Pick a Day

Music History Events: Feuds and Beef

November 6, 2012 Living up to their name, The Civil Wars cancel the rest of their tour dates after a performance in London, citing "internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition." They release one more album but never perform again.

June 14, 2012 Drake and Chris Brown are involved in a fight at a New York City nightclub, with Brown accusing Drake of throwing a bottle at him. They had beef over Rihanna, whom they both dated.

December 13, 2003 Jack White, frontman for The White Stripes, assaults Von Bondies frontman Jason Stollsteimer in a Detroit nightclub, possibly because Stollsteimer badmouthed White in the press. Three months later, White pleads guilty to assault and battery and is forced to pay $750 and take anger management classes.

August 28, 1997 In Leeds on the U2 Popmart tour, Bono responds to George Harrison's comment, "Bono and his band are so egocentric," by holding up a middle finger and saying, "This one's for you George!"

July 4, 1995 Backstage at the Lollapalooza stop in George, Washington, Courtney Love of Hole punches Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna in the face. Hanna presses charges, and Love pleads guilty to fourth degree assault.

May 26, 1993 At the Ivor Novello Awards, when the duo Shakespears Sister win an award for their album Hormonally Yours, Siobhan Fahey's publicist reads a statement letting her bandmate Marcella Detroit (and the rest of the audience) know they're breaking up. "I wish Marcy all the best for the future," it reads. "All's well that end's well."

October 30, 1992 George Michael sues his record label, Sony, calling his contract "professional slavery." Michael, who is seeking control of his masters and escape from his 8-album deal, loses the case and is ordered to pay court costs for both sides. In 1995, Virgin and Dreamworks SKG buy his contract from Sony, and Michael resumes his music career with the album Older the following year.

September 9, 1992 Nirvana's feud with Guns N' Roses reaches a tense climax when Axl Rose threatens Kurt Cobain backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.More

June 10, 1992 The Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas calls for a boycott of Time Warner, whose label Sire is distributing the song "Cop Killer" by Body Count, Ice-T's hardcore group. Six weeks later, the song is pulled from the album, but not before it sells over 500,000 copies, mostly due to the controversy.

August 6, 1987 Nike takes out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times responding to the controversy over their use of The Beatles song "Revolution" in a commercial.More

July 13, 1985 Tears for Fears bow out of performing at Live Aid, Bob Geldof's star-studded charity concert for famine relief in Africa, after two members of their band quit. The group donates concert funds to the cause, but feels the weight of Geldof's disapproval. TFF's Roland Orzabal says, "He made us feel very guilty. All those millions of people dying, it was all our fault. I felt terrible. I tell you, I know how Hitler must have felt."

August 14, 1983 Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone fractures his skull in a fight with Seth Macklin of the band Sub Zero Construction. The fight started when Ramone spotted Macklin with his girlfriend Roxy Whitney (she thinks they have an open relationship). Ramone is rushed to the hospital and undergoes brain surgery; Macklin is arrested and charged with assault.

July 5, 1981 At the "Rock Werchter" festival in Belgium, The Cure play a 9-minute version of "A Forest" when they are told to hurry off stage so Robert Palmer can begin his set.More

December 3, 1978 The Cure drummer Lol Tolhurst accidentally pees on Billy Idol backstage after a show in Bristol, England, where The Cure are opening for Idol's band Generation X. Idol is entertaining a young lady in a men's room stall when Tolhurst unloads his lager, missing the urinal and hitting Idol's leg. The Cure are kicked off the tour the next day.