The most shocking feuds in rock history
These bands made great music together, but their offstage rifts would ultimately lead to their demise.
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Pink Floyd
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
The feud between Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters and guitarist David Gilmour probably kicked off well before Waters decided to leave the band in 1985— singlehandedly deciding that it was time for the group to stop working together. But tensions escalated when Gilmour and the remaining members of the group attempted to continue performing together and Waters sued to stop them from using the Pink Floyd name. The courts decided in favor of Gilmour (Waters had left the band, after all), but the feud continued for almost 20 years. It wasn't until 2005 that the two made peace, reuniting on stage for Live8.
Cream
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Drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce's days of not getting along stem back to their time in the Graham Bond Organisation—a British jazz/rhythm and blues group of the early 1960s—when the pair was known as much for their squabbling as their talents. This had many wondering why they would even consider working together again, but before the two had time to ponder, Baker and Bruce found themselves in Cream. The dueling musicians were known to face off on stage to see who could perform the loudest, which actually left Baker with permanent hearing loss and led to the group's disbanding.
The Eagles
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Creative differences, tons of ego, and a ridiculous amount of non-stop bickering led to the demise of this '70s rock institution. Considered the "poster band" for dysfunctional groups, the Eagles' chemistry in the recording studio was trumped by their onstage antics. One memorable meltdown occurred during one of the band's last performances when guitarist Don Felder and singer Glenn Frey threatened each other and shouted obscenities both on and off the stage.
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Guns N' Roses
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Any true Guns N' Roses fan knows that the main drama surrounding the group is the longstanding feud between former lead singer Axl Rose and guitarist Slash. It's tricky to understand what caused a rift between the two, but one thing is for certain: Axl is a tough guy to get along with. It's reported that the lead singer has also had spats with drummer Steven Adler, bassist Duff McKagan and rhythm guitarist and lifelong friend Izzy Stradlin. A reunion doesn't seem likely.
The Beach Boys
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They may have made some beautiful, harmonious music together, but behind the scenes, the Beach Boys struggled to keep it together. Cousins Mike Love and Brian Wilson have been in legal battles for years, mostly dealing with publishing issues and the right to use the band's name during individual promotional appearances and performances. Most recently, front man Love announced that they would be dropping founding members Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks after 50 years.
Van Halen
Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
During their early days together in the 1970s, Van Halen established themselves as one of the most popular rock groups of all time. But tensions mounted in the '80s when founding member Eddie Van Halen and front man David Lee Roth found themselves fighting for the spotlight. Roth eventually left and was replaced by Sammy Hagar, who never really connected with the hardcore VH fans. In 1996, Van Halen and Roth shocked the world by appearing together onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards. But before the two had an opportunity to discuss a reunion, the band had yet another falling out.
Journey
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
They made nine albums during their nearly two decades together, but even that didn't bode well for the band's longevity and loyalty. When Steve Perry asked the group for time off for hip surgery, they suggested he hurry to have it done before their scheduled tour. Perry declined to speed up his surgery and left the group on the grounds that he did not respond well to ultimatums. Steve Augeri of Tall Stories was later hired to provide vocals for the band while on tour.
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