Music legends squabble
Daryl Hall and John Oates find themselves entangled in a confidential legal dispute, resulting in Daryl Hall obtaining a restraining order against his former musical collaborator, John Oates. Although details about the lawsuit are scant due to sealed court documents, it is known that Hall filed an undisclosed complaint against Oates on November 16. Subsequently, he also submitted a motion for a temporary restraining order, which was officially granted by the court to take effect starting November 30. The lawsuit’s existence was confirmed by the Nashville Chancery Court to Variety, but no further comments were provided due to the sealed nature of the case.
Notably, Hall’s public remarks about Oates on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast last year may shed light on the underlying tensions. Hall emphasized their business partnership rather than a creative one, asserting that while they are brothers, their collaboration has been primarily on a business level. He went further to underscore their creative separateness, even citing instances such as the 1980 No. 1 hit “Kiss on My List,” where he claimed sole responsibility for the harmonies. Oates, although not credited as a songwriter, is listed as a co-producer with Hall on the track.
The musical partnership of Hall & Oates dates back to 1967, with the duo officially formed three years later. Since their debut album “Whole Oats” in 1972, they have released 18 studio albums and achieved considerable success with six No. 1 singles, including “Maneater,” “Rich Girl,” and “Out of Touch.” Despite pursuing solo recording careers and individual tours over the years, Hall & Oates has never officially disbanded, and they even toured together as recently as October 2022. Their last studio album, “Home for Christmas,” was released in 2006, marking a continuation of their enduring musical partnership.