Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The story behind the biggest soda and rockstar battles.
Oasis Video I reference
youtube.com/watch?v=8c4W9krIQ2w&pp=ygUeb2FzaXMgcm9jayBuIHJvbGwgdHJ1ZSBzdG9yaWVz
Podcast on Apple Podcasts
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rock-n-roll-true-stories-podcast/id1876614383
My second YouTube Channel
youtube.com/@RockNRollTrueStories2
Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper have spent decades trying to borrow the cool factor of rock stars. But sometimes, instead of getting a hit commercial, they got angry musicians, legal threats, lawsuits, public embarrassment, and one of the strangest chapters in Guns N’ Roses history.
In this video, we look at the bizarre times rock stars and soda companies went to war.
First, Oasis found themselves in a legal mess connected to Coca-Cola after “Shakermaker” sounded a little too close to “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” the song made globally famous through Coke’s iconic “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” campaign. The dispute was settled, and Noel Gallagher reportedly had the perfect response: “Now we all drink Pepsi.”
Then there was the Smashing Pumpkins’ fight over a Pepsi promotion. Billy Corgan and the band sued former label Virgin Records after their name, music, and likeness were allegedly used in the Pepsi Stuff campaign without their approval. The band argued that the campaign damaged its credibility and artistic integrity with fans.
War also found itself in a very ironic fight with PepsiCo. Members of the original lineup sued the company for more than $10 million over Pepsi Max’s use of their 1975 classic “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” The song was used in an ad connected to Pepsi’s long-running rivalry with Coca-Cola—which meant a song about friendship became part of a corporate war.
And then there is Guns N’ Roses versus Dr Pepper. In 2008, Dr Pepper joked that it would give every person in America a free soda if Chinese Democracy finally came out that year. Everyone assumed Axl Rose would never make the deadline. Then the impossible happened: the album arrived on November 23, 2008.
Dr Pepper tried to honor the offer with an online coupon giveaway, but the website was overwhelmed by demand. Guns N’ Roses’ lawyers called the promotion an “unmitigated disaster,” accused the company of misleading consumers, and demanded public apologies, a longer redemption period, and compensation.
These companies wanted the songs, the image, the rebellion, and the credibility that came with rock-and-roll. What they got instead were lawsuits, angry fans, public-relations disasters, and proof that you should probably not make jokes about Axl Rose unless you are prepared for the consequences.
This is the story of Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Oasis, the Smashing Pumpkins, War, Guns N’ Roses, and the rock stars who reminded Big Soda that rock cred is not always for sale.
Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Comment below or send in your idea: bit.ly/3stnXlN
CONNECT ON SOCIAL
TIKOK:tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory
Instagram: instagram.com/rnrtruestories
Facebook: facebook.com/RNRTrueStories
Twitter: twitter.com/rocktruestories
Blog: rockandrolltruestories.com
#smashingpumpkins #coke #pepsi
These videos are for entertainment purposes only. DISCLAIMER rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer
The story behind the biggest soda and rockstar battles.
Oasis Video I reference
youtube.com/watch?v=8c4W9krIQ2w&pp=ygUeb2FzaXMgcm9jayBuIHJvbGwgdHJ1ZSBzdG9yaWVz
Podcast on Apple Podcasts
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rock-n-roll-true-stories-podcast/id1876614383
My second YouTube Channel
youtube.com/@RockNRollTrueStories2
Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper have spent decades trying to borrow the cool factor of rock stars. But sometimes, instead of getting a hit commercial, they got angry musicians, legal threats, lawsuits, public embarrassment, and one of the strangest chapters in Guns N’ Roses history.
In this video, we look at the bizarre times rock stars and soda companies went to war.
First, Oasis found themselves in a legal mess connected to Coca-Cola after “Shakermaker” sounded a little too close to “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” the song made globally famous through Coke’s iconic “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” campaign. The dispute was settled, and Noel Gallagher reportedly had the perfect response: “Now we all drink Pepsi.”
Then there was the Smashing Pumpkins’ fight over a Pepsi promotion. Billy Corgan and the band sued former label Virgin Records after their name, music, and likeness were allegedly used in the Pepsi Stuff campaign without their approval. The band argued that the campaign damaged its credibility and artistic integrity with fans.
War also found itself in a very ironic fight with PepsiCo. Members of the original lineup sued the company for more than $10 million over Pepsi Max’s use of their 1975 classic “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” The song was used in an ad connected to Pepsi’s long-running rivalry with Coca-Cola—which meant a song about friendship became part of a corporate war.
And then there is Guns N’ Roses versus Dr Pepper. In 2008, Dr Pepper joked that it would give every person in America a free soda if Chinese Democracy finally came out that year. Everyone assumed Axl Rose would never make the deadline. Then the impossible happened: the album arrived on November 23, 2008.
Dr Pepper tried to honor the offer with an online coupon giveaway, but the website was overwhelmed by demand. Guns N’ Roses’ lawyers called the promotion an “unmitigated disaster,” accused the company of misleading consumers, and demanded public apologies, a longer redemption period, and compensation.
These companies wanted the songs, the image, the rebellion, and the credibility that came with rock-and-roll. What they got instead were lawsuits, angry fans, public-relations disasters, and proof that you should probably not make jokes about Axl Rose unless you are prepared for the consequences.
This is the story of Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Oasis, the Smashing Pumpkins, War, Guns N’ Roses, and the rock stars who reminded Big Soda that rock cred is not always for sale.
Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Comment below or send in your idea: bit.ly/3stnXlN
CONNECT ON SOCIAL
TIKOK:tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory
Instagram: instagram.com/rnrtruestories
Facebook: facebook.com/RNRTrueStories
Twitter: twitter.com/rocktruestories
Blog: rockandrolltruestories.com
#smashingpumpkins #coke #pepsi
These videos are for entertainment purposes only. DISCLAIMER rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer
