Band Brawls
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Conflict and arguments are part and parcel of being in a band, but often private problems can spill over into the public arena.
Good news for Angels fans! After years of dispute and litigation between lead singer Doc Neeson and the remaining members of the band as to who can legitimately use the name, both parties have reached a compromise and the Angels will re-unite for a tour and possible recording in the future.
But don't expect a Hunters and Collectors reunion any time soon, especially after singer Mark Seymour's recent book in which he bemoans the communal royalty arrangement that the band had during their career and suggests that he felt coerced by the band into agreeing to the arrangement.
Ex-Eagle Don Felder's recent sniff 'n' tell book on his time with the band has been the subject of lawsuits and injunctions by the group resulting in a ban on its publication in America.
Sadly superstars like The Beatles have had John and Paul's spat made public through Lennon's post-Beatle venomous songs and public statements, while George played on John's records never Paul's. Pink Floyd and Roger Waters have traded barbs and lawsuits, even down to ownership of the inflatable pig (!).
Led Zep's recent reunion mended relations with John Paul Jones who had been uninvited by Robert and Jimmy on previous projects, while Cream's recent revival had the reverse result, opening up old enmity between Ginger and Jack.
The Dead Kennedys and Jello have sued and countersued over royalties, while Procol Harum members have litigated for years over the incredibly lucrative royalties for A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
When it comes to family members in bands, the potential for conflict can be even more volatile. JAMC's Reid Brothers have assaulted each other on stage, The Gallaghers have made headlines a number of times - most notably when Liam spat the dummy prior to an American tour and Noel had to take over vocals. The Kink's Davies brothers have traded blows and insults over the years, sadly Dave's recent stroke may prevent the band ever burying their differences and performing again, The Allman Brothers aren't even brothers but they sacked Dickey Betts over his erratic on and off-stage behaviour. Cousin Mike Love has litigated against Brian, and other ex and current Beach Boys, a number of times.
Sadly Joe Strummer and Mick Jones did not reconcile and revive The Clash before Joe's untimely demise, while The Ramones were a dysfunctional feuding band for most of their 22 years together, over drugs, ex-girlfriends and politics, before the grim reaper's scythe decimated their line-up and ended any possible reconciliation.
And you can add:
Van Halen / Eddie vs Roth and Hagar
Ozzy vs Black Sabbath
Gabriel vs Genesis
Morrissey vs Smiths
Paul Weller vs The Rest Of The Jam
Axl vs Guns and Roses
Mustaine vs Metallica
The Jacksons vs The Jacksons
Who would you add to the list?
Posted by Stephen Walker
April 24, 2008 7:18 PM
LATEST COMMENTSA little more recent, Pete Doherty and Carl Barât of The Libertines. They needed a bouncer to stop them physically fighting during recordings.
Posted by: Alex on April 28, 2008 4:50 PM
A great band that never reached their potential ( sorry,rather cliche' ) was Buffalo Springfield full of talent but like CNS&Y that came afterwards full of ego, Stills would rile Young up because he knew upsetting him may bring on a epileptic fit.
They did 3 great albums though.
Posted by: scott on April 28, 2008 12:07 PM
How about The Fall? They played a gig in New York in 1998 where Mark E. Smith and the guitarist traded blows & flicked cigarette butts at each other, eventually the drummer jumped over his kit & attacked Smith, who spent the rest of the night in jail on assault charges brought by another band member. Makes the Beatles, Floyd etc look like The Partridge Family.
Oh and who could forget The Brian Jonestown Massacre...
Posted by: sian on April 28, 2008 11:18 AM
The Rolling Stones kicked out Brian Jones, a founding member who was too 'stoned', and he responded by drowning. His replacement, Mick Taylor, a great guitarist, left because he didn't fit in with the hedonistic lifestyle and felt that his contributions to song arrangements were not recognised by the megalomaniac 'Glimmer Twins'. Ditto original bassist Bill Wyman.
The most bizzarre band tales must come from the members of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. It operated like a religious sect led by the charismatic, brilliant but neurotic Don Van Vliet AKA Captain Beefheart.
For six months prior to recording its magnum opus "Trout Mask Replica", The Cap kept the Magic Band prisoner in a house, rehearsing the songs over and over and dealing out psychological subjugation to the vulnerable band members. The Cap even bestowed nicknames on them to replace their names and personas with those of his choosing, eg Winged Eel Fingerling and Antennae Jimmy Semens. Get the album and check out the results.
