The most notorious band squabbles of all time

Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, aka "The Toxic Twins." The duo's well-documented troubles with addiction during the end of the 1970s eventually derailed the band and raised serious questions as to whether it had a future. The two were often at each other's throat, with just about anything setting the other off. And, even when the band was collectively sober, or close enough, Tyler and Perry had their squabbles, like in the late 2000s, when Perry claimed Tyler was leaving the band, and latter sent a cease-and-desist letter to his bandmate.

In recent years, it seems the once-fractured relationship between cousins Brian Wilson and Mike Love has healed — to a point. Wilson's current health status likely played a part in Love being cordial about their friendship, and especially in the wake of 2024's documentary The Beach Boys (Disney+). However, prior to the recording of the band's famous and revolutionary 1966 release Pet Sounds, Love wasn't happy with the direction the band appeared to be headed — courtesy of Wilson, whose material was becoming more progressive and psychedelic. Much to the dismay of Love, who thought the group should stick with the pop/surf rock that made them so beloved at the time.

For decades, it's been easy (and a tired cliché) to blame Yoko Ono for the Beatles' breakup. However, the rift between Paul McCartney and John Lennon had been simmering at various levels of heat for years. Lennon's infamous comments about an "overbearing" McCartney in a Rolling Stone interview from 1971 shed plenty of light on their disputes and the tension between the pair. Of course, it only seemed like a matter of time when two of the most prominent personalities on the planet would eventually struggle to co-exist within the confines of the world's most popular band. And, it affected bandmates George Harrison and Ringo Starr, too.

The domineering band member is a common thread signaling discord and dissension with a band. In the case of CCR, John Fogerty's controlling personality — professionally and personally — was essentially tearing the band apart. So much so, that his own brother, Tom, left the band in 1971. Tired of being railed on and accused of not allowing other members of CCR to contribute creatively as songwriters, John Fogerty offered that remaining bandmates Stu Cook and Doug Clifford a more balanced approach. However, the strain between those three, as well as issues with the group's record company, eventually led to its 1972 disbanding. 

Glenn Frey and Don Henley, arguably, are the two most prominent members of the Eagles. However, that didn't sit well with bandmate Don Felder, who dubbed them "The Gods." There was the time Felder had some of his lyrics replaced by those of Henley without his knowledge. Or July 31, 1980, on stage, when Felder told Frey he wanted to fight him during a performance at a benefit for a California politician's re-election. The two would trade threats and verbal abuse throughout the entire show; it would prove to be the last Eagles concert until 1994. Upon that reunion, Felder was angered that Henley and Frey were being paid more than other members of the band.

Axl Rose's ego should be credited for the demise of G N' R's initial run, which began in the mid-1980s and was over before mid-1990s. He even went as far as gaining the legal right to the band's name, thus making the likes of Slash and Duff McKagan contractors in a group they helped form. Slash eventually left in 1996, and Guns N' Roses was essentially Rose by himself, with no members of the classic lineup to that point associated with the Use Your Illusion records. Of course, more than 15 years would pass before that aforementioned trio would reunite under the G N' R moniker. 

Jane's Addiction never shied away from drama during its celebrated, but dysfunctional, career — notably, the on-again-off-again trials of guitarist Dave Navarro. However, in the most recent incident related to anybody on this list, agitated lead singer Perry Farrell confronted, bumped and appeared to punch Navarro during a September 2024 show in Boston. The drama allegedly continued backstage where Ferrell again got physical with Navarro. Both the band and Farrell's camp issued statements saying the remainder of the tour was canceled, the band would be on hiatus and Ferrell would seek help for his apparent issues. 

More than 50 years after forming, Journey is still dealing with drama. Back in the 1980s, singer Steve Perry and manager Herbie Herbert fired longtime drummer Steve Smith over creative differences. Then a burned-out Perry left in the mid-1980s, returned and left again due to health reasons roughly a decade later. Perry never returned, but Journey has continued on. However, the drama among members hasn't stopped. In 2022, Perry filed a lawsuit against current members Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain due to a song trademark issue. That same year, while still in the band, Schon sent Cain a cease-and-desist letter after the latter played "Don't Stop Believin'" at a Donald Trump event. Then in 2024, Cain sued Schon for misuse of the band's credit cards. Are we caught up yet?

There's nothing like brotherly love gone wrong. However, it can be argued that Ray and Dave Davies haven't really loved each other. Dave likes to blame his older brother for being pompous, an attention seeker and the guy who was the reason The Kinks became rock legends. Meanwhile, Ray is simply bitter that Dave was ever born. At least that's what the latter thinks. Dave Davies' infamous 50th birthday party in 1997 is said to have pretty much ended any idea of The Kinks playing together again.

