10 Rockstars Fans Didn’t Know Were Not Great People

The saying “Never meet your heroes” exists for a reason—many fans have been disappointed after meeting their idols. While some stars are simply rude or dismissive, others have engaged in behavior that crosses the line into shocking, disturbing, or even criminal territory.

Rock music, known for its rebellious spirit, has seen more than its fair share of bad behavior. From a 1970s glam rocker with a notorious history of predatory crimes to a legendary frontman infamous for his arrogance, the list goes on. There’s also the funk-rock icon who ended up behind bars for unspeakable abuse and a guitar legend whose questionable actions got him into legal trouble multiple times.

While many rockers have lived wild lives without hurting others, some left behind a legacy of more than just music. Read on for a look at some rock stars whose actions made them infamous for all the wrong reasons.

Gary Glitter
With his debut album blasting up the charts on the strength of the hit single “Rock and Roll Part 2,” Paul Gadd swept the British music industry in 1972 as glam rocker Gary Glitter. Although he never again had that degree of success, that anthem-like tune remained popular and a favorite at athletic events.

It all collapsed in 1997 when he brought his PC to a repair shop. When the technician fixing the system came upon pictures of child sex abuse, he reported it to the police. Gadd was slammed with several accusations after being detained. After confessing to 54 charges of downloading photographs of minors being abused, he was sentenced to four months in prison in 1999.

After being released from prison, he was so despised in Britain that he had to flee to Spain, where he later moved to Cuba and then Cambodia, before being deported in 2003 and ending up in Vietnam, where he was found guilty in 2006 of sexually abusing two young girls, ages 10 and 11, with similar accusations made against him in the years that followed. In 2015, Gadd was found guilty in Britain of sex crimes he committed against minors in the 1970s and given a 16-year prison sentence. The 79-year-old singer was denied parole in February 2024, so he is still incarcerated.

Noel and Liam Gallagher
Oasis, the Britpop powerhouse, dominated the ’90s with hits like “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova,” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” But behind the music, the band was fueled by constant tension—mostly between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. Their fiery relationship ultimately led to Oasis’ dramatic breakup in 2009.

Their infamous 1994 NME interview became legendary for its sheer hostility, with Liam snapping at Noel, “Sit the f** down, you’re getting into a state, you’ve had too many G&Ts.” Then there was the recording studio brawl where Noel reportedly smacked Liam in the head with a cricket bat—an actual piece of Oasis memorabilia later auctioned off. Noel also delivered one of rock’s most savage burns, describing Liam as “a man with a fork in a world of soup.”

The brothers’ knack for insults wasn’t limited to each other. Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins once recalled how a simple joke about an Oasis reunion led to Noel lashing out at his band, calling him “really mean” and “a jerk.”

Mike Love
Mike Love has been the voice behind some of The Beach Boys’ biggest hits, but he’s also earned a reputation as one of rock’s most infamous figures. Rolling Stone once called him “one of the biggest a**holes in the history of rock & roll,” a claim Love brushed off by saying, “The fable is that I’m such an a**hole, but a lot of that stuff is skewed by the crazies.”

His long-standing feud with cousin and bandmate Brian Wilson is well-documented. Love has sued Wilson multiple times over songwriting credits, despite playing a much smaller creative role. He also took legal action against Al Jardine for using The Beach Boys’ name while touring solo—even though Love gained control of the band’s branding.

Still, Love insists he deserves more recognition. “There was always the perception that my cousin Brian did all the writing… That was not true,” he told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. But comparing Pet Sounds—a Brian Wilson masterpiece—to Love’s solo albums might suggest otherwise.

Ryan Adams
For years, Ryan Adams was an indie-rock favorite—first as the frontman of Whiskeytown and later as a successful solo artist. But in 2019, his career came crashing down when The New York Times published an exposé detailing allegations of sexual and emotional abuse from seven women—one of whom was just 14 when she first encountered him.

Among those who spoke out were singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers and Adams’ ex-wife, Mandy Moore. Bridgers described how her relationship with Adams turned emotionally abusive, while Moore accused him of controlling behavior that stifled her career. “His controlling behavior essentially did block my ability to make new connections in the industry during a very pivotal and potentially lucrative time — my entire mid-to-late 20s,” she told The Times.

In the wake of the scandal, Adams painted himself as a victim. In a 2021 Los Angeles Magazine interview, he lamented, “So I’m losing my life’s work, and my dream of who I am, my ability to provide for myself.” He even posted (and later deleted) an Instagram plea, writing, “I know I’m damaged goods… I’m months from losing my label, studio, and my home.” However, the industry and many former fans weren’t quick to forgive.

Anton Newcombe
Anton Newcombe, frontman of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, is as well-known for his fiery temper as he is for his music. “I see red. My natural tendency is to want to grab people by the throat and not stop,” he admitted to The Guardian. His short fuse has led to countless onstage meltdowns, often berating bandmates mid-performance. With a revolving door of musicians, Newcombe remains unapologetic: “Sometimes you gotta crack the whip — you’re only as good as your weakest link.”

