John Lennon’s 3 Most Notable Feuds—Whether He Realized They Were Happening or Not

John Lennon was a beloved musician, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t attract a few enemies here and there. There are several artists that entered into feuds with Lennon–though he may not have been an active member in them. Find three such feuds, below.

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John Lennon’s 3 Most Notable Feuds—Whether He Realized They Were Happening or Not

1. Joni Mitchell

John Lennon felt that Joni Mitchell was a product of an “overeducation.” Mitchell has long been known for her visceral tracks that speak to the human condition. While that practice is what she’s made her name on, Lennon felt it was too good to be true.

“I played him something,” Mitchell once said, referencing her first time meeting Lennon. “[He said] ‘Oh, it’s all a product of over-education. You want a hit, don’t you? Put some fiddles on it!’”

That comment was enough to sour the Beatle in Mitchell’s eyes. Her reverence for him (that we can only assume she had at least a portion of before this incident) was forever sullied.

2. Elvis Presley

All of the Beatles loved Elvis Presley. Like all burgeoning rock stars of their era, they found Presley to be a deity of the genre. You’d be hard-pressed to find a rock n’ roller who wasn’t obsessed with The King in the ’50s and ’60s. Unfortunately, the feeling wasn’t mutual–at least after the band became more involved with America.

Presley famously spoke with the president, offering to become a spy on his behalf. He planned to be dedicated to snuffing out whatever “Anti-American” propaganda the Fab Four were behind.

“Presley indicated that he thought the Beatles had been a real force for anti-American spirit,” a member of the White House council, Egil “Bud” Krogh, once said. “He said that the Beatles came to this country, made their money and then returned to England where they promoted an anti-American theme. The President nodded in agreement.”

Of all his bandmates, Lennon was arguably the most political. As such, we have to assume Presley had a proportionate problem with him.

3. Paul McCartney

This wasn’t always the case. Paul McCartney and John Lennon were once as close as two songwriters could be. Unfortunately tensions within the Beatles drove a wedge in their relationship. In the wake of their breakup, Lennon spent much time bashing his former bandmate–both in press and in song.

One of his most famous tongue lashings was “How Do You Sleep?” You live with straights who tell you you was king / Jump when your momma tell you anything / The only thing you done was yesterday / And since you’re gone you’re just another day, he sang, slighting McCartney and his contributions to the Beatles.

If this song doesn’t make how Lennon felt about McCartney post Beatles very clear, we don’t know what will.

(Photo by Rowland Scherman/Getty Images)