- Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates filed a temporary restraining order and confidential lawsuit against John Oates.
- A week later, Hall performed the duo's music at a concert in Tokyo.
Famed musical duo Hall & Oates are known for their harmonious crooning, but their real-life relationship appears to be much more dissonant.
On November 16, Daryl Hall filed a temporary restraining order against John Oates, as part of a confidential lawsuit between the two musical and business partners, Philadelphia magazine reported.
A week later, on Thanksgiving, Hall performed many of the duo's songs — including "Out of Touch" and "Private Eyes" — during his concert at Tokyo Garden Theater in Japan, Variety reported.
Hall filed the restraining order in Nashville Chancery Court, and it was approved to go into effect on November 30. The details of the lawsuit, where Hall is the plaintiff and Oates the defendant, remain largely unknown because it is sealed by the court.
According to Axios Nashville reporter Nate Rau, the lawsuit appears to be related to a business trust.
Members of the beloved pop rock duo Hall & Oates are locked in mysterious litigation.
— Nate Rau (@tnnaterau) November 17, 2023
Daryl Hall filed a lawsuit yesterday against John Oates in Nashville Chancery Court. At least for now, all of the filings in the litigation are under seal.
So far, both Hall and Oates have remained silent on the matter.
The duo has never officially split up, performing together and solo over the years. But in media appearances, Hall has said he doesn't view Oates as his creative partner.
"John and I are brothers, but we are not creative brothers. We are business partners. We made records called Hall & Oates together, but we've always been very separate, and that's a really important thing for me," Hall told Bill Maher in September 2022 on an episode of Maher's podcast "Club Random."
Hall went on to tell Maher that he created all of the harmonies in their hit song "Kiss on My List."
In a 2021 interview with GQ, Oates said it was a "miracle" that he and Hall continue to perform together from time to time.
"It's something that you have to really appreciate, because like you said, it's not easy," Oates told GQ's Al Shipley.
Hall & Oates released their first album "Whole Oates" in 1972. They went on to release eight platinum records and six No. 1 hit songs, including "Rich Girl" and "Maneater," Variety reported. Most recently, they went on tour together in October 2022.
They've also embarked on solo careers, releasing their own records. Additionally, Hall has his musical series, called "Live from Daryl's House," and Oates created the animated superhero show "Jstache."