Bad Beat: 5 drummers who beefed with bandmates badly that led to them leaving - from Slayer to Metallica

By Benjamin Jackson

Culture and tickets writer

Published 20th May 2025, 13:41 BST

In the wake of Zac Starkey’s ‘beef’ with The Who, here’s five feuds between drummer and their fellow bandmates

What happens when part of a band’s rhythm section suddenly has umbrage with another member of the band?
Should the drummer be the one removed, or are they integral to the band?
Here’s five beefs between drummers and band members in history, in light of the recent splits between The Who and Foo Fighters’ drummers

It’s not been a good fortnight to be a drummer in a band, at least if you were a drummer for The Who or Foo Fighters.

While things between Josh Freese and Foo Fighters seemed a more amicable split, with the drummer revealing on social media he was ‘fired’ from the band – the first time in his history as a musician that had ever happened – the same might not be said about Zac Starkey leaving The Who.

Reports first emerged in April 2025 that Starkey had been fired by the band, stemming from disputes over his performance during The Who's Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall in March. He was reportedly accused of ‘overplaying,’ and his removal was described as a ‘collective decision.’

In the wake of The Who and Foo Fighters dropping their current drummers, we take a look at five band beefs involving that person keeping time at the back. — In the wake of The Who and Foo Fighters dropping their current drummers, we take a look at five band beefs involving that person keeping time at the back. | Canva

In the wake of The Who and Foo Fighters dropping their current drummers, we take a look at five band beefs involving that person keeping time at the back. — In the wake of The Who and Foo Fighters dropping their current drummers, we take a look at five band beefs involving that person keeping time at the back. | Canva

However, Starkey has since claimed that these issues were news to him, and he was reinstated, only to be fired again a month later. The son of Ringo Starr alleges he was asked to make a statement saying he had quit, which he refused to do, considering it a lie.

Spinal Tap has a running joke about the dramas they faced regarding drummers, and for all the bad drummer jokes there are (my favourite being: 'How can you tell a drummer is at your door? The beat is off'), they are still considered a hugely integral part of a band.

But what happens when the level of integralness pales in comparison to the issues between the band and the musician? We’ve taken a look at five acrimonious beefs between drummers and band members – some with a happy reconciliation, while others sadly ending in tragedy.

Five drummers who feuded with their previous bands

Guns N' Roses & Steven Adler

Steven Adler of Guns N Roses performs at L'Amour on October 29, 1987 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. — Steven Adler of Guns N Roses performs at L'Amour on October 29, 1987 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. | Larry Marano/Getty Images

Steven Adler of Guns N Roses performs at L'Amour on October 29, 1987 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. — Steven Adler of Guns N Roses performs at L'Amour on October 29, 1987 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. | Larry Marano/Getty Images

The early days of Guns N' Roses were notoriously volatile, and drummer Steven Adler's exit in 1990 was one of the most painful for many fans. His dismissal was primarily due to his escalating drug addiction, which made him unable to perform reliably. While the band offered him a contract to clean up, he failed to meet the conditions, leading to his eventual firing. Adler later sued the band for royalties, claiming he was unjustly fired and forced to sign a severance agreement.

The lawsuit, settled out of court in 1993, highlighted the deep personal and professional rifts caused by his addiction and the band's decision to move on, leaving a lasting sense of betrayal and sadness for Adler and many who followed their tumultuous career.

Metallica & Lars Ulrich (and Dave Mustaine)

Once the original guitarist for Metallica, it would be Lars Ulrich who received most of the blame for Dave Mustaine's exit - prompting the guitarist to form his own band, Megadeth. — Once the original guitarist for Metallica, it would be Lars Ulrich who received most of the blame for Dave Mustaine's exit - prompting the guitarist to form his own band, Megadeth. | Getty Images

Once the original guitarist for Metallica, it would be Lars Ulrich who received most of the blame for Dave Mustaine's exit - prompting the guitarist to form his own band, Megadeth. — Once the original guitarist for Metallica, it would be Lars Ulrich who received most of the blame for Dave Mustaine's exit - prompting the guitarist to form his own band, Megadeth. | Getty Images

While Lars Ulrich has been Metallica's only drummer, the band has a notoriously acrimonious drummer-related split that heavily influenced their early career: the firing of original guitarist Dave Mustaine in 1981. Though not a drummer, his contentious dismissal by Ulrich and James Hetfield (due to his erratic behaviour and substance abuse) led directly to Mustaine forming Megadeth, a band with whom a fierce, decades-long rivalry ensued.

