Living next to a musician can be a double-edged sword, especially when both parties are used to making noise. From Jimmy Page's dispute with Robbie Williams to John Cage's complaints about John Lennon, the history of musician neighbourly feuds is as colourful as it is loud.
One of the most famous clashes involves Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and former Take That star Robbie Williams. After Williams bought the mansion next to Page's West London home for £17.5m in 2013, he planned a renovation that included a two-storey basement. Page objected, and builders were fined £3,000 for disturbing his peace by dismantling a shed on a Sunday. Williams later apologised after comparing Page's behaviour to a 'mental illness' on Italian radio, stating that certain factual assertions he made were untrue.
Composer John Cage, known for his silent piece 4'33", faced a different kind of sonic battle in early-1970s Manhattan. His neighbour John Lennon played music through wall-mounted speakers, prompting Cage to ask him to stop. Despite the tension, the two became friends, with Lennon and Yoko Ono introducing Cage to macrobiotics, and Cage later composing a piece in their honour.
Perhaps the strangest tale involves French avant-rockers Magma. In the mid-1970s, band leader Christian Vander moved to a castle in Spain, and bassist Jannick Top, reportedly annoyed, rented a castle down the valley to irritate him. According to a manager, the feud escalated into a 'magic war', with Top allegedly tearing his own chest open in distress.
