Top 10 Most Heated Feuds in British Music

The two pioneers of grime used to work together, and were even best mates. Wiley, the Godfather of Grime, is widely regarded as having invented the genre and, shortly after, became Dizzee’s mentor and produced some of his first works. But things between the two MCs turned extremely sour after an incident in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, in which Dizzee was stabbed, and for which he blames Wiley, who in turn, does accept partial responsibility. Even though in the past things seemed to have mellowed, the feud recently escalated again on Twitter.

One of the most successful family bands in the history of music, the Bee Gees were formed by brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The first incarnation of the group reached international fame in 1967, but soon cracked under the weight of the rivalry that had developed between Barry and Robin. Unsatisfied with Barry’s prominence as lead singer, Robin left to pursue a solo career. But in 1970 the brothers once again set aside their differences, and by the mid ‘70s became synonymous with the disco scene.

One of the most talked about feuds in the history of British music is that between Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Much of the Beatle legend is built on the initially friendly competition between John and Paul. That drive and attempt to better each other's compositions led to some of the finest songs in the pop and rock lexicon, but as the band aged, relations soured, and that carried out into their receptive solo careers, from mocking each other's album art, to fighting it lyrics – such as McCartney's “Too Many People” and Lennon's “How Do You Sleep?” .

The Starman was one of the greatest musical institutions to ever come out of the British Isles, but Modfather Paul Weller used to think otherwise: he once said he only liked three albums of his, and the rest was “pish”, making Bowie’s lifetime achievement Brit award somehow “wrong”. A couple of years later, though, he retracted his terribly unfair statement, saying he’d become a born-again Bowie Freak, even stating “Low” was one of his favourite albums. Bowie thanked him but, being Bowie, also asked him for his haircut back.

Among the greatest partnerships in rock and roll, the one that forms the foundation of The Rolling Stones started to turn sour in the ‘80s. Ultimately, it never reached the point were it crippled the band into disbanding, but the band's future looked touch and go throughout much of the decade. According to Keith, Mick gained more than his share of control during the '70s, when the guitarist was lost in a cloud of heroin, and was reluctant to loosen the reigns when Richards got clean. In the meantime, Mick recorded solo material, Keef started a side project, and all regrouped in 1989.

The trio of Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers was one of the biggest acts of the world in their day, and needless to say, one of the biggest players in the British new-wave scene. But no amount of success could help settle the creative differences and personality conflicts that soon developed within the group: differences that often were resolved with legendary fistfights. With drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers unhappy about being in the shadow of the bassist front man, and Sting all but a democratic band-leader, the partnership fizzled out before the '80s came to an end .

“The Wall” is arguably Pink Floyd’s highpoint, but it also was the beginning of the end for the band's classic lineup. Relations became tainted between Roger Waters and the rest of the group, especially guitarist David Gilmour, due to Waters forcing his way centre stage, while writing off his bandmates efforts as sub-par. Along the way, Wright was sacked, while Waters refused songs and creative input from the remaining members for 1983's “The Final Cut”. Waters would leave in '85, but legal battles followed over who owned what in terms of the band's catalogue, name, and identity .

The relationship between the Gallagher brothers never was exactly pleasant. In Oasis’ heyday jibes during interviews and fights during gigs were commonplace, and Noel even hit Liam on the head with a cricket bat while recording “(What’s the Story?) Morning Glory”. Since making Oasis more entertaining as a street fighting match than a musical act seems to have become the brothers’ life mission, the feud having lasted well after the band’s break-up is not surprising, with the Gallaghers still taking every chance they can to diss each other .

Before the Gallaghers brothers, there were the Davies brothers. The founders of classic and extremely influential rock and roll act “The Kinks” have really got each other going for decades. The rivalry began during their childhood, prompting Dave to declare that he thinks Ray has only been happy for only three years in his life: the ones before Dave was born. Well known for bringing their differences on stage, their public fighting during gigs cost them a four-year ban from performing in the States, a move that left lasting damage to the growth of their career.

When the singles “Country House” by Blur and “Roll With It” by Oasis were released on the same day in 1995, the battle to be crowned the kings of Britpop reached its climax . But hostilities between the two bands began much earlier. What started as good-natured rivalry between the two biggest Britpop acts in town, soon turned into no holds barred war, even making the national news. Oasis not being known to ‘roll with it’, things escalated quickly. Ultimately Blur won the battle, but the war, at least for Liam, never really ended.