Music icon Daryl Hall has firmly closed the door on any possibility of reuniting with his former musical partner John Oates, marking a definitive end to one of pop music's most successful duos.
In a recent interview with The Times, Hall, 78, made his stance clear: "That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean." The declaration comes over a year after their bitter legal dispute began in November 2023, when Hall sued Oates for attempting to sell his share of their joint company, Whole Oates Enterprises.
The lawsuit, which Hall described as a response to "the ultimate partnership betrayal," was triggered when Oates, 76, tried to sell his stake to Primary Wave Music allegedly without Hall's required consent. Hall claimed he was kept in the dark about negotiations that began in October 2023.
Hall has now found a new creative partnership with Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, with whom he recently recorded his album "D." Taking aim at his former bandmate, Hall described his collaboration with Stewart as "more meaningful" and "based on maturity."
The duo, who first met in an elevator in 1967, enjoyed remarkable success over their five-decade partnership, selling over 60 million records and producing hits like "Maneater," "Rich Girl," and "Out of Touch." However, according to Oates, they hadn't worked together creatively in more than 20 years, merely performing their hits on stage before going their separate ways.
Oates defended his attempted sale during a Good Morning America appearance, stating, "It was kind of ruining my life, to be honest with you. I wasn't happy." He maintained that selling his stake was "not that big a deal," noting that many artists were selling their catalogs.
With both musicians now pursuing separate paths, it appears the curtain has finally fallen on the Hall & Oates saga, ending one of popular music's most enduring partnerships.