6 Rock Bands Whose Members Sued Each Other

Often, members of rock bands share a certain camaraderie—they can be each other’s best friends and even family. But for some bands, disagreements over issues like money or creative control can lead not just to drama behind the scenes but lawsuits.

Fleetwood Mac

The history of Fleetwood Mac is so littered with personal drama, it’s no surprise the band ended up in court in 2018. After the band fired guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, he sued, claiming they did so without cause or warning and was missing out on $14 million as a result.

Sex Pistols

When director Danny Boyle wanted to use the Sex Pistols’ music in a TV series, drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones agreed, while frontman Johnny Rotten did not, leading to a lawsuit. Despite his objections, the band had a contract in place stating licensing could be granted by a majority of the band.

The Beatles

Tensions between The Beatles were growing in the late ’60s, and in 1970, Paul McCartney sued his bandmates for the legal dissolution of their partnership. At the heart of McCartney’s suit was his distrust of Allen Klein, who the other three members had agreed to hire as their new manager, leading McCartney to believe the lawsuit was the only way to save the band.

Cheap Trick

After Cheap Trick fired Bun E. Carlos as their touring drummer, he sued, citing “breach of contract, trademark infringement, false designation of origin, false advertising, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duty.” A contract stipulated that Carlos would still be considered a member of the band and would still be paid, despite not performing.

Journey

Journey bandmates Jonathan Cain and Neil Schon—the two remaining original members—got tangled up in more than one lawsuit against each other, all while they were still touring. The legal spat involved the band’s finances, with Cain alleging that Schon maxed out an American Express credit card with a $1 million limit.

Pink Floyd

In 1985, Roger Waters left Pink Floyd, and although the band intended to continue on without him, he sued to prevent them from doing so under the name Pink Floyd. Waters felt that without him, the band was a “spent force of creativity” and would ruin their legacy. He eventually expressed regret over filing the suit.