In music, between band members, just as in any relationship, there’s love and also conflict. Some of those misunderstandings have led to great songs, and here are some examples:
Nightwish vs. Tarja Turunen
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band. Their former singer, Tarja Turunen, from 1996 to 2005, played a significant role in boosting the band’s popularity.
When the issues between the members started, Tarja got fired and replaced by their second singer (not their last either), the Swedish singer Anette Olzon, and they did the song Bye Bye Beautiful dedicated to her. Although the band has said that it is only rock and roll, almost a joke with no bad intention, I guess she isn’t a fan of it. However, I think now their relationship has become much better since she started a very successful solo career, and she’s been lately playing and touring with Nightwish’s former bassist Marko Hietala (who also played and sang in that song).
The song is on the album Dark Passion Play (2005).
Lynyrd Skynyrd vs. Neil Young
Lynyrd Skynyrd, the American rock band, got into a beef in the 70s with the Canadian singer Neil Young that translated into a couple of songs.
Neil Young released the song Southern Man in 1970, and in 1972, Alabama, both of those songs spoke about racism and social issues in that part of the US.
The other song:
Later, in 1974, Lynyrd Skynyrd responded to those songs with Sweet Home Alabama, one of their biggest hits.
Contrary to what people might think, they were friends and mutual fans, so it wasn’t a big deal after all, plus those three songs are great, so something good came out of this.
Fleetwood Mac vs. Couples’ problems
Fleetwood Mac, the British-American rock band, was in a rocky situation when they released the album Rumours in 1977, because of relationship problems.
The bassist, John McVie, and the singer and keyboard player, Christine McVie, ended up divorcing.
On the other hand, the singer, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham, the guitarist, were also having difficulties in their relationship, and Mick Fleetwood, the drummer, was also dealing with a messy marriage at home. So the mood in the band wasn’t the best at that time, yet they produced one of their best albums through all these obstacles. Album that included this song, which pretty much summed the whole situation up:
Final Thoughts
Yes, we all go through issues in life, but when these complications happen inside a band, for the whole world to see, the audience is going to find out. Yet in these cases, the positive effect is that iconic songs were born from those troubled times.