Iconic 70s musical duo announce split after 50 years amid legal battle-Brooke Ivey Johnson-Entertainment – Metro

Hall & Oates are officially splitting up after 50 years together (Picture: Danny Payne/REX/Shutterstock)

Hall & Oates have announced that they’ve officially called it quits as musical collaborators after 50 years performing together.

The news comes in the wake of an ongoing legal dispute surrounding John Oates’, 76, alleged effort to sell his half of the pair’s jointly owned company, Whole Oats Enterprises.

Daryl Hall, 77, told Variety magazine that Oates’ attempt to sell ‘took him by surprise.’

He continued, making it clear that the legal battle has caused a rift between the pair: ‘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.

‘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.’

Hall & Oates first joined forces in 1970 and reached superstardom soon after (Picture: Shutterstock)

Hall also revealed that the pair haven’t written songs together in a quarter of a decade, confirming once and for all that the Rich Girl hitmakers are disbanded for good.

He said: ‘We didn’t write songs together, we didn’t do anything together except perform live shows.’

A judge honoured Hall’s request to temporarily block Oates from selling his portion of the company last year, prolonging the conflict between the two musicians.

Dave Stewart, who was one half of the Eurythmics duo with Annie Lennox, has taken Oates’ place as Hall’s creative partner in the midst of the legal battle.

The duo were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2014 (Picture: Shutterstock)

Hall said, in reference to his upcoming new album, that: ‘Dave has been my shadow partner since 1984.

‘We’re best friends. This was a real duo album, two people coming together, understanding one another and writing songs — most of them were written on the spot.

‘I had ideas and Dave enhanced them. It’s a real 50-50 project. Dave and I have a real partnership and have had for a long time.’

Hall claims that its been a long time since he and Oates had any creative relationship (Picture: Shutterstock)

Hall & Oates music mostly features Hall as lead vocalist and Oates on the electric guitar and occasionally back up vocals.

The duo, who formed in Philadelphia in 1970, are known for hits like Rich Girl, Maneater, Private Eyes, and I Can’t Go For That.

Despite their differences, they achieved extraordinary success together, with 29 of their 33 singles charting on Billboard’s Hot 100 between 1974 and 1991. Six of these peaked at number one. They had two Top Ten albums and six Top 40 singles in the UK.

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