Daryl Hall has filed a lawsuit against his Hall & Oates bandmate John Oates.
The Grammy-nominated duo have broken up and reunited several times throughout their career with Hall, 77 and his trust, The Daryl Hall Revocable Trust, now suing Oates, 75, as well as his individual trust, The John W. Oates TISA Trust and its co-trustees, in the Nashville Chancery Court on Nov. 16, per The Philadelphia Inquirer.
With the documents being sealed and classified as a ‘contract/debt’ matter and neither party yet to make a statement on the situation, details of the lawsuit are slim.
However, TMZ claims the pair were ‘in arbitration over some dispute,’ possibly ‘over division of royalties, or it could be over Oates singing their songs in solo acts’.
The outlet also reported Hall requested a restraining order against Oates, which the judge granted.
Lawsuit: Daryl Hall (right) has filed a lawsuit against his Hall & Oates bandmate John Oates (left); seen in 1980
Details: Hall and his trust, The Daryl Hall Revocable Trust, sued Oates, as well as his individual trust, The John W. Oates TISA Trust and its co-trustees, in the Nashville Chancery Court on Nov. 16; seen in 2019
Established in Philadelphia in 1970, Hall and Oates are the most commercially successful duo in the history of recorded music, outselling Simon and Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers.
During their peak years, spanning from 1974 to 1991, the duo achieved an impressive feat with 29 Top 40 hits.
Their timeless jams include ‘I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)’, ‘Maneater, ‘Rich Girl,’ ‘Kiss On My List,’ ‘Out Of Touch’ and ‘Private Eyes’.
They were also inducted into both the Songwriters and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
In 1987, due to accounting irregularities, the couple were informed that they were virtually broke, despite the sold-out tours and record-breaking album sales.
Oates was even forced to sell his four homes, plane and classic-car collection.
They also sued their own publisher in 2008 and in 2015, sued a granola company for selling ‘Haulin’ Oats’.
Legal battle: With the documents being sealed and classified as a ‘contract/debt’ matter and neither party yet to make a statement on the situation, details of the lawsuit are slim; Hall seen in 2019
Sealed case: However, TMZ claims the pair were ‘in arbitration over some dispute,’ possibly ‘over division of royalties, or it could be over Oates singing their songs in solo acts’; Oates seen in 2019
Rich girl: Established in Philadelphia in 1970, Hall and Oates are the most commercially successful duo in the history of recorded music, outselling Simon and Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers; seen in 1979
Record breaking: During their peak years, spanning from 1974 to 1991, the duo achieved an impressive feat with 29 Top 40 hits
Rifts: And despite their success, the duo often have often gone years without playing or recording together; seen in 1985
And despite their success, the duo often have often gone years without playing or recording together.
Hall said last year that the pair would not be releasing any new music together.
‘I don’t have any plans to work with John. I mean, whatever. Time will tell,’ he told the L.A. Times.
He mentioned that they had collaborated on music prior to the pandemic, adding, ‘Perceptions changed, life changed, everything changed. I’m more interested in pursuing my own world. And so is John.’
He added, ‘That takes me back to what I was saying about duos. I had to say, ‘And so is John.’ I couldn’t just say what I think, I had to add what he thinks. That’s the f— up part of being a duo.’