Posted by: Roger That on April 28, 2008 10:40 AM
To follow on from Julie, I would add Ritchie Blackmore and just about anyone he's ever played in a band with. He managed to get a couple of the best 70s hard rock lineups together you could think of in Rainbow and promptly punted one and all.
Chris Bailey & Ed Kuepper on the local front, although how much was them and how much was media is a moot point. But Bailey's description of Ed as "a humourless Aryan" is up there.
Ozzy & Sabbath you've mentioned, but Sabbath and Ronnie James Dio had their moments, the split during the production of the Live Evil album is funny stuff, with Tony & Geezer supposedly producing by day, and Ronnie sneaking into the studio at night to remix himself.
And when it comes down to feuding bands, how can you go past the mid 70s lineup of Fleetwood Mac - two divorces, affairs, and writing best selling songs about one another (eg Go Your Own Way...that must have raised a few eyebrows at the first rehearsal).
Posted by: Stormy on April 28, 2008 8:39 AM
What about the Gallagher brothers? Their bitter family feud and backstage antics have been given much much more attention than the music they have made in the last decade of the bands history.
Posted by: sarcasm_mister on April 26, 2008 3:35 PM
Yes and Free. Plenty of bitching, sniping and brawling over line-ups. For bands that claim to sing about peace and love, there was very little in their line-ups.
Posted by: TV Birdman on April 26, 2008 1:36 PM
Was the Gabriel/Genesis split that bitter? I know he wrote Solsbury Hill about it and that is fairly pointed ('I was feeling part of the machinery'). And the Gallagher brothers seem to hate each other, as you mentioned.
Regarding the Eagles thing, you can buy Don Felder's self obsessed whine in Australia (I love that phrase 'sniff and tell')! Don Felder apparently was the greatest musical genius of all time, while Glenn Frey & Don Henley ('the Gods') were power crazed control freaks. Yes, and?
I suppose Crosby, Stills, Nash & occasionally Young are another example of musicians who spent more time sniping at each other than being productive. I would also add Ritchie Blackmore & Deep Purple.
Posted by: Julie on April 25, 2008 9:31 AM
Print Normal font Large font
Conflict and arguments are part and parcel of being in a band, but often private problems can spill over into the public arena.
Good news for Angels fans! After years of dispute and litigation between lead singer Doc Neeson and the remaining members of the band as to who can legitimately use the name, both parties have reached a compromise and the Angels will re-unite for a tour and possible recording in the future.
But don't expect a Hunters and Collectors reunion any time soon, especially after singer Mark Seymour's recent book in which he bemoans the communal royalty arrangement that the band had during their career and suggests that he felt coerced by the band into agreeing to the arrangement.
Ex-Eagle Don Felder's recent sniff 'n' tell book on his time with the band has been the subject of lawsuits and injunctions by the group resulting in a ban on its publication in America.
Sadly superstars like The Beatles have had John and Paul's spat made public through Lennon's post-Beatle venomous songs and public statements, while George played on John's records never Paul's. Pink Floyd and Roger Waters have traded barbs and lawsuits, even down to ownership of the inflatable pig (!).
Led Zep's recent reunion mended relations with John Paul Jones who had been uninvited by Robert and Jimmy on previous projects, while Cream's recent revival had the reverse result, opening up old enmity between Ginger and Jack.
The Dead Kennedys and Jello have sued and countersued over royalties, while Procol Harum members have litigated for years over the incredibly lucrative royalties for A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
When it comes to family members in bands, the potential for conflict can be even more volatile. JAMC's Reid Brothers have assaulted each other on stage, The Gallaghers have made headlines a number of times - most notably when Liam spat the dummy prior to an American tour and Noel had to take over vocals. The Kink's Davies brothers have traded blows and insults over the years, sadly Dave's recent stroke may prevent the band ever burying their differences and performing again, The Allman Brothers aren't even brothers but they sacked Dickey Betts over his erratic on and off-stage behaviour. Cousin Mike Love has litigated against Brian, and other ex and current Beach Boys, a number of times.
Sadly Joe Strummer and Mick Jones did not reconcile and revive The Clash before Joe's untimely demise, while The Ramones were a dysfunctional feuding band for most of their 22 years together, over drugs, ex-girlfriends and politics, before the grim reaper's scythe decimated their line-up and ended any possible reconciliation.
