Hall & Oates star John Oates says he's 'so proud' of the music he made with Darryl Hall but 'can't wait' to move on… amid bitter legal dispute between the duo

Hall & Oates' John Oates spoke fondly of the six decades he and Darryl Hall spent in the music industry amid their ongoing legal dispute — which began last month.

In a new interview with Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast, Oates admitted that their independent projects would never surpass what they created as a duo.

“You can't ignore the fact that Hall & Oates' successful catalog and 50-year career will almost always outshine anything Daryl does on his own or I do on my own, which is a good thing because I'm very proud of him.” “This is music,” Oates, 75, said.

I'm really proud of what Darryl and I have created together. I think we made music that will stand the test of time.

“I don't like to live in the past,” he added, before using a metaphor to compare the current state of the duo's partnership to a long day spent on one's feet.

“It's like you go to a great museum and you're really excited to go see all the beautiful paintings or exhibits or whatever it may be, and then toward the end, your feet start hurting and you say, 'You know what? I can't wait to get out of here. “That's how I feel about it,” the guitarist and singer shared.

Tensions between the two musicians began when Hall, 77, filed a lawsuit in November over Oats' alleged plan to sell his stake in their joint venture Whole Oats Enterprises LLP (WOE) to a third party, Primary Waves Music, without the other party's permission.

Hall argues that the Oates deal would be a violation of the employment agreement previously reached between the pair, according to the people.

The musicians entered into an agreement in October 2021 for Whole Oats Enterprises LLP (WOE), a limited liability partnership owned and controlled by the musicians, according to the complaint.

Shortly after filing the lawsuit, Hall was granted a temporary restraining order to allow time for legal action.

Hall also filed a declaration accusing Oates of “betrayal of the ultimate partnership” for planning to sell his share of the duo's publications to Primary Wave Music, while Oates responded that Hall's statements were “inflammatory, bizarre and inaccurate.”

Announcing that he learned of his partner's intention to sell just two days before setting off on the tour, court documents indicate that Hall believes Oates timed his attempted sale so that it would distract him and ruin his final tour.

According to the News agency, Primary Wave has already had a keen interest in the song catalog of Grammy-nominated musicians for over 15 years.

Hall's lawyers stress that much of this matter should remain confidential because it is a “private dispute… and this is not a matter of legitimate public interest, although the parties are well known.” His legal team indicated that the dispute deals with the interpretation of the 2021 agreement, the terms of which remain confidential.

Ultimately, the legal case will be decided during a confidential arbitration process.

As a duo, Hall & Oates reached the US Top 40 with 29 of their 33 singles charting on Billboard's Hot 100 between 1974 and 1991.

Among their many hits over the years include radio staples such as Rich Girl, Kiss On My List, Private Eyes, I Can't Go for That (No Can Do), Maneater, Out Of Touch, She's Gone, Sara Smile, Say. Not So, You Make My Dreams, Family Man and Modern Love Style, among many others.

Having sold over 80 million units, Hall & Oates are considered among the most successful duo in rock history.

During their career together, the duo released 18 studio albums, the most recent being the holiday-inspired Home For Christmas (2006).

Both musicians also released five solo albums during their career, but neither enjoyed the success they enjoyed during their time as a working unit.