Episode Summary: Riff Raff – 10 Infamous Rock Feuds

Podcast: Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Host: Janda Lane (Gamut Podcast Network)
Release Date: January 28, 2026

Overview

In this energetic bonus episode of "Behind The Song," host Janda Lane walks listeners through ten of the most notorious feuds in classic rock history. From bandmate betrayals to brotherly brawls and legendary rivalries, the episode dives into the explosive personalities, egos, and creative clashes behind some of rock’s most iconic moments, songs, and albums.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Beatles: Lennon vs. McCartney (01:33–03:00)

• Backstory: Once the world’s most renowned songwriting pair, John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s relationship soured toward the end of The Beatles, spilling into the press and their post-Beatles music.
• Songs as Weapons:
  • McCartney’s "Too Many People" (1971) was a jab at Lennon’s activism.
  • Lennon responded with "How Do You Sleep?"—even referencing Beatles songs in the lyrics to make it clear the target was McCartney.
  • George Harrison contributed slide guitar on "How Do You Sleep?", signaling his alliance in the feud.
• Additional Strains: Harrison and McCartney clashed over creative control, with Harrison feeling sidelined, resulting in him stockpiling songs that would appear later on his solo album "All Things Must Pass."

“He had a backlog of songs that he'd been writing all along to finally release—songs which never saw the light of day while he was in the Beatles.” — Janda Lane (03:00)

2. Beatles vs. Stones—and Jagger vs. Richards (03:01–04:40)

• Band Rivalries: Not just a media construct—members of The Beatles and Rolling Stones had genuine tension.
• Stones’ Internal Feud: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ relationship decayed over the decades, fueled by Richards' drug abuse, Jagger’s control, and solo ambitions.
• Personal Attacks:
  • Keith’s 2010 autobiography included, “how he slept with Jagger's girlfriend, Mary Ann Faithfull.”
• Reconciliation: Richards later apologized, but it took years for civil relations to return.

“They've since buried the hatchet, and Richards has apologized for some of the things he wrote in his autobiography. But it took years for them to get civil again.” — Janda Lane (04:23)

3. Grunge Tensions: Kurt Cobain vs. Pearl Jam (04:41–05:17)

• Seattle Scene: Despite overlapping roots, Kurt Cobain resented Nirvana being grouped with Pearl Jam, whom he decried as "false alternative macho metal."
• Resolution: Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) reached out, and Cobain later dismissed the feud as media hype.

“Cobain later brushed the whole thing off, saying the feud was just made up nonsense. So whatever Vedder said to him clearly worked.” — Janda Lane (05:15)

4. The Allman Brothers: Dickey Betts’ Fax Firing (05:18–06:02)

• Legendary Exit: Dickey Betts, longtime bandleader after Duane Allman’s death, was unceremoniously fired via fax in 2000, largely over his drinking.
• Resolution: Despite a difficult relationship, Betts and Gregg Allman reconciled before Allman’s passing in 2017.

“Not from an in person meeting, not even from a phone call, but from a faxed message.” — Janda Lane (05:44)

5. Pink Floyd: Roger Waters vs. David Gilmour (06:03–07:05)

• Decades of Animosity: Their partnership was always rocky, especially as Waters sought creative control.
• Legal Battles: Waters tried to dissolve the band when he left in the mid-1980s, wrongly believing the group couldn’t go on without him.
• Modern Drama: Public insults continue, with Gilmour’s wife Polly calling Waters “a hypocritical megalomaniac”—a view Gilmour publicly approved.
• No Reunion Likely: The divide appears permanent.

“‘Rankled Roger...’ Gilmour’s wife Polly joined the fray, publicly calling him, among other things, a hypocritical megalomaniac.” — Janda Lane (06:45)

6. The Black Crowes: Brotherhood and Brawling (07:06–07:43)

• Chris vs. Rich Robinson: Their tumultuous relationship dominated the band’s narrative, leading to firings, splits, and make-ups over decades.
• Reflection: Chris Robinson has expressed they both “really don’t like each other, but they love each other”—quintessential sibling rivalry.

