The article examines how solo musicians have used diss tracks to air grievances about current or former bandmates. It highlights the personal and artistic tensions that can follow band break-ups, with songs sometimes becoming public score-settling exercises.

Examples include Paul McCartney’s “Too Many People” and John Lennon’s harsher reply, “How Do You Sleep?”, after The Beatles split. Keith Richards targeted Mick Jagger with “You Don’t Move Me” over Jagger’s solo career, while Elvis Costello responded to Attractions bassist Bruce Thomas with “How To Be Dumb” after Thomas published a book featuring a character resembling Costello.