Mustaine has repeatedly expressed his bitterness over his unceremonious firing, particularly in the documentary Some Kind of Monster, where he confronted Ulrich. This is a classic example of drummer (Ulrich) being a key player in an acrimonious split, even if he wasn't the one getting fired.

Black Sabbath & Bill Ward

Black Sabbath backstage before performing at London Music Festival '73 at Alexandra Palace, London, 2nd August 1973. L-R Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler. — Black Sabbath backstage before performing at London Music Festival '73 at Alexandra Palace, London, 2nd August 1973. L-R Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler. | Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music/Getty Images

Black Sabbath backstage before performing at London Music Festival '73 at Alexandra Palace, London, 2nd August 1973. L-R Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler. — Black Sabbath backstage before performing at London Music Festival '73 at Alexandra Palace, London, 2nd August 1973. L-R Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler. | Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music/Getty Images

Black Sabbath's original lineup with Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward is legendary. However, their reunions have often been marred by disputes, particularly involving drummer Bill Ward. While Ozzy was famously fired in 1979, Ward's splits have also been contentious. He left the band in 1980 and 1983 due to health issues and disagreements, but his most public and acrimonious non-participation was with the band's final reunion and album, 13, in the early 2010s.

Ward claimed he was offered an "un-signable" contract, implying he was not being treated fairly financially or creatively, and felt disrespected. The band, particularly Ozzy, publicly stated Ward was not physically able to perform the demanding tour. However, that has not stopped Ward from joining the original line-up for Ozzy’s swansong later this year at Villa Park - so time heals many wounds, it appears.

Slayer & Dave Lombardo

Promotional portrait of American thrash metal band Slayer, late 1980s. The group, who combine elements of heavy metal and punk rock, consist of, from left, American drummer Dave Lombardo, American guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and Chilean-born American bassist and singer Tom Araya. — Promotional portrait of American thrash metal band Slayer, late 1980s. The group, who combine elements of heavy metal and punk rock, consist of, from left, American drummer Dave Lombardo, American guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and Chilean-born American bassist and singer Tom Araya. | Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Promotional portrait of American thrash metal band Slayer, late 1980s. The group, who combine elements of heavy metal and punk rock, consist of, from left, American drummer Dave Lombardo, American guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and Chilean-born American bassist and singer Tom Araya. — Promotional portrait of American thrash metal band Slayer, late 1980s. The group, who combine elements of heavy metal and punk rock, consist of, from left, American drummer Dave Lombardo, American guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and Chilean-born American bassist and singer Tom Araya. | Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Dave Lombardo is one of the most influential drummers in metal, but his tenure with Slayer was marked by multiple, often acrimonious, departures. His initial departure in 1986 stemmed from disputes over money and touring. He returned, but his final and most contentious exit came in 2013, just before an Australian tour.

Lombardo publicly stated he was excluded from financial discussions and demanded access to the band's accounting, alleging that "90 percent of the touring income was being used to pay back [band] management and legal fees." This led to a bitter public exchange, with Slayer ultimately replacing him for the tour.

Lombardo has consistently maintained his stance on the financial issues, while the band has moved on without him, illustrating a deeply acrimonious split over business practices that defined their relationship.

Pantera & Vinnie Paul

Pantera, group portrait during interview session, Tokyo, Japan, 14 June 1992. L-R Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul. — Pantera, group portrait during interview session, Tokyo, Japan, 14 June 1992. L-R Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul. | Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music via Getty Images

Pantera, group portrait during interview session, Tokyo, Japan, 14 June 1992. L-R Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul. — Pantera, group portrait during interview session, Tokyo, Japan, 14 June 1992. L-R Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul. | Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music via Getty Images

While Vinnie Paul was a founding member and integral part of Pantera alongside his brother "Dimebag" Darrell, the band's history was later scarred by an incredibly bitter and unresolved split with former frontman Phil Anselmo following Dimebag's tragic murder in 2004.

After the murder, Vinnie Paul squarely blamed Anselmo's increasingly strained relationship with the brothers and his prior public comments about Dimebag for creating a hostile environment that contributed to the tragedy. For years, Vinnie Paul publicly refused to speak to Anselmo, dismissing any notion of a Pantera reunion with him and maintaining his stance until his own death in 2018.

This long-standing, deeply personal, and highly public animosity between the drummer and the singer, stemming from the band's breakup and a horrific event, stands as one of metal's most tragic acrimonious splits.

Did we miss any band ‘beefs’ between drummer and other members of the band you can recall? Let us know who caught your attention when they either left or feuded with band members by leaving a comment down below.

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