Being in a band can be tough. When you’re writing songs, recording albums, touring the world and doing it all with the same exact people everyday, relationships can become a little stressed. This summer alone we’ve seen public acknowledgements of internal struggles within The Civil Wars and Foxygen. But neither are among the 10 most infamous band feuds in rock history.
10. The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger vs. Keith Richards
The two rock gods have been standing beside each other on stage for around 50 years, and during that span they’ve done their share of feuding; however, in later years it seems that Jagger and Richards had finally outgrown their differences. The Stones embarked on several financially successful and peaceful tours after regrouping in the mid ‘90s following various solo efforts. Then Richards decided to publish an autobiography in 2010, in which he called Jagger’s manhood a “tiny dodger.” Mick demanded a formal apology before he would tour with the band again, and he got one. The two are currently back on good terms.
9. Simon and Garfunkel: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
The two folk musicians recorded their last album, 1970’s highly successful Bridge Over Troubled Water, at a time when their personal relationship was rapidly deteriorating. The two couldn’t decide on the 12th and final song on the album and refused to record each others’ choices, so the album was released with only 11 tracks. Then in the late ‘80s, a reunion album was planned, but Simon unexpectedly removed Garfunkel’s vocals and released the disc solo. A couple of years later, when the duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Art made the mature decision to put the past behind him and publicly praise Paul for his songwriting ability. Paul responded by saying, “Arthur and I agree about almost nothing, but it’s true, I have enriched his life quite a bit.”
8. The Everly Brothers: Don Everly vs. Phil Everly
Interestingly enough, The Everly Brothers were actually on tour with Simon and Garfunkel in 1973 when their own relationship troubles were exposed. In the middle of a California show, Phil unexpectedly stopped playing and walked offstage. Don responded by promptly informing the shocked audience that The Everly Brothers were officially finished. They reportedly kept their distance from each other for an entire decade before reforming in 1983 for a reunion concert.
7. Pink Floyd: David Gilmour vs. Roger Waters
They were one of the most successful and influential rock bands of the ‘70s and early ‘80s, but toward the end of the latter decade, the rockers’ era was waning. Bassist Roger Waters announced his departure and embarked on his own solo career, informing the rest of the Gilmour-headed band that they were barred from using the name “Pink Floyd” or using his inflatable pig. The two parties, obviously, ended up in a legal battle, with Waters telling Rolling Stone at the time, “If one of us was going to be called Pink Floyd, it’s me. That’s my pig [on their stage]. That’s my plane crashing.” The court eventually sided with Gilmour and the rest of the band, and it wasn’t until 2005 that Waters performed again with Pink Floyd.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