First there was Ice Cube's solo career that interrupted the chemistry of these gangsta rap pioneers following the debut success of Straight Outta Compton in 1988. That started a lyrical feud between Cube and the remaining members of N.W.A. Then, in the early 1990s, Eazy-E allegedly signed away the group's contracts, thus starting a verbal battle between he and Dr. Dre, and ultimately other members of the group, which led to N.W.A.'s demise.

There's sibling rivalry. Then there's Noel and Liam Gallagher. The brothers' lengthy feud has featured some beyond ridiculous moments. There was the on-stage fight in Los Angeles during a U.S. tour from 1994. Or two years later, when Liam couldn't perform for an episode of MTV’s Unplugged, due to a sore throat, but watched from a sky box while downing beers and heckling Noel. And, of course, August 2009, when Noel refused to go on stage because Liam was reportedly swinging guitars and acting violent backstage before a Paris show. But, somehow, without hell freezing over, the brothers are set to reunite for a 2025 tour that could rival Taylor Swift in demand.

When Zayn Malik left One Direction in 2015, it didn't seem like anything strange. Zayn reportedly wanted time for himself, but then was spotted making new music on his own. That ultimately led to some back-and-forth chiding with former bandmate Louis Tomlinson. Hey, even boy bands aren't without some good inter-member drama.

The feud between bandmates Roger Waters and David Gilmour essentially affected the entire band. Waters' controlling nature and self-righteous attitude surfaced during the making of The Wall, where he chided the work of fellow bandmate Richard Wright. He also claimed the extremely talented Gilmour was not a quality lyricist. Waters left the band two years after 1983's The Final Cut was released. The four members did reunite for 2008's Live 8 concert.

Poison's hard-partying, carefree off-stage antics actually spilled over to a performance setting at the 1991 MTV Music Video Music Awards. Wasted guitarist C.C. DeVille began playing "Talk Dirty to Me" when the band was slated to play "Unskinny Bop" during a performance at the event. DeVille struggled to get through the tune and when the group finally did, he found himself in backstage brawl with bandmate Bret Michaels.

To the casual fan of the Ramones, the tension and conflict between iconic members Joey and Johnny Ramone was rather consistent. In addition to the two being on the opposite end of the political spectrum — with Johnny a staunch conservative and Joey a bed-wetting liberal, the two also notoriously dated the some woman (Linda Daniele). It's been reported that Johnny stole her from Joey.

Like the Beatles, Stones icons Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have certainly had their issues over the years. During the late 1970s, Richards' drug use forced him into rehab, thus, opening the door for Jagger to assume full control over the band's leadership. However, once Richards got clean, the struggle for power resumed. Time has helped, but these two massive superstars will likely always hold some level of resentment for the other.

Over time, even childhood friends such as Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel while grow tired of each other. And it's resentment, whether it's more professional notoriety and success for one (Simon) or the other branching out into other entertainment ventures (Garfunkel) that proves troubling. Essentially, it was time that did in this iconic rock duo, which still delivered one of the great concerts of all time — Central Park 1981 — after the two were already on the outs. Though it appears the two have been cordial over the years, in the end, it seems better for Simon and Garfunkel to be on their own and allow the music to define the legacy. 

There has always been a hint of mystery when it came to the issues between famed Smiths frontman Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. The band's 1987 breakup was always somewhat confusing, with Marr claiming Morrissey planted a story in NME regarding the reason for Marr leaving the band to be personal issues with the singer. Then, in 2024, the two have sparred as to the reason why a reportedly "lucrative" offer to reunite for a tour was rejected by Marr — with the issue of trademarking The Smiths name, as well.

David Lee Roth was always a larger-than-life figure within the more reserved confines of Van Halen. When Roth wasn't pleased with Eddie Van Halen's addition of keyboards for the 1984 album, and Eddie's desire to direct the band's sound in a more mainstream direction, it was the beginning of the end. Roth, who usually put himself before others, left the band in 1985 for a solo career and try his hand at acting. Even when he reunited with the brothers, or there was talk of doing so, Roth's questionable and selfish antics ultimately hindered or squashed those plans.

Despite being the lone surviving members of the legendary rock act, and still playing together until recently, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend have long dealt with consistent splinters in their relationship. Townshend has said Daltrey interprets the former's songs as his own, which obviously rankled the iconic guitarist. According to Townshend, years of tension has led to the two not being on speaking terms as of August 2024.