John Oates reveals real reason he left Hall &…
He’s gone.
John Oates has revealed the real reason he break up from Hall & Oates, and it doesn’t have to do with his lately resolved legal dispute with former bandmate Daryl Hall.
During an interview with People revealed Wednesday, Aug. 27, the “Rich Girl” rocker admitted that he no longer felt “challenged” when it got here to performing as the rock duo.
John Oates attends the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City on June 12, 2025. Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Daryl Hall performs in Sacramento, California, on July 23, 2017. WireImage
“It was always exciting, and it was always great to play with a great band,” Oates, 77, explained. “It was more about not being challenged, because when I get on stage, I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”
“Daryl and I spoke about this a lot,” he continued. “We became almost prisoners of our success.”
The “She’s Gone” singer added that he no longer felt like he was half of the beloved Rock & Roll Hall of Fame duo, and that he determined to depart the group to pursue a “totally freeing” solo profession.
Oates revealed the real reason he break up from Hall & Oates in a new interview revealed Wednesday. Tamara Beckwith
Hall performs in Atlantic City, NJ, on August 30, 2019. Getty Images
“All of a sudden, I was not really thinking that I was part of Hall & Oates, even though I technically still was for a period of time,” Oates shared.
“I said, ‘In order for me to find myself, all I have to do is go back and revisit my past and see where that takes me,’” he concluded. “And from there, that’s been the jumping-off level.”
Hall, 78, and Oates carried out together for many years after forming Hall & Oates in Philadelphia in 1970.
The “Maneater” rockers pose for a studio portrait together in 1980. Getty Images
Despite turning into the best-selling duo in pop historical past with hits like “Maneater” and “Private Eyes,” their partnership broke down in November 2023 when Hall was granted a restraining order against Oates.
Hall sued Oates to stop him from promoting his share of their joint business entity, Whole Oats Enterprises, to music writer Primary Wave.
One month later, as the ugly court battle raged on, Oates confirmed that he had “moved on” from both Hall and Hall & Oates.
Hall and Oates before the 56th annual BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2008. AP
“I have an amazing, amazing amount of respect, and I’m really, really thankful for the success that Daryl and I have had,” he said in December 2023. “We’ve done something over a 50-year period of time that not many people ever can say they’ve done in their lives or careers.”
“I’ve moved on. I moved on in a big way,” Oates added at the time. “I’ve got other things I’m doing.”
Months later, Oates put an end to any potential Hall & Oates reunions when he revealed he and the “You Make My Dreams” singer shared “no communication” amid the lawsuit.
The “Private Eyes” rockers in the Nineteen Seventies. Courtesy Everett Collection
Daryl Hall and John Oates in 1974. Courtesy Everett Collection
“I personally don’t see it happening. It’s not in my plans at all. You can ask Daryl Hall what he thinks,” he said. “But for me personally, no.”
The lawsuit, meanwhile, was resolved earlier this month through non-public arbitration, per the Associated Press. Specific particulars of the decision stay confidential.
As for Oates, he has continued to release solo albums since breaking away from Hall & Oates.
His latest document, “Oates,” releases Friday, Aug. 29, and the “Kiss on My List” singer called it one of his “most fulfilling” tasks yet.
Daryl Hall and John Oates’ nasty legal dispute was resolved earlier this month through non-public arbitration Tamara Beckwith
“I didn’t have time to second-guess or to overanalyze,” Oates told People. “Everything seemed to work. The choices of the players, the songs, everything was very seamless.”
“And that, to me, that’s always the mark of something that’s good,” he concluded. “I didn’t have to rewrite. I didn’t have to rerecord.”
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