7. Metallica vs. Dave Mustaine (07:44–08:28)

• Early Ouster: Mustaine was fired in the ’80s for his drinking and alleged abusive behavior.
• Long Shadows: Hard feelings continued as Mustaine criticized his replacement, Kirk Hammett, and maintained public gripes for years—even after starting Megadeth.
• Pattern: Mustaine’s feuds extended beyond Metallica to other bands and even his management.

8. Van Halen’s Rotating Dramas (08:29–09:33)

• Multiple Frontmen: David Lee Roth left, blaming Eddie Van Halen’s substance abuse. Sammy Hagar had a decade with the band before being fired (or quitting—disputed).
• Endless Grievances: Jabs regarding health (Roth mocking Eddie’s hip replacement), business disputes (Michael Anthony ousted after using the Van Halen name for hot sauce), and Hall of Fame absences.
• Loss and Regret: After Eddie’s 2020 death, Michael Anthony expressed regret they never reconciled; Roth and Van Halen were estranged, but Van Halen and Hagar made peace.

9. Neil Young vs. Stephen Stills (09:34–10:13)

• Long History: Dating back to Buffalo Springfield in the 60s, Stills mocked Young’s singing and health, while Young’s solo success may have fueled tension.
• Mutual Admiration: Despite conflicts, Young often praised Stills’ musical talents.

“Young has praised Stephen Stills many times as a singer and as a guitarist, saying that somehow the two of them could play lead guitar parts simultaneously and not get in each other's way, a fact that he called really rare.” — Janda Lane (10:09)

10. Neil Young vs. Lynyrd Skynyrd (10:14–10:58)

• Musical Diss Tracks:
  • Young criticized the South in "Southern Man" and "Alabama" (1970/1972).
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd hit back pointedly in "Sweet Home Alabama":
    “I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don't need him around, anyhow.”
• Respect Earned: Over time, Young came to admire "Sweet Home Alabama."

“For his part, Young got the memo and gained respect for Lynyrd Skynyrd in the process. He's said that Sweet Home Alabama is one of his favorite songs.” — Janda Lane (10:51)

Rapid-Fire Mentions (10:59–11:52)

• Bob Dylan vs. John Lennon: Dylan felt "Norwegian Wood" was a rip-off.
• Kurt Cobain vs. Guns N' Roses/Axl Rose: Cobain spurred a fight at the 1992 MTV Awards after rejecting an opening slot.
• Theme: Tension (creative or otherwise) is a driving and destructive force behind some of the world’s most compelling music.

“It's such a fine line between Creative... which can be constructive and destructive. Animosity, tempers flare, egos get bruised, and by the time we fans hear about it, it just makes the songs that much more interesting.” — Janda Lane (11:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lennon/McCartney:
  “They immortalized their feelings for each other in songs, too.” (01:42)
• On Keith Richards/Mick Jagger:
  “Keith Richards had some nasty things to say about Mick Jagger in his 2010 autobiography, including how he slept with Jagger's girlfriend.” (04:22)
• On Van Halen: “Van Halen really took drama to the next level.” (08:29)
• On the creative role of feuds:
  “By the time we fans hear about it, it just makes the songs that much more interesting.” (11:22)

Key Timestamps of Feuds

• Lennon/McCartney/Harrison: 01:32–03:00
• Stones (Jagger vs. Richards): 03:01–04:40
• Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam: 04:41–05:17
• Allman Brothers (Dickey Betts): 05:18–06:02
• Waters/Gilmour (Pink Floyd): 06:03–07:05
• Black Crowes: 07:06–07:43
• Metallica/Mustaine: 07:44–08:28
• Van Halen: 08:29–09:33
• Neil Young/Stills: 09:34–10:13
• Young/Lynyrd Skynyrd: 10:14–10:58

Closing Thoughts

Janda closes by inviting listeners to share which rock feuds have captivated them, commenting on how rivalry, animosity, and bruised egos often make the greatest rock stories—and sometimes the greatest songs. Her storytelling is laced with admiration and wry humor, maintaining a lively, conversational classic rock tone throughout.

“These stories are all part of the intrigue of rock and roll.” — Janda Lane (11:20)

For classic rock fans, this episode is a revealing, rapid-fire tour of the genre’s messiest, most memorable battles—explained with both historical context and Janda’s signature wit.