12 Biggest Rock Feuds Of 2024

Like any industry—or workplace, really—rock ‘n’ roll comes with its fair share of drama. From royalty disputes to songwriting credit clashes, tension can run as high as the amps on stage.

For bands that aren’t Rolling Stones-level legends, ex-members often have unresolved grudges. And let’s not forget how much the music industry itself has shifted, with streaming platforms and AI tech stirring up frustration among both artists and fans.

This year also brought plenty of drama between musicians and fans, whether it was about incessant hecklers or audiences glued to their phones during shows. Musicians are noticing—and some aren’t holding back in calling it out.

As 2025 nears, we’re diving into 12 of the most buzzworthy rock feuds of 2024, from backstage business battles to unforgettable on-stage blowups. Buckle up—it’s been a wild year.

12 of the Most Buzzworthy Rock Feuds of 2024

From passive-aggressive business moves to explosive on-stage brawls, the rock world in 2024 delivered no shortage of drama.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: A Magnet for Criticism

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame receives an overwhelming number of complaints each year regarding its selections, prejudices, and exclusions, and 2024 was no different. Musicians from all across the world didn’t hold back when they expressed their displeasure, including Liam Gallagher, Rickey Medlocke, Lou Gramm, Eric Clapton, Tom Morello, Dee Snider, Tommy Shaw, and James Hetfield. The Rock Hall is still a source of controversy, whether it is due to its exclusions, dubious decisions, or general management. As long as it is in existence, the drama will not end.

Sebastian Bach vs. Skid Row: No Reunion in Sight

If you’ve been hoping for a Skid Row reunion featuring Sebastian Bach, who parted ways with the band in 1996, don’t hold your breath. While Bach doesn’t seem to hold a grudge, he’s made it clear he wishes things were different. “When I get a substantial royalty check for an album I did with musicians that I haven’t been in the same room with since 1996, I feel like a piece of shit,” he told Metal Hammer in March. “We should be giving something back to the fans that have made this great life possible.”

However, Skid Row’s current lineup isn’t on board. “There’s three of us—myself, Scotti [Hill], and Rachel [Bolan]—who’ve talked about this,” guitarist Dave Sabo shared on The Hook Rocks podcast in May. “We’re all on the same page that we don’t want to go down that road again.” For now, it seems both sides are sticking to their separate paths.

Mötley Crüe vs. Mick Mars: Lawsuit Ends in Settlement

The long-running feud between Mötley Crüe and their former guitarist Mick Mars reached its conclusion in January when the two sides settled their heated lawsuit. Mars, who retired from the band in 2023, accused his former bandmates of trying to shortchange him financially. A Los Angeles judge agreed that the band had failed to provide the requested documents on time.

“Finally, somebody, somewhere told these guys they can’t bully Mick anymore,” Mars’ lawyer Ed McPherson told Rolling Stone. “Obviously, we claim they didn’t do anything properly. But they feel that they’re above the rules. And that’s what this lawsuit was about.” The legal drama seems to be over, but the tension remains unforgettable.

Will Fleetwood Mac Ever Reunite?

A Fleetwood Mac reunion seems unlikely, with conflicting views from key members. After Lindsey Buckingham was replaced by Mike Campbell and Neil Finn in 2018, he wasn’t happy with the decision. “The band collectively allowing that to happen, maybe out of weakness, disrespected the legacy we built,” Buckingham told Conan O’Brien on SiriusXM. Despite this, he remains open to reconciliation: “In a heartbeat, absolutely. If there’s more to come [from Fleetwood Mac], if there’s a way to heal that, that would be great. It would be very appropriate to close on a more circular note.”

Stevie Nicks, however, has a different perspective. Following Christine McVie’s passing, she told Mojo in June, “Without Christine, no can do. There is no chance of putting Fleetwood Mac back together in any way. Without her, it just couldn’t work.”

Artists vs. Fans

The artist-fan relationship is usually a give-and-take, but sometimes even musicians have to set boundaries—and 2025 saw plenty of that. John Mellencamp didn’t hold back when dealing with disruptive concertgoers, saying, “If you want to come and scream and yell and get drunk, don’t come to my show.” Bruce Dickinson, on the other hand, had no patience for smoking and vaping at Iron Maiden gigs: “I can’t fucking breathe,” he said in April.