And you can add:
Van Halen / Eddie vs Roth and Hagar
Ozzy vs Black Sabbath
Gabriel vs Genesis
Morrissey vs Smiths
Paul Weller vs The Rest Of The Jam
Axl vs Guns and Roses
Mustaine vs Metallica
The Jacksons vs The Jacksons
Who would you add to the list?
Posted by Stephen Walker
April 24, 2008 7:18 PM
LATEST COMMENTSA little more recent, Pete Doherty and Carl Barât of The Libertines. They needed a bouncer to stop them physically fighting during recordings.
Posted by: Alex on April 28, 2008 4:50 PM
A great band that never reached their potential ( sorry,rather cliche' ) was Buffalo Springfield full of talent but like CNS&Y that came afterwards full of ego, Stills would rile Young up because he knew upsetting him may bring on a epileptic fit.
They did 3 great albums though.
Posted by: scott on April 28, 2008 12:07 PM
How about The Fall? They played a gig in New York in 1998 where Mark E. Smith and the guitarist traded blows & flicked cigarette butts at each other, eventually the drummer jumped over his kit & attacked Smith, who spent the rest of the night in jail on assault charges brought by another band member. Makes the Beatles, Floyd etc look like The Partridge Family.
Oh and who could forget The Brian Jonestown Massacre...
Posted by: sian on April 28, 2008 11:18 AM
The Rolling Stones kicked out Brian Jones, a founding member who was too 'stoned', and he responded by drowning. His replacement, Mick Taylor, a great guitarist, left because he didn't fit in with the hedonistic lifestyle and felt that his contributions to song arrangements were not recognised by the megalomaniac 'Glimmer Twins'. Ditto original bassist Bill Wyman.
The most bizzarre band tales must come from the members of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. It operated like a religious sect led by the charismatic, brilliant but neurotic Don Van Vliet AKA Captain Beefheart.
For six months prior to recording its magnum opus "Trout Mask Replica", The Cap kept the Magic Band prisoner in a house, rehearsing the songs over and over and dealing out psychological subjugation to the vulnerable band members. The Cap even bestowed nicknames on them to replace their names and personas with those of his choosing, eg Winged Eel Fingerling and Antennae Jimmy Semens. Get the album and check out the results.
Posted by: Roger That on April 28, 2008 10:40 AM
To follow on from Julie, I would add Ritchie Blackmore and just about anyone he's ever played in a band with. He managed to get a couple of the best 70s hard rock lineups together you could think of in Rainbow and promptly punted one and all.
Chris Bailey & Ed Kuepper on the local front, although how much was them and how much was media is a moot point. But Bailey's description of Ed as "a humourless Aryan" is up there.
Ozzy & Sabbath you've mentioned, but Sabbath and Ronnie James Dio had their moments, the split during the production of the Live Evil album is funny stuff, with Tony & Geezer supposedly producing by day, and Ronnie sneaking into the studio at night to remix himself.
And when it comes down to feuding bands, how can you go past the mid 70s lineup of Fleetwood Mac - two divorces, affairs, and writing best selling songs about one another (eg Go Your Own Way...that must have raised a few eyebrows at the first rehearsal).
Posted by: Stormy on April 28, 2008 8:39 AM
What about the Gallagher brothers? Their bitter family feud and backstage antics have been given much much more attention than the music they have made in the last decade of the bands history.
Posted by: sarcasm_mister on April 26, 2008 3:35 PM
Yes and Free. Plenty of bitching, sniping and brawling over line-ups. For bands that claim to sing about peace and love, there was very little in their line-ups.
Posted by: TV Birdman on April 26, 2008 1:36 PM
Was the Gabriel/Genesis split that bitter? I know he wrote Solsbury Hill about it and that is fairly pointed ('I was feeling part of the machinery'). And the Gallagher brothers seem to hate each other, as you mentioned.
Regarding the Eagles thing, you can buy Don Felder's self obsessed whine in Australia (I love that phrase 'sniff and tell')! Don Felder apparently was the greatest musical genius of all time, while Glenn Frey & Don Henley ('the Gods') were power crazed control freaks. Yes, and?
I suppose Crosby, Stills, Nash & occasionally Young are another example of musicians who spent more time sniping at each other than being productive. I would also add Ritchie Blackmore & Deep Purple.
Posted by: Julie on April 25, 2008 9:31 AM
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