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At 85, Tom Jones Names the Six Artists He Hated Most
For more than six decades, Sir Tom Jones has been celebrated as one of music’s most powerful voices and most charismatic performers. From “It’s Not Unusual” to “Delilah” and “She’s a Lady,” his booming vocals and magnetic stage presence have made him a legend across generations. Now at 85, with nothing left to prove and a lifetime of stories behind him, Tom Jones has finally opened up in an explosive interview—revealing the six artists he says he “hated most” during his career.
The confession has shocked fans, many of whom have long seen Tom as a gentleman of music, respected for his warmth and easy humor. But as he explained, his list wasn’t born from petty rivalries or chart competition—it came from personal clashes, bruised egos, and backstage battles that haunted him through the years.
According to Jones, the music business in the 1960s and 1970s was far more cutthroat than most fans realized. “Everyone was fighting for the same spotlight,” he admitted. “If you didn’t stand your ground, you’d be eaten alive.” His booming voice and working-class Welsh background made him an outsider in certain circles, and not everyone welcomed his rise. “I came in as this rough boy from Pontypridd who sang too loud, dressed too bold, and wasn’t afraid to shake his hips,” he said. “Some people hated that.”
Though he refrained from listing every name in public, Tom revealed enough hints to leave fans buzzing with speculation. Some were fellow crooners who dismissed him as “too brash.” Others were producers and industry figures who tried to hold him back, mocking his raw energy and working-class image. “They wanted me to tone it down, to fit into their idea of what a singer should be,” he explained. “I couldn’t stand people like that. Music has to come from the gut, not a rulebook.”
Interestingly, Jones admitted that some of his so-called enemies eventually became friends—or at least earned his respect. “Over time, you realize some of it was jealousy, some of it was pride,” he reflected. “But in the moment, it felt like war.”
The revelation has sparked conversations about the pressures artists faced during the golden era of pop and rock. In a business where every song was a competition, rivalries were inevitable. What makes Tom Jones’s confession remarkable is his honesty at 85. With his legacy secure, he no longer feels the need to gloss over the conflicts of his past.
Still, he ended the interview on a note of perspective. “I don’t hold grudges anymore,” he said. “When you get to my age, you realize life’s too short. But if you ask me who I hated at the time? I won’t lie—I hated them with everything I had.”
For fans, Tom’s rare candor is a reminder that behind the glitter of fame lies a world of fierce rivalries, egos, and struggles. At 85, the Welsh legend has nothing left to hide—and his honesty proves that even the most celebrated careers are not without their darker chapters.
