“The ultimate partnership betrayal”: Daryl Hall won’t perform alongside John Oates again
Decades on from their 1980s heyday, with infallible earworm tracks like ‘I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)’ and ‘Maneater’, the relationship between Hall and Oates appears to be shattered beyond repair. In a new interview, DarylHall opened up about his thoughts towards his former musical partner, John Oates.
Back in 2023, Hall filed a lawsuit against his former colleague when Oates attempted to sell off his half of the pair’s joint publishing company, Whole Oats Enterprises. Seemingly, this legal dispute was the last nail in the coffin for Hall and Oates, who were working on new material as recently as 2020. Now, Hall has called the attempt to sell off Whole Oats Enterprises “the ultimate partnership betrayal”.
Previously, both members of the duo have claimed that Hall and Oates is over, with Oates affirming that he has “moved on” in an interview with Rolling Stone. According to Hall, there does not appear to be any way of reconciling that relationship. “That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean,” he told The Times, forgoing any possibility to work out their differences.
“I’ve had a lot of surprises in my life, disappointments, betrayals, so I’m kind of used to it,” the songwriter continued.
Earlier on in the interview, he also claimed, “I’ve been involved with some pretty shady characters over the years. That’s where the problems start.” It seems, therefore, that his journey within the music industry has been less than harmonious, to put it lightly.
As with any band split, questions over credits and royalties inevitably arise. However, Hall was quick to set the record straight about the discography of Hall and Oates. “The songs with his lead vocal are the songs he wrote, and all the other ones, which is about 90%, are the ones I wrote,” he shared. The songwriter also added that he feels underappreciated for his efforts within the duo.
Nevertheless, his split from the duo that launched his name into musical stardom has not quashed Hall’s productivity. In the spring, he is set to embark upon a tour of the United Kingdom, where he will perform at the Royal Albert Hall for the very first time.
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