Daryl Hall recently sat down with Billboard to discuss his solo career.
During the chat, he shared the process of getting ready for his new album and revealed his biggest advantage about it — being free as a solo musician. He explained:
“That’s exactly how I’m looking at it. I can’t speak for John ’cause I haven’t spoken to him in a long, long time, but I think that’s how he feels, too. And good on both of us. I can still play all the songs that I wrote over the years, under my own name as well as under the Hall & Oates name. It frees me, really. It frees me up.”
Oates’ Reaction To The Lawsuit
Hall got a temporary restraining order against Oates amid a private lawsuit. He filed a private complaint against his bandmate on November 16 and got a restraining order starting November 30 last year.
The lawsuit targeted Oates personally and included his trust. Oates and his co-trustees Aimee Oates and Richard Flynn were served with legal papers.
After the incident, Oates addressed the lawsuit filed against him. The guitarist shared a photo of himself and emphasized the importance of empathy, generosity, and global solidarity:
“During this time of communal reflection and connection with loved ones, let’s not forget those experiencing challenges globally. As we come together, consider reaching out to support those in need—whether through local charities or international humanitarian initiatives. May our collective efforts contribute to a more compassionate and supportive world.”
Oates Doesn’t Live In The Past
Last year, Oates and Hall were in the news because Oates tried to sell his share in their business, Whole Oats Enterprises, while Hall filed a restraining order to stop it. Oates talked about wanting to move on in a podcast episode and said:
“You can’t ignore the fact that the Hall & Oates catalog of hits and the 50-year career will always trump almost anything that Daryl does on his own or I do on my own, which is okay because I’m very proud of that music. I’m really proud of what Daryl and I created together.”
Oates compared his feelings to visiting a museum:
“I don’t like to live in the past… I make the analogy of what it’s like when you go to a great museum and you’re really excited to go and see all the beautiful paintings or the exhibits or whatever it might be, and then near the end, your feet start to hurt and you say, ‘You know what? I can’t wait to get out of here.’ That’s kind of how I feel about it. It’s just a matter of living in my present.”
You can hear Hall’s new album ‘D’ below.