History's10 Most Famous Sibling Rivalries

No family is perfect. Contentious family gatherings are often accented by sibling rivalries, in which a feud that began in early childhood inexplicably carries over to adulthood — when, you know, people are expected to act as adults. In some cases, relationships between siblings change for the worse later in life — perhaps because of their work or business relationship — and thus become destined for failure. The following famous feuds can fit into one or both of the aforementioned categories. Each one was fought in the public eye, exemplifying how siblings shouldn't treat each other.

1. The Jacksons

   The three things each Jackson has in common are a love for music, thirst for fame and hunger for money. The competition brought forth by the latter two has far surpassed the bond brought forth by the former, as evidenced by the proposed Jackson 8 tour in 2009, which would've paid some family members more than others. Janet Jackson, of course, would've earned the most, and La Toya and Rebbie would've earned the least. What's more, the death of Michael caused a dispute over who would inherit the money he gave to their mother Katherine, who's now 81 years old.

2. Ray Davies vs. Dave Davies (The Kinks)

   Fans of the Kinks holding out hope that the band will have an on-stage reunion shouldn't hold their breaths. Brothers Ray and Dave have been at each other's throats for years, and their feud may not die before one of them hits the grave. Both are incredibly gifted, but neither has seen eye to eye on the exact direction of the band, and their spats have been heightened by personal problems — Ray has suffered from bipolar disorder and attempted suicide, and Dave, like many other rockers, was very much into drugs during his heyday. Their latest dispute occurred when Dave refused to perform in the funeral of Kinks' base guitarist Pete Quiafe, who died in June 2010.

3. Liam Gallagher vs. Noel Gallagher (Oasis)

   Oasis was one of the most popular bands of the '90s, and, for the time being, that's where their music remains. Another band, another unfortunate brotherly feud (and this certainly isn't the last one on this list). The ongoing squabble between Liam and Noel began in 1994 during their American tour, when Liam altered the lyrics of Noel's songs, causing a post-show brawl. The two have physically fought multiple times through the years, including an occasion when Liam questioned the legitimacy of Noel's daughter. In August, their mutual hatred reached a crescendo as Liam filed a lawsuit against Noel over comments he made about their band's breakup. Incredibly, Noel eventually apologized and Liam dropped the lawsuit.

4. Justin Hawkins vs. Dan Hawkins (The Darkness)

   Drug problems and an ensuing rehab stint resulted in the departure of Justin from The Darkness, which in turn decided to continue without him. The episode disrupted the band's continuity and the relationship between Justin and Dan, who didn't speak for five years until they mutually decided to reunite this year. The band will attempt to embark on a new period of success and achieve a greater status than "one-hit wonder."

5. The Followills (Kings of Leon)

   Caleb Followill is the most visible of the three brothers — Nathan and Jared are the other two — who are members of Kings of Leon. His behavior during a July concert in Dallas, in which he walked off the stage to vomit after delivering a confused rant, fueled rumors that the band was on the verge of splitting. Later that night, with many of their fans angered over the unexpected events, Jared tweeted "There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade." Of course, this wasn't the first manifestation of an apparent feud — Caleb and Nathan got into a fight while recording Only in the Night, resulting in a broken arm for the singer. More fights within the bad followed the release of the album, culminating with the Dallas episode. The band insists that it's not breaking up, but it has a long way to go before returning to form.

6. Marvin Isley vs. Ronald and Rudolph Isley (The Isley Brothers)

   Ronald Isley, despite earning millions upon millions as the lead singer of The Isley Brothers, obviously doesn't like sharing the wealth. Recognized as one of California's most delinquent taxpayers, he recently served time in prison for tax evasion. More disheartening, he allowed money to ruin his relationship with his late brother Marvin, who sued Ronald and his other older brother Rudolph for a share of their late brother O'Kelly's estate. Ronald and Rudolph contended that he signed away his rights to the band properties in 1991. They eventually settled on a $250,000 payment.

7. Ann Landers vs. Abigail Van Buren

   Eppie Lederer assumed the role of Ann Landers in 1955 after the death of Ruth Crowley, who died after 12 years of writing the column. Always straightforward with her readers, she offered heartfelt advice that often challenged conventional wisdom, making her somewhat of an edgy figure to the public. Her twin sister, Pauline, took note of Eppie's success, and attempted to duplicate it by starting a competing column, "Dear Abby," which naturally intensified their already-existing sibling rivalry. At one point, Pauline offered her column to the Sioux City Journal at a reduced rate if it promised to cease the printing of "Anne Landers." Their feud became public knowledge and thus the source of widespread gossip, encouraging them to reconcile, or at least give the impression they reconciled.

8. Olivia de Havilland vs. Joan Fontaine

   Two of the most beautiful and talented actresses from the '30s and '40s, Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine have both won Academy Awards, and both are regarded as screen legends. And, despite their old age, they refuse to put aside their differences, which have persisted since early childhood, when Olivia would intentionally ruin Joan's hand-me-down clothing. In 1942, both were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress — Joan won, and proceeded to ignore her sister as she attempted to congratulate her. Olivia returned the favor a few years later after Joan made offensive comments about her husband. They stopped speaking in 1975. In 2010, when Olivia received the Legion d'honneur from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Joan was nowhere in sight, essentially ignoring her sister's big day.

9. Christopher Hitchens vs. Peter Hitchens

   If you're familiar with the distinctive personalities and political commentary of the Hitchens brothers, then it probably doesn't surprise you the two aren't the chummiest of siblings. Christopher, an atheist, has publicly clashed with Peter, a Christian, on multiple occasions on matters relating to their ideology. It began when Peter quoted his brother as saying he "didn't care if the Red Army watered its horses at Hendon," inducing Christopher to call him "an idiot." The two ceased contact with each other, but later reconciled and engaged in television debates.

10. Venus Williams vs. Serena Williams

    Surprisingly, the Williams sisters are close off the court, boasting a relationship to which other famous siblings should aspire. On the court, however, it's a different ballgame. Never before have siblings ascended to the top of their sports like Venus and Serena, both of whom have been ranked World No. 1. Serena leads the rivalry 13-10, including a 6-2 record versus Venus in Grand Slam finals. Venus has 43 singles titles, four more than Serena. Sure, they share 12 Grand Slam doubles titles, but accumulating doubles wins don't cement a legendary tennis career.

Taken From Zen College Life