Top 10 Pathetic Rock and Roll and Music Industry Feuds

Life’s too short. So why do people spend their lives arguing, bickering and prolonging feuds? Who knows? Personally I just feel sorry for them; they’re ones missing out on the good things in life. Nowhere are feuds and fallout’s more commonly witnessed in the public eye than by idiot ‘celebrities’ and their materialistic, drug fueled, ego-driven inability to handle relationships. The last time I had call to use trains to Manchester I was chatting to a fellow commuter who regaled me with the news that the Gallagher brothers were having another childish slanging match. What a pair of unhappy guys. Here is my selection of pathetic feuds and fallout’s seen in the music industry.

Let’s start with the dozy duo.

10. Noel Gallagher vs. Liam Gallagher

These Neolithic throwbacks have hurled insults, guitars and plums (yes, actual plums) at each other ever since I can remember. Now they’re flinging their dummies out of their prams on Twitter. Assuming they have the ability to write the tweets themselves you’d think they would have the ability to grow up and act like men. Not in our lifetime, methinks!

9. Oasis vs. Everyone Else

The Brothers Grim seemingly hate everyone; such is how pathetic they are. They’ve gone after Blur, Robbie Williams, The Kaiser Chiefs, Pete Doherty, Kylie Minogue, etc. Personally their music isn’t for me either and I have no respect for junkie Doherty at all but you would think that Oasis would be better off having some dignity. Does anyone still remember all those years ago when Robbie retaliated by challenging Liam to a charity boxing match? It’s a shame that big mouthed Liam never took him up on it. Speaks volumes.

8. Ray Davies vs. Dave Davies

One of my favorite bands, The Kinks, had their ups and downs too. Ray was the youngest child but it was Dave who succeeded him in terms of popular attention. According to Dave, he ‘stole his thunder’. A reunion is off the cards too, following Dave’s stroke and his reluctance to record again with this brother.

7. Razorlight vs. The Kooks

It was five years ago when Johnny Borrell of Razorlight alleged that The Kooks were stealing his style. Luke Prichard of The Kooks commented that the remarks were ‘mutterings of a bitter man’. Kudos could have been earned when, in 2006 during the Q Awards, Prichard attempted to make peace but Borrell but was rebuffed with, ‘Who are you again?’ Never mind, Luke, you made an effort.

6. Eric Clapton vs. George Harrison

Long-term pals in the 1960s, Harrison helped newcomer Clapton onto the world stage, but their closeness was set to suffer a major setback. George Harrison’s marriage to Patti Boyd was starting to show some cracks but instead of working through the problems she embarked on a several years long affair with Eric. After the cheating couple fessed up to Harrison, Clapton was clued into Harrison’s feelings on the matter. Clapton was to later put his thoughts into words with ‘Layla’. It is said that the friendship was rekindled in the late 1970s. Nice. Bros before hos.

5. Metallica vs. Megadeth

Metal: you’ve got to love it! Massively popular band Metallica had sacked member Dave Mustaine for allegedly overdoing the drink and drugs so he went on to form a rival band – Megadeth. Megadeth was never going to be a true contender despite their excellent album ‘Peace Sells but Who’s Buying?’

4. Paul McCartney vs. Michael Jackson

Only a few short years after the unlikely pair teamed up on ‘The Girl is Mine’ they fell out due to Jackson’s clever financial move. McCartney had confided in Jackson how he had bought up the rights to Buddy Holly’s songs making him even richer through the royalties. When Jackson pulled the same stunt by outbidding McCartney on a selection of the Beatles’ back catalog McCartney felt betrayed and there ended a beautiful friendship.

3. 50 Cent vs. Kanye West

A long-standing ‘beef’ between these two hip-hoppers reached its peak when both artists decided to bring out their new albums on the same day. So back in September 2007 the pair duked it out in an album duel. 50 Cent informed the world prior to the date that it wasn’t ‘possible for Kanye to beat me. It’s the teddy bear versus the gorilla.’ Unsurprisingly 50 Cent’s album won out and became double platinum. Gracelessly, Kanye West blamed his record company for not promoting his album enough.

2. Paul Simon vs. Art Garfunkel

The popular pair had their pathetic falling out in the 80s when Simon removed Garfunkel’s vocals from their planned reunion set and instead released it as a solo album. Come the 90’s and Simon announced that he regretted ‘the ending of our friendship and I hope that someday before we die, we can make peace with each other.’ This quite moving optimism was scuppered immediately when he finished with a pause, adding ‘No rush’.

1. Tupac Shakur vs. Notorious B.I.G.

Rappers generate more faux-familial bonds than any other musicians. Being a fan or appreciating their work doesn’t come close for a lot of people. They see these rappers as heroes, role models and people they can empathize with. It’s often commented on how rappers seem to be addressing or mirroring your feelings directly. The only trouble with devotional support is that lines get drawn, sides become entrenched and minds become closed. Tupac Shakur was shot in 1994 and, believing Biggie Smalls knew but failed to warn him he began releasing slanderous tracks. Smalls retaliated in kind and, as expected, their fans got into fights. This culminated firstly in Shakur then Smalls being gunned down within months of each other. The murders were believed to be revenge attacks although this was never proven.

 Guest blogger, Greg Coltman, writes prolifically for music blogs and still intends to pick up an old Epihone Wildkat to play out better riffs that on he does on Guitar Hero.