Top 10 Feuds Between Guitarists And Singers

#10: Ritchie Blackmore & Ian Gillan

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Deep Purple Deep Purple’s late-60s and early-70s run was a massive success, in no small part due to the musicianship and artistic direction cultivated by vocalist Ian Gillan and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. At the peak of their run, the iconic singer felt torn between the band and his own personal pursuits. When the frontman decided to leave, Blackmore’s resentment allowed the bandmate to slip away. In the years after, the guitarist carried on without Gillan until he decided to try his luck with Rainbow. In a tale as old as time, the two were separated by greed and egos. Years later, the two put their differences aside for a brief Deep Purple reunion.

#9: Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel

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Simon & Garfunkel Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were the premiere music duo of their era, with hits spanning from “The Sound of Silence” to “Bridge over Troubled Water.” Despite their easygoing folk and rock stylings, a passive-aggressive feud developed among the two. This largely came down to Simon, the guitarist and main songwriter, holding a firm control over the group’s output. Wanting to explore other avenues, Garfunkel pursued an acting career in the early-70s and later recorded songs without his former partner. In turn, Simon shifted gears to a fruitful solo career. Several sporadic reunions happened in the ensuing years, but it’s fair to say that their appearances together are mostly professional.

Dio Dio energized the hard rock and metal scene in the ‘80s with the titular singer’s unmistakable voice, accompanied by guitarist Vivian Campbell during the group’s most successful period. In 1985, Campbell was fired from the group, with the two exchanging jabs through the press for years afterward. Apparently, the two disagreed about almost everything, with creative and financial disputes being the least of their problems. As the two parted ways, their personal grudges lasted until the singer’s death in 2010. While Campbell went on to play with famous acts like Def Leppard, he was never able to squash his beef with the metal icon.

#7: David Gilmour & Roger Waters

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Pink Floyd Pink Floyd was one of the most influential rock acts ever, led by the musical partnership of guitarist David Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters. By the end of the ‘70s, Waters took control and spearheaded their concept album “The Wall.” Having grown apart musically and personally, the two entered the following decade with different approaches to the band. By 1985, the bassist formally left the group, leaving Gilmour to steer the ship without one of its founders. The latter’s continual use of the Pink Floyd name prompted a bitter lawsuit, which was the the last straw for their friendship. Aside from a one-off performance in 2005, the two prefer to avoid each other as much as possible.

#6: Eddie Van Halen & David Lee Roth

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Van Halen Van Halen’s second lead vocalist David Lee Roth craved the spotlight with his onstage antics, while Eddie Van Halen provided sick guitar solos. When creative differences led the singer to leave, the band moved on with Sammy Hagar and another successful decade of rock. Through the late ‘80s and ‘90s, Roth took shots at his former collaborator for his perceived ego and power-hungry nature. Eddie Van Halen rarely replied, opting instead to let his guitar do the talking. Despite the acrimonious split, various would-be reunions and publicity stunts made people wonder if the former bandmates would ever properly reconcile. In 2007, they put aside their differences to reimagine Van Halen and carried on until the guitarist’s death in 2020.

#5: Don Felder & Glenn Frey

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The Eagles Led by singer-songwriters Glenn Frey and Don Henley, the Eagles dominated American music in the ‘70s. Their lineup during the “Hotel California” release is often considered their best, with Don Felder on board to help write the title song. Also serving as rhythm guitarist, Frey developed a variety of issues with the lead guitarist on and offstage. During a particularly heated set in 1980, the two started threatening each other in between songs. The guitarist had rebuffed their backstage guest, Senator Alan Cranston, leading Frey to retaliate against his insubordinate bandmate. Both men walked off the stage and effectively put the band into an indefinite hiatus. Despite a reunion in the mid-90s, the Eagles asked Felder to leave the band in 2001.

#4: Dave & Ray Davies

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The Kinks The Kinks emerged from the British Invasion with their own blend of distorted rock music. Powered by the Davies brothers, the band teetered on the brink of destruction during their heyday. Most bands have enough trouble without any sibling rivalries in the mix. As the singer and lead songwriter, Ray masterminded the band with Dave playing a key supporting role as the guitarist. While the former went through a grueling marriage and mental breakdown, the brothers’ building animosity over creative control nearly burst. One of the many fights between the two revolved around their song “You Really Got Me,” specifically who was responsible for the iconic guitar sound. To this day, fans of the Kinks remain hopeful for an official reunion.

#3: Lindsey Buckingham & Stevie Nicks

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Fleetwood Mac When they joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks brought a considerable amount of personal and professional baggage with them. Throughout their time in the band, the two songwriters wrote a series of hits directly addressing their relationship. For example, their respective contributions to the album “Rumours” are almost all in reference to their breakup. While their love affair didn’t last, the band kept going despite their feud. In recent years, Buckingham was kicked out of the band, sparking stories that the conflict never went away. Whether or not the two still hate each other, their intense bond generated a long chain of classics.

#2: John Lennon & Paul McCartney

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The Beatles The quintessential songwriting partnership of the 20th century began when John Lennon met Paul McCartney. After a decade of musical experimentation, their friendship began to break down. While the prevailing rumor was that Lennon’s partner Yoko Ono broke them up, the real story is much more complex. McCartney assumed a leadership role after their manager Brian Epstein died in 1967, leading to animosity between the two about their future. The slow burn feud grew until 1970, at which point the two musicians had other musical pursuits in mind. Most of the lingering bad feelings came out in their separate solo careers, as the two dissed each other through song. The ill-feelings continued until the mid- to late-70s shortly before Lennon’s tragic death. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Axl Rose & Slash, Guns N’ Roses The Rockers Clashed When the Former Made the Band a Musical Dictatorship Keith Richards & Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones The Songwriting Duo Nearly Collapsed After They Pursued Other Ventures in the 1980s Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin The Forces Behind the Band Could Never Agree After Their Initial 1980 Breakup

Oasis It’s hard to argue there’s been as powerful or as unrelenting a feud than the one between Liam and Noel Gallagher. Almost from the conception of their band Oasis, the brothers were as famous for their bickering as they were for their Britpop hits like “Wonderwall.” After an infamous breakup in 2009, the vocalist and guitarist each developed their own rock groups far away from each other. Today, every interview the two have seemingly involves at least a mention of their rivalry. Considering the fuel they’ve each thrown onto the fire over the years, there’s little chance the brothers will be getting back together anytime soon. In lieu of an official reunion, the most famous and storied feud in rock history continues to thrive.