Top 6 Musicians Who HATED Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney, one of the most beloved and successful musicians of all time, has had a storied career as a member of The Beatles and as a solo artist. However, despite his iconic status, McCartney has had his share of public rivalries and musical conflicts. Over the years, several musicians have been outspoken about their negative opinions of McCartney, and some of these feuds have become legendary in music history.

Here are the top six musicians who, at some point, have expressed their dislike or “hate” for Paul McCartney, either publicly or privately:

1. John Lennon

John Lennon, McCartney’s former bandmate in The Beatles, is perhaps the most well-known musician to have a complicated and sometimes antagonistic relationship with Paul. Their creative partnership within the Beatles was groundbreaking, but their relationship soured after the band’s breakup.

Lennon was often openly critical of McCartney during their later years in the band, and their post-Beatles relationship was strained. In interviews, Lennon famously expressed his frustration with McCartney’s dominance in the band and his perfectionism in the studio. McCartney’s control over much of The Beatles’ later work led to tensions, and Lennon later admitted to having “issues” with McCartney’s approach to their collaborations.

“Paul was always controlling. He was a perfectionist, but I didn’t want to do it his way. We were becoming two different people, and that was hard for me,” Lennon once said.

The conflict intensified in the years after The Beatles’ breakup, and Lennon’s song “How Do You Sleep?” from his 1971 album Imagine is famously believed to be a direct attack on McCartney.

“The only thing you did was yesterday, and since you’ve gone you’re just another day,” Lennon sings in the track, making no secret of his disdain for McCartney.

Despite this, Lennon did later express regret over the tension and even tried to reconcile with Paul before his tragic death in 1980.

2. George Harrison

George Harrison, the “quiet” Beatle, also had a strained relationship with McCartney during and after the band’s split. Although the two had a close friendship during the early years of The Beatles, their relationship became increasingly fractured during the band’s later years.

Harrison was often frustrated with McCartney’s dominance in the creative direction of the band, particularly with the music production. He found that McCartney would overshadow him, leaving his contributions to the band’s albums sidelined. This tension led to a significant fallout between the two, and after the breakup of The Beatles, Harrison expressed his dissatisfaction with McCartney in interviews.

“Paul was always pushing his ideas forward, and that frustrated me. I had a lot of material, but Paul often didn’t let me shine,” Harrison once stated in an interview.

Later, in a famous interview with Rolling Stone, Harrison explained how McCartney’s behavior during their years together had left him feeling alienated.

“There were too many egos in The Beatles. Paul’s ego was big, and it was hard to find space for everyone,” Harrison said.

The tension between the two continued into their solo careers, although they did eventually reconcile somewhat before Harrison’s death in 2001. However, the relationship was never the same as it had been during their early years.

3. Michael Jackson

The feud between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson is one of the most famous in the music world. Their relationship started out amicably when McCartney helped Jackson with advice on music publishing. However, their friendship soured dramatically after Jackson famously purchased the Beatles’ catalog in 1985.

McCartney had discussed how he wanted to buy the catalog with Jackson, but when Jackson outbid him and purchased it, McCartney felt betrayed. Jackson’s decision to buy the Beatles catalog was seen as a personal attack by McCartney, and their relationship became increasingly strained in the years that followed.

“I couldn’t believe it when Michael Jackson bought the catalog. We were friends, and I felt like he should have given me the chance to buy it,” McCartney said in an interview.

The public fallout continued, with McCartney later admitting that Jackson’s actions deeply hurt him. They would never publicly reconcile, and Jackson’s acquisition of the catalog remains one of the most controversial events in both of their careers.

4. Billy Joel

Billy Joel has often been outspoken about his dislike for Paul McCartney, particularly when it comes to McCartney’s role as a control freak in the studio. Joel, known for his own meticulous approach to music, has criticized McCartney for being too involved in the creative process, making it difficult for other musicians to contribute.

“Paul McCartney had this idea that if he wasn’t involved in every single note, it wasn’t going to be good. I think there’s something incredibly stifling about that,” Joel once said.

Their relationship seemed to improve in later years, but it’s clear that Joel’s criticisms of McCartney’s studio dominance had a lasting impact. McCartney has never publicly responded to these remarks, but the tension between the two is often discussed in interviews.

5. Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain, the frontman of Nirvana, was known for his rebellious nature and his disdain for anything that represented mainstream success. Cobain publicly expressed his discomfort with McCartney’s success after Nirvana’s meteoric rise in the early ‘90s, and their brief meeting in 1993 did not end on a positive note.

Cobain, who often criticized the commercialization of rock music, had a complex relationship with McCartney’s pop-oriented image. When McCartney expressed admiration for Nirvana’s music, Cobain was suspicious of McCartney’s intentions and publicly mocked him in interviews.

“I don’t really understand why McCartney liked us. He’s part of everything that I don’t want to be part of,” Cobain said during an interview in 1993.

While they had a few interactions, including a memorable jam session in which McCartney played bass for Nirvana, their relationship was never friendly due to Cobain’s disdain for McCartney’s mainstream image and his struggle to maintain authenticity in the world of rock music.

6. Liam Gallagher

Liam Gallagher, the frontman of Oasis, has had a longstanding feud with McCartney, largely due to their differences in personality and public image. Gallagher, known for his blunt and confrontational style, has frequently criticized McCartney for being too “polished” and “**overly controlled” in his approach to music.

“Paul McCartney’s a bit too perfect for me. I don’t like that whole sanitized, ‘I’m-the-nice-guy’ thing. I want a bit of grit, you know?” Liam Gallagher once stated.

Gallagher’s criticism of McCartney comes from his own belief in being authentic and raw in music, which often contrasts with McCartney’s carefully curated public image. This ongoing tension between the two has become a source of amusement for fans, with Gallagher regularly making sarcastic comments about McCartney.