How the Friends theme song eventually caused the band that sung it to break up

The band members behind the iconic Friends theme song have revealed how their connection to the sitcom led to their demise.

Best known for the 90s anthem 'I'll Be There For You', the Rembrandts' lyrics have pretty much seared themselves into our brains forever.

From the catchy and comforting chorus to the claps that every listener simply must do on time - it's clear that no one told the band life was going to be this way...

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Friends - the series that spanned ten whole seasons between the years of 1995 through to 2004 - would not be what it is without its famous opening theme tune.

The show was responsible for launching the careers of some of Hollywood's finest; Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and Matt Le Blanc - and the list didn't stop there.

The Manhattan-based sitcom also changed the lives of The Rembrandts forever after using their hit song in the intro of over 200 episodes - all 236 to be exact.

Danny Wilde, one half of the Californian alt-rock duo, has revealed what it was like when the opportunity came knocking at their door.

The musician recalled that the whole journey into fame and fortune happened 'wildly fast'.

"Our manager said a sitcom was looking for a theme song and Kevin Bright, the show’s executive producer, was a Rembrandts fan," Wilde told The Guardian.

When asked if he and bandmate, Phil Solem, would be interested in the offer, Wilde revealed that they were initially split on the decision.

However, after being sent a VHS tape of the pilot - how retro - the pair found it 'cute' and agreed to the deal.

Yet, he revealed, the iconic 'I'll Be There Fo You' track was not always the obvious contender.

"It had REM’s 'Shiny Happy People' playing over the fountain scene and they wanted something with the same tempo," Wilde explained.

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He continued: "We recorded the 43-second version two days later.

"The producers came to the studio and wanted to do the handclaps, but they couldn’t get it at all."

Clearly knowing the cult importance of getting the clapping timing correct, he explained to the producers: "Guys, it’s just four claps.

"They did a few takes, we told them it was fine, then after they left, we erased it and put in our own."

Thank goodness for that.

Just a week after the recording session, Friends was on the air but one pivotal thing was missing.

"It didn’t have our name on the credits," Wilde noted, "we were a pretty hip band, so stipulated that we didn’t want anyone to know we’d sold out."

However, the song soon stuck, along with the show, and it just 'snowballed' from there.

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"Once people realised it was us," Wilde said, "it killed our cool vibe."

Wilde said they went from doing 'cool clubs' to performing at 'matinee shows where parents would bring their kids'.

He added that the song soon became 'an albatross round our necks' and it eventually became the reason for the band breaking up for a few years.

However, Wilde and Solem have since reunited and are 'still making albums and playing gigs'.

In terms of royalties, Wilde said: "Every time it gets played, there’s a little 'ker-ching!'. It’s only a nickel or whatever, but they add up."

And it's clear that such nickels definitely do add up considering that the track has massively helped Wilde out financially.

He said: "It put my kids through college and got me a beautiful home. I’m not rich but I’m comfortable."

While admitting that he and Solem were 'snobby' about it early on, Wilde has since regarded the decision as a good thing.

"What a gift it’s been," he said.

"If people are willing to pay you to do something you’re proud of, why not?"