Human nature makes us drawn to drama, even in the world of music. While we might love music for its melodies and messages, there’s an undeniable allure to stories of backstage fights and rock star tensions. People can preach about peace and harmony in music, but the moment tales shift from unity to clashes of egos, everyone’s ears perk up.
These backstage skirmishes aren’t just relics of the past; they still happen today. However, they seemed to run wild during the golden era of rock music. It’s hard to dive into the history of bands from the ’60s, ’70s, or ’80s without stumbling upon a story of them duking it out with another group from the same era. One such clash that grabbed headlines was between Van Halen and Rush, a clash that couldn’t be ignored.
The story goes back to 1980 in Leicester, a night meant for celebration after a gig for Van Halen. It was their bassist’s birthday, so naturally, they hit the hotel bar with plans to drain it dry. But fate had a twist. Rush had already booked the bar and stocked it with booze. The confusion led Van Halen’s crew to believe the drinks were free for the taking, sparking off a night of revelry that turned sour when Eddie Van Halen’s beer ended up damaging Geddy Lee‘s tape recorder.
A year later in Las Vegas, tensions still simmered. Lee hadn’t forgotten the previous incident and banned Van Halen’s crew from attending Rush’s show. Even after attempts at reconciliation, misunderstandings brewed. Eddie Van Halen’s security, unaware of Lee’s goodwill gesture, mistook it for a threat, resulting in a scuffle that ended with Lee being ejected.
The fallout from these incidents remains a mystery, but it’s clear that the two bands couldn’t meet without sparks flying. While these tales add spice to rock history, they also highlight the challenges of life on the road and the complexities of musician relationships. Sometimes, it’s best for bands to steer clear of each other’s paths to avoid further discord.