by John Fogerty recently opened up about his relationship with his former Creedence Clearwater Revival bandmates. He shared his perspective on decades of legal disputes in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
The legendary musician addressed whether he has found peace with the band’s troubled history and ongoing legal battles.
When asked if he was at peace with Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fogerty provided a candid response about the reality of his situation.
“Yeah, I think so. It depends on what you may mean by that. The way I accept it as inevitable…laughing at myself now, I have been sued innumerable times by my former bandmates, let me put it that way,” Fogerty said. “Sometimes it was actually my brother Tom, but after he passed, even his widow joined with Doug [Clifford] and Stu [Cook] and sued me.”
The 80-year-old musician reflected on the irony of the ongoing disputes among the aging band members.
“It’s ironic that 80-year-old people are still suing each other. So if you mean at peace that way, I just accept all those things as kind of inevitable. That’s all. It’s not surprising anymore,” he continued.
Fogerty’s comments reflect decades of unresolved tensions that have defined the band’s legacy long after their commercial peak.
Wikipedia reported that Creedence Clearwater Revival was formed in 1959 in El Cerrito, California. The group initially operated under different names before adopting their famous moniker in 1967. The band consisted of John Fogerty as lead vocalist and primary songwriter, his brother Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar, Stu Cook on bass, and Doug Clifford on drums.
The group’s remarkable run between 1969 and 1971 produced 14 consecutive top-10 singles and multiple chart-topping albums including Green River and Cosmo’s Factory. Britannica noted that their success was built on John Fogerty’s distinctive songwriting and the band’s ability to blend rock, country, and blues influences into a uniquely American sound.
Despite their commercial triumph, tensions over business and artistic control led to their acrimonious breakup in 1972. The disputes intensified following John Fogerty’s refusal to perform with the surviving members at CCR’s 1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Louder Sound documented that John also faced separate legal battles with Fantasy Records owner Saul Zaentz. These conflicts added additional layers to the ongoing disputes that have persisted for decades.
The remaining members formed Creedence Clearwater Revisited from 1995 to 2020. They performed CCR’s catalog without John’s involvement. This prolonged discord underscores Fogerty’s current acceptance of the lawsuits and fractured relationships as inevitable aspects of their shared past. It highlights how creative differences and business disputes can overshadow even the most successful musical partnerships.
