Despite Hall & Oates having one of the most recognizable names in music history, Daryl Hall says he has always seen himself as a solo artist.
In a new interview with Billboard, the 77-year-old musician discusses his fractured relationship with long-time partner and collaborator John Oates, following their uncongenial split last year.
“John and I did not have a creative relationship for decades; the last song I wrote with John was in 2000 and that was with somebody else,” Hall tells Billboard. “We toured and we toured and we toured, and it was very restrictive to me, and to John."
"The real truth of it all is John just said one day he didn’t want to do it anymore," he continues. "I said ‘OK,’ but the problem is [Oates] didn’t make the parting and breakup easy, and that’s where the difficulties lay and still lay, and that’s all it is."
Last November, Hall filed a lawsuit as well as a temporary restraining order against Oates after he attempted to sell his half of their joint venture Whole Oates Enterprises to Primary Wave Music without consent.
Hall didn't leave it at that tough. He proceeded to diminish Oates's role in the 50+ years they worked together, adding, “I always say I’ve been a solo artist my whole life, I was just working with John, mostly.”
Oates gave his side of the story to Rolling Stone in April, admitting he couldn't share much about their current situation, but saying, "I hope he’s doing well and I hope he’s having a time of his life, but it’s not part of my life.”
You can read the full Billboard interview here.