Hip-hop and rap genres might be best known for devastatingly well-written diss tracks, but those aren’t the only genres to air grievances through music. Classic rock bands and musicians have penned many a diss track about other people, including their rock star contemporaries. Let’s look at a few examples of rock musicians who low-key hated each other and duked it out through song, shall we?
1. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Most fans of this delightful song and ode to the Heart of Dixie might be unaware that it is technically a diss track directed at none other than Neil Young. The reference is buried in the lyrics: “I hope Neil Young will remember / A southern man don’t need him around anyhow.”
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This beef was born when Young released the song “Southern Man” in 1970, which explored racism in the southern United States. Lynyrd Skynyrd took offense to the song and released “Sweet Home Alabama” as a response. Young couldn’t be less bothered, though, considering he said he is a fan of the song and has performed it at his own concerts.
2. “Range Life” by Pavement
Pavement penned “Range Life” about their alt-rock contemporaries, Smashing Pumpkins. They reference the band in the song with the lyrics “Out on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins / Nature kids, they don’t have no function / I don’t understand what they mean / And I could really give a f**k.”
Stephen Malkmus said that he never intended the song to be a “diss track.” In fact, he said that he was criticizing Smashing Pumpkins’ status in the music scene more than anything. Sadly, Billy Corgan was offended by the song and used that very status to boot Pavement from Lollapalooza 1994.
3. “I’ll Stick Around” by Foo Fighters
Believe it or not, this diss track of sorts is about (drumroll) Courtney Love. For reference, Courtney Love was married to Dave Grohl’s late Nirvana bandmate, Kurt Cobain. The two always had a contentious relationship, and the lyrics “I’ve taken all and I’ve endured / One day it all will fade, I’m sure / I don’t owe you anything” are allegedly about Love.
4. “How Do You Sleep?” by John Lennon
One of the most famous examples of rock musicians who hated each other is John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Though, it is worth noting that the former Beatles were mending their relationship shortly before Lennon’s death in 1980. Still, they beefed throughout the 1970s. Lennon wrote “How Do You Sleep?” as a pretty direct attack aimed at McCartney.
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