Hall & Oates CONFIRM split after 50 years together as Daryl says 'people change' and they 'couldn't come back' from difficulties following restraining order on bandmate John

Hall & Oates have confirmed they are splitting up after over 50 years together as Daryl announced the breakup of the famous 80s pop band on Friday.

The duo, made up of Daryl Hall, 77, and John Oates, 76, have been embroiled in legal issues in recent times after John sold his half of their jointly-owned company, Whole Oats Enterprises.

The company owns trademarks, personal name, likeness rights, record royalty income, website, and social media assets.

Speaking about John's decision to sell his half without Daryl's consent, he told Variety: 'It hit me by surprise. 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.'

Hall & Oates have confirmed their split after 50 years together as Daryl (R) says 'people change' and they 'couldn't come back' from difficulties following restraining order on bandmate John (L) (pictured 2014)

The duo, made up of Daryl Hall, 77, and John Oates, 76, have been embroiled in legal issues in recent times after John sold his half of their jointly-owned company, Whole Oats Enterprises (pictured 1981)

Daryl confirmed that this is officially the last fans will see of the band as he revealed he hasn't had a creative relationship with John for at least 25 years. 

While the pair, who are best known for their hits Maneater and One On One, continued to perform live shows together they weren't writing songs collaboratively. 

Daryl continued: 'We had an arrangement that I couldn't play my solo songs onstage with Hall & Oates — and now I get to.'

It has been a fraught time for the pair after Daryl was granted a temporary restraining order against John last November.

Tensions between the musicians began when Daryl filed a lawsuit in November over John's alleged plan to sell his share of their joint venture Whole Oats Enterprises LLP (WOE) to a third party, Primary Waves Music, without the other's permission. 

Daryl argued that John's deal would be a violation of a business agreement previously reached by the pair, according to People.

The musicians entered into an agreement in October 2021 over Whole Oats Enterprises LLP (WOE), a limited liability partnership owned and controlled by the musicians, according to the complaint.

Soon after filing his suit Daryl was granted a temporary restraining order to allow time for the legal proceedings to be worked out. 

Speaking about John's decision to sell his half without Daryl's consent, he told Variety : 'It hit me by surprise. 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' (pictured performing in 2017)

Daryl confirmed that this is officially the last fans will see of the band as he revealed he hasn't had a creative relationship with John for at least 25 years (pictured 2003)

He added: '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'

Despite their ongoing legal dispute, last December John reflected fondly on his and Daryl's six decades in the music industry 

Daryl also filed a declaration accusing John of 'the ultimate partnership betrayal' for planning to sell his share of the duo's publishing to Primary Wave Music, while Oates responded that Hall's statements were 'inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate.'    

Declaring he only learned of his partner's intent to sell two days before setting out on tour, court documents indicate that Daryl believes John timed his attempt to sell so that it would distract him and ruin his latest tour. 

Despite their ongoing legal dispute, last December John reflected fondly on his and Daryl's six decades in the music industry.

In a new interview with the Behind The Velvet Rope With David Yontef podcast, John admitted that their independent projects will never trump what they've created as a duo.

'You can't ignore the fact that the Hall & Oates catalogue 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,' he explained.

'I'm really proud of what Daryl and I created together. I think we made music that will stand the test of time.'

He added, 'I don't like to live in the past,' before using an analogy to compare the current state of the pair's partnership to a long day spent on one's feet.

'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,' the guitarist and vocalist shared.