10 Famous Cover Songs That The Original Artist Disliked

Cover songs can be a great way to show love for an artist—but sometimes, they totally miss the mark. This list looks at cover versions that didn’t sit well with the original creators. Whether it was a drastic style change, a lyrical switch-up, or just bad vibes all around, these remakes caused tension, public feuds, and even legal trouble. From Van Halen and Type O Negative to Pet Shop Boys and Led Zeppelin, these covers hit a nerve—and not in a good way. Some tributes just aren’t just welcome.

#10: Elvis Costello Songs (1978-80) by Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt has always had a wide musical range, so her admiration for Elvis Costello made sense. But when she covered four of his songs—including “Alison” and “Party Girl”—he wasn’t exactly thrilled. Costello slammed her 1980 Mad Love album, saying it was a “waste of vinyl” and that hearing her versions was “sheer torture.” He later admitted he was too harsh, and Ronstadt said she understood why he felt protective of his music. Still, her covers did well, proving fans didn’t mind her spin on his songs.

#9: “Blinded by the Light” (1976) by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
Bruce Springsteen first released “Blinded by the Light,” but Manfred Mann’s Earth Band made it a hit. The prog-rock twist turned the song into their signature track—but not everyone loved it. Springsteen later joked on VH1 Storytellers about how the cover topped the charts while also famously messing up the lyrics. Instead of “cut loose like a deuce,” many fans heard something a lot more awkward. In a 2025 Guitar Player interview, singer Chris Thompson said Springsteen told him flat out that he hated it. Still, both versions live on as classics.

#8: “You’re My Home” by Helen Reddy (1974)
Billy Joel wrote “You’re My Home” as a sweet, simple love song for his wife—but he wasn’t thrilled when Helen Reddy gave it a glossy, orchestral makeover in 1974. During a concert, Joel mocked her version, unaware that someone from Reddy’s team was in the audience. In a 1998 Uncut interview, he recalled how things almost got legal until Reddy promised never to cover his songs again. Ironically, Joel admitted he was happier about that promise than the original tribute itself. Not the kind of collaboration that ends in applause.

#7: “If I Needed Someone” (1965) by The Hollies
You’d think The Beatles would be cool with covers, but back in 1965, things got tense. Before fans even heard “If I Needed Someone” on Rubber Soul, The Hollies got their hands on a demo and rushed out their own version—on the exact same day the Beatles album dropped. George Harrison didn’t hold back, calling their sound unimpressive in an NME interview. That kicked off a brief but fiery feud. Graham Nash later admitted the timing was poor, though the two bands eventually patched things up, with Nash and Harrison becoming friends down the road.

#6: “Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You)” (1990) by Pet Shop Boys
It’s not every day you hear U2 mashed up with a Frankie Valli classic—but that’s exactly what the Pet Shop Boys did in 1990. Their synth-pop spin on “Where the Streets Have No Name” blended with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” left fans intrigued and U2 unimpressed. Bono jokingly (but not really) asked, “What have we done to deserve this?” referencing one of PSB’s own hits. Thankfully, Neil Tennant later said they patched things up. We’re still waiting to hear what Frankie Valli thought of the whole thing.

#5: Street Spirit (Fade Out) (2010) by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel’s haunting cover of Radiohead’s “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” was meant to be part of a friendly cover exchange—he’d reinterpret one of their songs, and they’d cover his “Wallflower.” Gabriel sent over his version but never got a reply. Later, he was told Radiohead weren’t fans of his somber spin. They never shared their side publicly, but Gabriel admitted he understood why they might not have liked it. Sadly, the biggest letdown wasn’t the miscommunication—it’s that we never got to hear Radiohead take on “Wallflower.”

#4: Ol’ 55 (1974) by Eagles
Tom Waits wasn’t exactly thrilled when the Eagles gave his song “Ol’ 55” a soft rock makeover. In a 1975 radio interview, he called their version “a little antiseptic.” A year later, he took it even further, telling NME he found the band “as exciting as watching paint dry.” While the Eagles’ version is a bit more upbeat, Waits thought it missed the soul of his original. Still, Glenn Frey once joked that the royalty checks from the cover helped smooth things over. Money talks—even when the music doesn’t.

#3: You Really Got Me (1978) by Van Halen
Van Halen turned heads by blasting through The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” right after “Eruption” on their debut album. But not everyone was impressed—especially Kinks guitarist Dave Davies. In a 2010 Classic Rock interview, he called the cover flashy but soulless and was even more annoyed when someone thought his band was doing a Van Halen cover. His brother Ray, though, seemed to take it in stride, calling it amusing. Still, with Van Halen’s version nearly as iconic as the original, it’s clear not everyone got the joke.

#2: Summer Breeze (1993) by Type O Negative
It’s hard to imagine a bigger style clash than soft rock duo Seals and Crofts and goth-metal band Type O Negative. Their heavy, brooding take on “Summer Breeze” might sound like a joke—but it was actually the toned-down version. Originally, the band rewrote it as “Summer Girl,” an eight-minute track with some wildly explicit lyrics. When Seals and Crofts caught wind of it, they weren’t amused. Out of respect (and likely pressure), Type O Negative reworked it into a more faithful cover for Bloody Kisses. But that infamous demo still made its way into the wild.

#1: Dazed and Confused (1967) by The Yardbirds / Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin has faced their share of plagiarism claims, but none hit quite like the drama around “Dazed and Confused.” Folk singer Jake Holmes first performed the song in 1967 while opening for The Yardbirds—Jimmy Page’s band at the time. Soon after, they reworked it without crediting Holmes. When Led Zeppelin later turned it into one of their signature tracks, Page claimed sole writing credit. Holmes eventually sued in 2010 and earned a belated “Inspired by” mention. It wasn’t just a legal win—it was a clear message that he hadn’t forgotten being left in the dust.