Rihanna Is Suing Her Father And 5 Other Rock 'N' Roll Family Feuds

Rihanna filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against her father, Ronald Fenty, alleging that he is fraudulently using his surname’s association with her Fenty Beauty cosmetics brand to further his business interests.

This is certainly not the first time a musician has feuded, legally or otherwise, with one of their family members. Let’s look back on some other momentous public falling-outs between musicians and their families from the past.

Noel and Liam Gallagher

Noel and Liam Gallagher, who were members of the iconic English rock band Oasis, have nursed a decades-long feud that began in the ‘90s.

In 1994, Liam hit Noel over the head with a tambourine after Noel purposely changed the words to a song. Later that year, in an interview with NME Liam and Noel relentlessly exchanged insults, ranging from “you’re not rock’n’roll” to “stick your thousand pounds right up your fuckin’ arse 'till it comes out your fuckin' big toe.”

This interview provided a glimpse of what was to come. In 1995, Noel smacked Liam in the head with a cricket bat. Throughout the ‘00s they continued to exchange barbs, one of which resulted in Liam suing Noel for libel.

In 2018, Liam was nominated for the 2018 BRIT Awards and Noel was not. Liam tweeted, “So the creepy 1 gets blanked at the Brits oh well was looking forward to hurling abuse at him and his poshos from across the room...” Apparently for the Gallagher brothers, old feuds die hard.

Marvin Gaye

Motown singer Marvin Gaye had a complicated and often bitter relationship with his father, Marvin Gay Sr., from a young age.

Gay Sr., who was a Christian minister, was resentful of Gaye’s relationship with his mother and was unsupportive of his son’s career as a musician. In 1983, Gaye moved back into his parent’s house and began caring for his mother following a kidney surgery. During this time, tensions began to boil over between the father and son, and at one point Gay Sr. called the police on his son.

On April 1, 1984 the events culminated with a violent fight between Gaye and his father. Gaye’s mother broke up the fight, but moments later Gay Sr. fatally shot his son in the heart.

Ray Davies and Dave Davies

Ray and Dave Davies were raised in a large family in northern London. In 1963, when they were still teenagers, the brothers formed The Kinks and soon began releasing music. Their third single ‘You Really Got Me’ shot to the top of the charts and propelled the group into the public eye.

Despite The Kinks’ success, the Davies brothers’ differences were a double-edged sword, one that could create, but also tear things apart. In an interview with the Daily Mail Dave said, “Ray sucks me dry of ideas, emotions and creativity. It’s toxic for me to be with him. He’s a control freak.”

The brothers consider themselves creatively independent and several attempts faltered because of their divergent perspectives. Recent statements made by Ray make a reunion of the Kinks seem more likely.

Solange and Jay-Z

Surveillance footage following 2014’s Met Gala showed a verbal fight between Jay-Z and sister-in-law Solange Knowles become physical as Solange hit and kicked Jay-Z. During the fight Beyonce did not get involved and later Solange and Beyonce entered a different car than Jay-Z.

Jay-Z eventually opened up to Rap Radar about that night, stating that it was an isolated incident, stating that it was their “one disagreement ever” and “before and after we’ve been cool” in the interview.

The Nolan Sisters

The Nolan sisters feud began in 2006 following an argument Anne had with Coleen’s husband and deepened in 2009 when a 30th anniversary tour left two of the sisters excluded and upset.

Denise and Anne felt they had been left out of the reunion. Anne went so far as to write “they are not my sisters anymore” on her website, while Denise alleged the group had only reformed for the money.

In 2013 The Nolans’ farewell tour was called off after Bernie’s breast cancer came back. Bernie died on July 4, 2013 from cancer, an event which caused Linda to make amends with Anne and Denise.