John Oates speaks out following Hall & Oates partner Daryl Hall's lawsuit against him
John Oates is keeping his chin up amid his legal battle with Hall & Oates bandmate Daryl Hall.
Fresh off an appearance on “The Masked Singer,” Oates opened up to People magazine about his life after Hall filed a complaint and temporary restraining order against him last month, stemming from a contested joint venture between the musicians.
“I am just trying to lead my best life,” Oates told the magazine in an interview published Thursday. “I want to do good things. I want to give back; it's important to me. I want to enjoy whatever's left in my creative future.”
Hall's lawsuit, filed Nov. 16, centers on Oates' attempt to sell off his share of their joint venture, Whole Oats Enterprises LLP, which would violate the terms of a business agreement the Hall & Oates duo had forged, The Associated Press reported at the time. The move quickly prompted a judge to temporarily block the sale while legal proceedings and a previously initiated arbitration continue.
In the suit, Hall also named Oates' longtime wife Aimee Oates and Richard Flynn, in their capacities as co-trustees of The John W. Oates TISA Trust. The restraining order was issued Nov. 17, and summonses were issued to the couple at a Nashville home on Nov. 20.
Oates and others involved in his trust were prohibited from closing the sale of their share of Whole Oats to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC until an arbitrator in a separately filed case weighs in on the deal, or until the judge’s order expires, typically within 15 days unless a judge extends the deadline.
The joint venture in question includes Hall & Oates trademarks, personal name and likeness rights, record royalty income and website and social media assets, according to a declaration filed by Hall two weeks after his lawsuit against Oates.
In the Nov. 29 declaration, Hall also lamented the deterioration of his relationship with and trust in his musical partner of more than a half-century.
"While falsely contending over the last several months that the Oates Trust wanted to maintain ownership in WOE, John Oates and the Co-Trustees engaged in the ultimate partnership betrayal," Hall said. "They surreptitiously sought to sell half of the WOE assets without obtaining my written approval."
Derek Crownover, an attorney representing Oates, has previously said the musician's "team will work toward a resolution that makes sense for all involved, but for now we plan to let the facts, law and courts play this one out."
Hall & Oates released their debut album, "Whole Oats," in 1972. Six of their singles — including "Out of Touch" and "Maneater" — have topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2014, the duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Kiss, Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, Linda Ronstadt and Cat Stevens.
John Oates: Details of Daryl Hall's lawsuit, temporary restraining order against Hall & Oates bandmate uncovered
Daryl Hall accuses John Oates of 'ultimate partnership betrayal' in plan to sell stake in business
Contributing: Erin Jensen, USA TODAY; Jonathan Mattise, The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Oates on life after Hall & Oates partner Daryl Hall filed lawsuit