Ann Wilson and Chrissie Hynde had their own frustrations with excessive cell phone use during shows. Hynde went further, asking repeat attendees to let new fans enjoy the front row. “The whole point of touring is playing to a different audience every night,” she explained.

Don Henley’s ‘Hotel California’ Courtroom Drama

This year, Don Henley took center stage—not on tour, but in a New York courtroom. The Eagles’ frontman accused three men of stealing nearly 100 pages of his handwritten lyrics from the Hotel California album. The defendants included rare-books collector Glenn Horowitz, former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and rock auctioneer Edward Kosinski, all of whom pleaded not guilty.

With testimonies from Henley himself and Eagles manager Irving Azoff, the trial was set to be a spectacle. But in a surprising twist, the case was dropped after Henley reportedly failed to provide certain evidence on time. As the lyrics say, “We are all just prisoners here of our own device.”

Artists vs. AI and Streaming: A Creative Stand-Off

Artificial intelligence may be revolutionizing the world, but not everyone is cheering. Throughout 2024, several rock legends have voiced concerns about AI’s potential to threaten the very heart of music and art. In April, the Artist Rights Alliance released a passionate statement calling AI an “assault on human creativity,” co-signed by big names like Peter Frampton, Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Vedder, and more.

Meanwhile, streaming remains a sore subject. Sheryl Crow and Trent Reznor didn’t hold back, criticizing how little it pays artists for their work. For many musicians, it’s clear that while technology evolves, the fight to protect the soul of music is far from over.

Clash Between Ozzy Osbourne and Kanye West

Pro tip: never mess with the Prince of Darkness. In February, Ozzy Osbourne took to social media to slam Kanye West after the rapper allegedly used an unauthorized sample of Black Sabbath’s iconic “Iron Man” for his track “Carnival.” Osbourne didn’t hold back, calling West an “antisemite” who has “caused untold heartache to many,” and condemned the use of the sample despite a firm refusal. “I want no association with this man!” Osbourne wrote. In the end, West removed the sample from the track, which was part of his album Vultures.

Blur Bombs at Coachella: Britpop Meets Indifference

It’s hard to say how many Coachella-goers are also fans of ‘90s Britpop, but based on Blur’s performance this year, it doesn’t seem like the two crowds mix much. Despite Damon Albarn’s best efforts to hype up the audience, the crowd stayed shockingly unresponsive. During their 1994 hit “Girls & Boys,” Albarn took a jab at the lack of energy, saying, “You’ll never see us again so you might as well fucking sing it.” Looks like not everyone was feeling the Britpop vibe at Coachella!

Dennis DeYoung vs. Styx: Drama That Just Won’t Quit

The drama between Dennis DeYoung and Styx continued to unfold this year. In April, Styx’s manager, Charlie Brusco, revealed that the band hasn’t spoken to DeYoung since he left in 1999 and claimed he “likes to be in control of everything.” But just two months later, Tommy Shaw from Styx said in an interview that DeYoung was off his “resentment list” and that he held “no hard feelings.” DeYoung, however, voiced his own thoughts, telling UCR that he wasn’t looking to rejoin the band but wanted “one last tour for the fans.” “The caricature of me as some sort of bullying tyrant is absolutely crazy,” he added. Styx is set to tour in 2025 without DeYoung, but with Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon joining them.

Pearl Jam vs. Ted Nugent: A Clash of Opinions

Ted Nugent and Eddie Vedder don’t exactly see eye to eye when it comes to guns. In September, during a Pearl Jam concert, Vedder took a subtle jab at Nugent’s 1975 song “Stranglehold,” transforming it into an anti-gun anthem. “I don’t own a gun, I don’t ever want to own a gun,” Vedder sang, making his stance clear. Nugent wasted no time responding on social media, inviting Vedder to join his Real America’s Voice Spirit Campfire video series to discuss what he called Vedder’s “insane liberal policies.” Despite the invitation, Vedder didn’t take him up on the offer.

Stage Showdown Between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro

A punch on stage doesn’t exactly scream “feud,” but the altercation between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction at their September concert was more than just a brief moment of tension. The physical clash came after days of mounting frustration for Farrell. According to his wife, Etty, Farrell had been irritated by the band’s loud stage volume, feeling that his voice was being drowned out. “Perry’s frustration had been mounting, night after night,” she shared on social media. Seems like turning it up to 11 isn’t always the answer when it comes to finding harmony on stage!