Hall and Oates is dead; long live Daryl Hall and John Oatesâs solo careers. As the blue-eyed soul icons feud over their business, Oates is now saying heâs âmoved onâ from Hall and Oates. Speaking to Rolling Stone about his new, unfortunately titled album, Reunion, Oates said he doesnât see himself performing with Hall again. (They last took the stage together in fall 2022.) Whatâs more, he has little desire to sing their old hits anymore. âTo keep playing them, for me, was no longer interesting,â Oates said. âI just wanted to do something else.â He explained that the duo always billed themselves as âDaryl Hall and John Oatesâ so they would be seen as âtwo individuals who work together.â âThis is the ultimate expression of that,â Oates continued.
The comments follow a contentious business issue between Hall and Oates, which Oates told Rolling Stone is âvery boring.â Hall sued Oates for trying to sell his portion of their business, Whole Oates Enterprises LLP, to Primary Wave, a song fund that buys music rights. (Per the lawsuit, Primary Wave already owns a âsignificant interestâ in the groupâs music.) Hall argued that Oates selling his stake would violate a business agreement between them and was even granted a temporary restraining order against his partner. Remember what the man said about money: It wonât get you too far. One issue in the suit is who gets to sing which old songs: Hall has said he doesnât want Oates performing songs he didnât write. If Oates means what he says about leaving behind their old music, that shouldnât be a problem.
Oates added he and Hall are âgoing to work it outâ and wished his collaborator well. âWe have a different strategy for our lives, and we have a different strategy for our business lives as well as our personal lives,â he said. âAnd thatâs that, so be it. Weâre old guys. We deserve to be allowed to do whatever we want to do.â Heâs gone.