Daryl Hall (left) and John Oates. Photo by John Medina/WireImage.
Hall & Oates are airing out their grievances against one another in new court documents. The filings from the hitmaking duo come after Daryl Hall sued John Oates on November 16 in Nashville chancery court to block his sale of their share in the joint merchandising venture Whole Oats Enterprises to an investment management firm.
In a document filed on Wednesday (November 29), Hall accused Oates of committing the “ultimate partnership betrayal” by attempting to sell his stake in the company without his permission, the Associated Press reports. “I am deeply troubled by the deterioration of my relationship with, and trust in, John Oates,” Hall wrote, referring to the dissolution of their 50-year creative partnership as a “global divorce.”
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Oates responded the same day, per the AP, calling Hall’s statements “inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate” but saying he didn’t want to address “private matters” in public documents. “Over the years, Daryl has consistently and publicly been adamant about being perceived as an individual rather than as part of a duo or group. Thus, he has insisted on our being known as ‘Daryl Hall and John Oates,’ rather than the more commonly known ‘Hall & Oates,’” Oates continued. “On this point I agree. I now must act with truthfulness and make decisions that are right for myself, my family, and my artistic future.”
A judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the sale of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC on November 16 (the same day Hall sued Oates) while arbitration between Hall and Oates continues. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for today (November 30). The FADER has reached out to both parties’ attorneys for further comment.