10 Musicians Who Were Their Own Worst Enemy
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at musicians who didn’t fail to be their own worst enemy.
Ted Nugent
If Ted Nugent was known only for his work in music, you could define him as a legendary live performer and iconic rock star who penned some classics of the genre. But as soon as he decided to out himself as an extremist conservative, public opinion on Nugent did a u-turn. To say that Ted Nugent is aggressive with his opinions would be an understatement. He’s big on guns and a vocal opponent of animal rights. And over the years, his comments on issues of politics, race, and healthcare have left many people totally fed up with Ted Nugent. It’s as if he can’t help himself, and his public reputation is likely beyond the point of repair.
Keith Moon
Keith Moon was the legendary drummer for British rock pioneers The Who, an unorthodox man behind the kit with an unquestionably unique sound. But for as much as he was a wildman on stage, he was definitely crazier off of it. He was the rock star who truly mastered the art of destroying your hotel room on tour. He reputedly even drove a car into a swimming pool at one point. Eventually though, his alcohol and substance use brought his life to a tragic end, when he overdosed on prescription medication that he was taking to help him kick his alcohol use disorder.
Jimi Hendrix
Ask any guitarist worth their salt who the greatest of all-time was and you’ll likely get one answer: Jimi Hendrix. There was no greater talent in the 1960s with a six-string in his hand and his musical innovations still sound fresh today. But unfortunately, Hendrix was spreading himself incredibly thin by the end of the decade. Just as his musical experimentation was reaching new levels with his Band Of Gypsys and his 1970 live performances, it all came to a shocking end. Hendrix, unfortunately, couldn’t kick his dependency on certain substances, and on September 18, 1970, he passed away at the age of 27. To this day, his next career step remains one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in music history.
Sly Stone
Funk and R&B legend, the late Sly Stone had one of the greatest runs imaginable through the late 60s and early 70s with Sly and the Family Stone. But despite being a unifying force for positivity and equality, Stone’s substance use disorder struggles derailed his creative force at a crucial time. Not only was his partying getting out of hand, but some terrible financial decisions left him broke for large portions of his later life. Despite getting his band back together for another shot, the damage was done. Sly ended his career with some pretty disastrous live performances, where he looked like he never should’ve been allowed on stage in his state. And though he is undeniably a legend, his legacy is a complicated one.
John Bonham
Legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham might just be the most iconic rock and roll sticksman of all-time. There might not have been a better man to have behind the kit during the late 60s and 70s. But like so many rock-gods, Bonham’s vices would eventually get the better of him - and alcohol was his. Despite Led Zeppelin’s immense popularity and critical acclaim, Bonham’s drinking and womanizing saw him fall into an ugly decline. When he was 32 years old, he died after passing out while on a particularly wild bender. Bonham’s work was already immortalized, but we can’t help but wonder what he would’ve done under different circumstances.
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne was a trailblazer of heavy metal who really needs no introduction at this stage. His work with Black Sabbath is the stuff of legend, and despite having a wide array of substance use disorders, he somehow pulled off a successful solo career. But Ozzy’s dependence on substances was always going to take its toll. Over fifty years of hellacious behaviour cost him friends, musical relationships, and in some ways, his reputation. Sure, the hits are untouchable. But to most people, the late Ozzy is known best as the wacky rock star from MTV’s “The Osbournes.” In reality, as his last show with Sabbath and the reaction to his death in July 2025 demonstrate, his musical career deserves to be front-and-center in any Ozzy-related discussion.
Courtney Love
Nobody courts controversy quite like Courtney Love. In fact, the excellent music she created with her band Hole is often totally overshadowed by her attention-craving public persona. She and her husband Kurt Cobain were one of the most famous rock and roll couples of the 90s. But when Cobain died, Love seemingly decided to devote as much energy as humanly possible into beefing with everyone under the sun. Love just seems to like being in the thick of conflict. There was a point in time when a single week rarely went by without hearing about Love trashing some other musician. Old legends, her contemporaries, new up-and-comers - they were all fair game. All that negativity has a way of making someone pretty unlikable.
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison was a lot of things to a lot of people. A poet, a singer, a front-man extraordinaire, and one of the greatest counter-culture icons of the 1960s. But unfortunately, he was also a boundary pusher in ways that were detrimental to his health. His hellraising lifestyle involved a whole lot of experimentation with substances and problems with the law. And while the music of The Doors continued to improve, Jim’s own health began to suffer. He gained weight and lost the velvet-smooth tone of his youthful voice. And by the time he reached 27, his self-destructive cycle ended with his untimely death. A genius artist who left us way too soon!
Axl Rose
Axl Rose is the type of rockstar who doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks of him. Sure, being the lead singer of a rock band who has a massive ego is by no means unique to him. But when you’re showing up late to gigs, being damn-near insufferable to bandmates, and writing baffling songs like “One In A Million,” you’re not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, it’s pretty fair to say that Rose has truly damaged Guns N’ Roses’ reputation over the years. It should come as no surprise that he has been the group’s only constant member since they started, and it’s not hard to see why. The dude’s ego has been out of control for decades now.
Kanye West
Kanye West has always been a larger-than-life character. But watching him spiral into his current state has been truly alarming. Considered by many as one of the musical geniuses of his era, West’s desire to push things further and further saw his ego grow to monstrous proportions. And the toll that his ambition took on his mental health has been massive. These days, West is a provocateur to the max, regularly saying and doing things that make interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMAs look like child’s play. He told himself he was a god so many times that he seems to have lost touch with his last ounce of humility.
Did we miss out on any musicians who can’t help but get in their own way? Let us know in the comments below.
