the band was forced to split in 1985 due to the death of d. boon. boon was killed in a car crash when his girlfriend fell asleep at the wheel. after boon's death, watt and hurley formed the band firehose with minutemen fan ed crawford. firehose played until 1994 when they broke up. since the breakup of firehose, mike watt has played in several bands and also his own solo career.