A restraining order filed by Daryl Hall against John Oates concerns which songs his former bandmate can sing solo, a source claims.
Hall, 77, was granted the restraint against Oates, 75, after filing a lawsuit against him over a contract and debt dispute.
Details about the sealed lawsuit are scarce, but it has been classified as a “contract/debt matter.”
It has now emerged that the two are in arbitration over which of the duo’s hits Oates can sing solo, TMZ reports.
The restraining order was granted on November 17, the day after it was filed.
Daryl Hall’s restraining order against John Oates concerns which songs his former bandmate can sing solo, a source claims
Hall, 77, was granted the restraint against Oates, 75, after filing a lawsuit against him over a contract and debt dispute
Details about the exact nature of the lawsuit have yet to be announced, but it has been classified as a ‘contract/fault matter’.
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, on Nov. 16 in Nashville Chancery Court, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
TMZ cited sources speculating that the lawsuit could center on the division of royalties for the duo’s songs.
Oates had a series of performances scheduled for early this month, but the dates on November 9 and 10 were inexplicably postponed just days before Hall filed his lawsuit.
Formed in Philadelphia in 1970, Hall & Oates is the most commercially successful duo in recorded music history, surpassing Simon and Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers.
During their peak years, 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 Halls of Fame.
But their success has come with a rocky relationship, with the duo breaking up and reforming several times over the years.
Oates had a host of solo performances scheduled in early November, but his last two were abruptly canceled days before the legal action was filed.
The duo is the most commercially successful in the history of recorded music
On Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast last year, Hall said Oates said, “Do you think John Oates is my partner?” He is my business partner. He’s not my creative partner.
‘John and I are brothers, but not creative brothers. We are business partners. We’ve made records together under the name Hall & Oates, but we’ve always been very separate, and that’s very important to me.’
In another interview with the LA Times, he indicated that the duo had no plans to record music together.
However, he revealed that they had collaborated on some material before the pandemic.
The band has also suffered financial problems due to accounting irregularities that came to light in 1987 and virtually bankrupted them despite their enormous success.
Oates was even forced to sell his four houses, planes and classic car collection.
They sued their own publisher in 2008 and in 2015 sued a granola company for selling “Haulin’ Oats.”