9 Rock Feuds That Lasted Longer Than the Bands

Many legendary rock bands didn’t fall apart just because of the music—they collapsed under the weight of personal grudges. Some of the most successful groups were torn apart by arguments, legal fights, and deep resentments that lasted much longer than the bands themselves. These nine feuds became as famous as the hits they created. In many cases, the musicians stayed angry for decades after the final tour, proving that old grudges in rock don’t fade away—they usually get louder.

Lou Reed vs. John Cale (The Velvet Underground)

Band’s Career: 1965–1973 (8 years)
Feud Duration: 1973–1990s (20+ years)

After Lou Reed and John Cale parted ways in the early ’70s, their creative tension didn’t fade. Cale had been forced out of the Velvet Underground by Reed in 1968, which sparked years of bad blood.

Though they briefly reunited for projects like Songs for Drella in 1990, their working relationship remained rocky. The emotional distance between them never fully healed, even as they performed together once more in the ’90s. Reed’s death in 2013 ended any further chance at reconciliation. Their feud defined much of their post-VU history.

Lindsey Buckingham vs. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)

Band’s Career: 1975–1987 (12 years, Rumours-era lineup)
Feud Duration: 1987–Present (35+ years)

Fleetwood Mac’s lineup was filled with personal struggles, but none more lasting than the feud between Buckingham and Nicks. Their romantic split spilled into their professional work, creating lasting tension on and off stage.

Things reached a breaking point when Buckingham was removed from the band in 2018. Despite having played together for decades, the divide remained. Nicks later made it clear in interviews that she no longer wished to perform with him. Their long-running feud has overshadowed many of the band’s reunions.

Eddie Van Halen vs. David Lee Roth (Van Halen)

Band’s Career: 1974–1985 (11 years, Roth era)
Feud Duration: 1985–2020 (35 years)

Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth had a difficult relationship from the start. Roth’s exit in 1985 was filled with public jabs, and the two took shots at each other in interviews for years.

Though Roth eventually rejoined Van Halen in the 2000s, the tension between them never disappeared. They managed to tour together again, but it was strictly professional. Their feud continued until Eddie’s death in 2020, ending a decades-long rivalry that outlasted their early years together.

Don Henley vs. Glenn Frey (Eagles)

Band’s Career: 1971–1980 (9 years, original run)
Feud Duration: 1980–1994 (14 years, before reunion)

Henley and Frey were the creative core of the Eagles, but they clashed often behind the scenes. After the band broke up in 1980, both made it clear they didn’t plan to reunite anytime soon.

They didn’t speak publicly for years and resisted reunion offers. The Eagles finally got back together in 1994, but even during the “Hell Freezes Over” tour, old tensions lingered. Though they worked again as bandmates, their relationship remained distant until Frey’s death in 2016.

Creedence Clearwater Revival (John Fogerty vs. the Rest of CCR)

Band’s Career: 1968–1972 (4 years)
Feud Duration: 1972–Present (50+ years!)

After Creedence Clearwater Revival broke up, John Fogerty refused to look back. He didn’t speak to his former bandmates and made it clear he would never play CCR songs with them again.

The tension worsened over lawsuits and royalty issues. When CCR was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, Fogerty refused to let the others join him on stage. Despite public calls for reconciliation, he has kept his distance for over five decades.

Rich Robinson vs. Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes)

Band’s Career: 1989–2002 (13 years initially)
Feud Duration: 2002–Present (20+ years off-and-on)

The Robinson brothers’ working relationship has always been unpredictable. After the Black Crowes broke up in 2002, they fought publicly over control of the band and its direction.

Though they’ve reunited a few times since then, their disagreements continue. In 2015, Rich accused Chris of unreasonable demands that led to another breakup. When they returned to touring in 2019, they admitted things were still tense. Their relationship has remained strained for over two decades.

Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick vs. Paul Kantner)

Band’s Career: 1965–1972 (7 years)
Feud Duration: 1972–1990s (20+ years)

Jefferson Airplane ended in the early ’70s, but arguments between Grace Slick and Paul Kantner dragged on for years. They fought over creative control, the group’s name, and future projects under the Jefferson Starship brand.

Their disputes became public and even reached the courtroom over band rights. Though they performed together again in later years, their working dynamic was always difficult. The long feud reflected how their personalities clashed long after their biggest hits had faded.

Brian Wilson vs. Mike Love (The Beach Boys)

Band’s Career: 1961–1971 (10 years, classic era)
Feud Duration: 1971–Present (50+ years)

Brian Wilson and Mike Love had major creative differences. Wilson’s experimental style conflicted with Love’s preference for simpler pop songs, leading to years of tension after the Beach Boys’ peak.

Love later filed lawsuits against Wilson over songwriting credits and use of the band’s name. Though they occasionally toured together, their disagreements regularly resurfaced. Even into the 2000s and 2010s, they continued to take subtle digs at each other in interviews and public appearances.

Roger Waters vs. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

Band’s Career: 1965–1985 (20 years, original lineup)
Feud Duration: 1985–Present (nearly 40 years)

Roger Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and tried to stop the others from continuing without him. The legal fight over the band’s name started a feud that never went away.

Even after some brief reunions, Waters and Gilmour remained distant. Their public comments about each other stayed cold, with both accusing the other of rewriting the band’s legacy. Over time, the feud became as well-known as the music they once created together.