Iconic rock band Hall & Oates disband after 50 years amid messy legal battle

Rocker Daryl Hall reveals he and bandmate John Oates have gone their separate ways, marking the end of their iconic band Hall & Oates.

Daryl Hall and John Oates, aka Hall & Oates, are parting ways after 50 years.

Musician Daryl Hall has revealed that he and bandmate John Oates have officially gone their separate ways, marking the end of their band Hall & Oates after a 50-year collaboration.

The move comes months after the duo were embroiled in a messy legal battle when

Oates attempted to sell his half of their company, Whole Oats Enterprises – which controls trademarks and rights to their music and likeness – without Hall’s consent.

He called the move the “ultimate partnership betrayal” before filing a restraining order on Oates.

Daryl Hall and John Oates, aka Hall & Oates, are disbanding after 50 years.

Opening up about the saga in a new interview with Variety this week, Hall said it took him “by surprise” and ultimately was the beginning of the end for the musical duo.

“I don’t know, man — all I can say is people change and sometimes you don’t really know someone like you thought you did,” he told the outlet. “Difficulties can be made from things that aren’t difficult, and then it goes to a place where it can never come back from.

“It’s unfortunate and untimely, but some things just change. People rewrite history and harbour thoughts you had no idea about.”

Then, when asked if fans had seen the last of the duo, Hall replied, “That is correct.”

The duo in 2014 when they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in New York City. Picture: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

The duo also received honours on the Hollywood's Rockwalk in 2003. Picture: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

Hall, 77, and Oates, 76, formed Hall & Oates in 1970 and have since released many hits including Kiss on My List, Rich Girl, She’s Gone, Maneater and Out of Touch.

They recorded 21 albums over the decades together and sold more than 80 million units, making them the most successful duo in music history. They released their last studio album, Home for the Holidays, in 2006.

Although they went on to forge solo careers, the pair never officially split up and have continued to tour together over the years.

“I haven’t had a creative relationship with John for at least 25 years,” Hall also told Variety. “We didn’t write songs together, we didn’t do anything together except perform live shows. We had an arrangement that I couldn’t play my solo songs onstage with Hall & Oates – and now I get to.”

Hall has said in the past that it was challenging being part of a duo. Picture: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

There was clearly a divide between the pair in recent years when Hall hinted about his alleged issues with Oates.

“You think John Oates is my partner? … He’s my business partner. He’s not my creative partner,” he said on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast last year.

“John and I are brothers, but we are not creative brothers. We are business partners. We made records called Hall & Oates together, but we’ve always been very separate, and that’s a really important thing for me.”

In another 2022 interview, Hall said it was “very annoying” to be a part of a musical duo.

“Everything you do is juxtaposed against another person. Try doing that sometime,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

“I don’t want to use the word ’emasculating,’ because that’s male, but it takes away your individuality.”

Originally published as Iconic rock band Hall & Oates disband after 50 years amid messy legal battle