Paul Harris via Getty Images
Toronto Star music critic Ben Rayner reviewed Cher's Toronto concert last week by stating "nobody's drinking Cher's 'goodbye' Kool-Aid anymore." Hours later, at 3:25am, the singer herself replied to Rayner's review via Twitter.
But her tweet pales in comparison to other times that musicians have responded to music critics with some criticism of their own.
Whether expressed in interviews, song lyrics or even threatening answering machine messages we found 13 examples of singers going off on journalists, from Kurt Cobain threatening to hurt or even kill a female reporter researching a Nirvana book to Lou Reed sparring with Lester Bangs to Iggy Pop insulting a young Jeanne Beker on camera.
Best Musician vs Music Journalist Feuds
Courtney Love vs. Lynn Hirschberg(01 of03)
In one of the most controversial artists profiles ever published, Vanity Fair's Lynn Hirschberg write that Courtney Love did heroin while pregnant with Frances Bean Cobain. Kurt and Courtney's baby was subsequently taken away for a brief time by child protective services. Love, who once released a bootleg called "Bring Me The Head of Lynn Hirschberg," is still mad. In 2011, she said to TheFix.com, "Do you know what it's like when Lynn sets out to do a hit piece?" As a writer, wouldn't it be your worst nightmare if you drove someone to suicide? I hope so. Because that's what Lynn Hirschberg did to Kurt, all right? She humiliated and emasculated him. She sent him over the edge. She deserves most of the blame for his death. Do you really want to challenge me on that fact?"
Lou Reed vs. Lester Bangs(02 of03)
The late critic Lester Bangs described Lou Reed in November 1973 as a "vaguely unpleasant fat man" and having a "nursing-home pallor." In 1975, Reed and Bangs sat down for another interview. "You really are an a--hole, Lester,” Reed said according to ClashMusic after Bangs described him as a "pathetic death dwarf" and "a wasted talent." (credit:thetimes.co.uk)
Manic Street Preachers vs Steve Lamacq(03 of03)
In 1991, NME's Steve Lamacq questioned the authenticity of Welsh group Manic Street Preachers. Following a gig in May, 1991, bassist (and chief songwriter) Richey Edwards started arguing with Lamacq backstage. Already battling depression and mental illness, Edwards took a razor blade and carved "4 Real" into his arm while talking to Lamacq. "By the end, the conversation was going around in circles and Richey's arm was beginning to look uncomfortably gory," Lamacq told The Guardian in 2000. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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