Some conflicts have turned violent. “Matt [Hollywood] and I once had a serious fight that involved a hammer and a knife,” he revealed. In November 2023, a Melbourne concert ended in chaos when Newcombe attacked guitarist Ryan Van Kriedt, striking him with a guitar. Security had to break up the fight, and the remaining tour dates were canceled. The guitarist soon left the band, proving that Newcombe’s volatility remains as intense as ever.

Rick James
Rick James skyrocketed to fame in 1981 with “Super Freak,” blending funk, soul, rock, and new wave into an unforgettable hit. But his success was overshadowed by his spiraling drug addiction. By the late ’80s, he had barricaded himself in his LA mansion, covering the windows with foil while freebasing cocaine.

Things took a darker turn in 1991 when James and his girlfriend, Tanya Hijazi, were arrested for kidnapping, imprisoning, torturing, and sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman. Out on $1 million bail, he committed another violent attack on record executive Mary Sauger, who later told The Los Angeles Times, “It seemed they were just getting their kicks out of beating someone.”

James was sentenced to five years in Folsom Prison but served only 15 months. When he died in 2004 at age 56, an autopsy revealed nine different drugs in his system, including cocaine and methamphetamine.

Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry helped shape rock ‘n’ roll, delivering unforgettable guitar riffs on classics like “Maybelline,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and “Johnny B. Goode.” But while his influence on music is undeniable, his reputation was far less admirable. Known for being notoriously cheap, Berry refused to tour with his own band, instead showing up at venues and playing with a local pickup group—without rehearsals. Even a young Bruce Springsteen once backed him under these chaotic conditions.

His difficult nature was on full display in the 1987 documentary Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll, where Keith Richards, a lifelong fan, grew so frustrated rehearsing for Berry’s 60th birthday concert that he walked offstage mid-song.

Beyond his attitude, Berry’s past was even darker. In 1959, he was convicted of transporting a 14-year-old girl across state lines for “immoral purposes.” Later, disturbing reports surfaced that he had installed hidden cameras in the women’s restrooms of his Missouri venue, Berry Park. Despite his undeniable influence, his legacy remains deeply complicated.

Morrissey
As the lead singer of The Smiths, Morrissey became one of the most influential voices in alternative rock. But while his music has earned him devoted fans, his off-stage behavior has made him one of rock’s most polarizing figures.

In 2019, NME reported that he publicly supported Britain’s far-right UKIP party, which had been widely criticized for its anti-Muslim rhetoric and even blamed traffic congestion on immigrants. His controversial remarks didn’t stop there. Speaking with Germany’s Der Spiegel, Morrissey dismissed actor Anthony Rapp’s accusations against Kevin Spacey, saying, “You have to assume that the boy had an inkling of what might possibly happen” (via Vice).

Even The Simpsons took a jab at him with the character Quilloughby, a once-cool rock star turned bitter and bigoted. Morrissey’s manager, Peter Katsis, lashed out at the show, claiming it unfairly “insulted the artist.” Love him or hate him, Morrissey never fails to stir controversy.

Gene Simmons
If there’s one rock star who knows how to cash in on fame, it’s Gene Simmons. The KISS bassist has turned the band’s brand into a money-making machine, selling everything from KISS Kondoms to KISS Krunch cereal—even a KISS Kasket for die-hard fans who want to take their fandom to the grave.

Beyond his business ventures, Simmons has never shied away from bold (and sometimes cringeworthy) claims—like boasting about sleeping with 5,000 women. His off-the-cuff remarks have also landed him in hot water, including the time he made a joke about his “schmekel” that so offended his wife, Shannon Tweed, she stormed off a talk show.

Simmons is fully aware of his reputation. “I know some people think I’m an a**hole,” he admitted on the Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson podcast. “And I’m fine with that.”

However, Ace Frehley’s ex, Rachael Gordon, has accused Simmons of something far more sinister. In a now-deleted Facebook post (via Metal Sucks), she alleged that Simmons tried to have Frehley killed in the 1970s by luring him to a “private party” in the Bahamas. While these claims remain unproven, Simmons continues to be one of rock’s most divisive figures.

Ian Watkins
It’s hard to top Ian Watkins when it comes to rock stars who are awful people. When police found pictures of child sexual assault during a narcotics arrest at Watkins’ home in 2012, the frontman for the Welsh band Lostprophets made headlines. After being charged with 13 counts of child sex charges involving two infants, he entered a guilty plea. His co-defendants, the mothers of those infants, received sentences of 14 and 17 years in jail, respectively, while he received a term of 29 years.

According to BBC News, the judge noted that Watkins had “plunged into new depths of depravity” when imposing his punishment. Justice Royce continued, citing Watkins’ “complete lack of remorse,” saying, “This case breaks new ground.” Any moral person will feel disgusted, shocked, and disbelieving. Suzanne Thomas, the case’s prosecutor, was equally repulsed. “It is incomprehensible that adults would commit such appalling acts against children,” she stated.

Watkins’ 2014 request to shorten his sentence was turned down. Watkins was kidnapped by three other prisoners in 2023 when he was a prisoner in HMP Wakefield in Yorkshire. Watkins was repeatedly stabbed and beaten during a six-hour confrontation with guards. His stab wounds weren’t life-threatening, according to a Sky News story shortly after the incident.