steve). Kiss. Aerosmith (The Toxic Twins). Deep Purple (Gillan and Blackmore; hell, EVERYONE and Blackmore). DT (Mike and James). The Kinks. Oasis. Motley Crue. Van Halen. Yes. The Police (though they are friends now).
I think the greatest of bands have to have mutual RESPECT, but they don't have to be best friends. I think that sometimes even comes in the way; Rush is the exception that proves the rule (look at the Snakes and Arrows doc, during the recording of... I think it's "The Way The Wind Blows", and Geddy and Alex wanted something different for the drums, and they had Nick do the dirty job of telling Neal, who wasn't at all happy, but their mutual respect carried them through.
I think the only other band like Rush is Genesis, and it wasn't always THAT way either; they found their tension and their motivation from other places (members leaving, largely, as well as band members individual successes).