Sepultura

Sepultura should have been enjoying a golden year in 1996. In February, they released their ambitious sixth album, Roots, produced by rising producer

Ross Robinson and not only featuring recordings with the indigenous Brazilian Xavante tribe, but guest appearances from heavyweights Jonathan Davis and Mike Patton. Roots Bloody Roots was a mega hit, and the record reached No.4 in the UK charts and No.27 in the US. But the band was slowly splitting into two camps: roaring frontman Max Cavalera and his wife Gloria (Sepultura’s manager) versus guitarist Andreas Kisser, bassist Paulo Jr. and drummer Iggor Cavalera.

In August, Sepultura arrived in the UK to play Monsters Of Rock, and received the tragic news that Gloria’s son, Dana Wells, had been killed in a car accident. Max and Gloria flew home, and the band played as a trio. Back on the road, emotions were running high. Andreas, Paulo and Iggor made the decision to fire Gloria and get a bigger manager, and confronted her after their final show at London’s Brixton Academy on December 16. “The situation was coldly calculated,” Max told us. “It’s as if they said, ‘We’re sorry about Dana, but business is business.’”

Gloria denies she was dismissed, saying the business relationship had come to a natural end. “I was never fired, in my life. I finished my contract and I walked,” she told us last year. “And I told Max, ‘You’re welcome to stay with them. That’s your baby.’”

However, Max walked away with her. It was the end of the classic Sepultura line-up and the beginning of a decade-long feud with his own brother, Iggor. Sepultura carried on with new vocalist Derrick Green, while Max went on to form Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy. To this day, fans still hold out hope of a reunion.