Music legend John Oates admits fallout with Daryl Hall was 'ruining my life' as he defends his decision to try and sell his half of their music catalog but insists 'I love him like a brother' despite messy legal battle

Music legend John Oates has admitted that he made the decision to try and sell his half of the epic music catalog he shares with Daryl Hall because their fallout was 'kind of ruining' his life.

Oates, 76, is currently embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Hall, 77, who filed a lawsuit in November 2023 after his musical partner attempted to sell his share of the duo's Whole Oats Enterprises to music publisher Primary Wave Music without Hall's permission.

Speaking exclusively to Good Morning America's Michael Strahan, Oates defended his decision to try and part ways with Hall - who filed a restraining order against him in 2023 - and explained: 'When this whole situation got mired in legality and really complex legal wrangles, I got frustrated.'

The father-of-one claimed that Hall had 'always wanted to be his own man' and he was simply trying to 'give him the opportunity to do that', as he continued: 'I said, "If I sell my half, he can do what he wants", it was kind of ruining my life to be honest with you, I wasn't happy.

John Oates has admitted that he made the decision to try and sell his half of the music catalog he shares with Daryl Hall because their fallout was 'kind of ruining' his life

Oates sat down for an exclusive interview with Good Morning America to share his side of the story

The music duo had plenty of hit singles in the 1970s and the 1980s

'I said, "I'll just step aside". People do it all the time, look at all the artists selling their catalogs, it's not that big a deal. Darryl didn't like the idea that I would sell to a certain third party,' he alleged.

When Michael told Oates that Hall had described his decision to sell his half of the catalog as 'a completely clandestine and bad faith move' and 'the ultimate partnership betrayal,' Oates insisted that he really doesn't see it that way.

'We've always looked at ourselves as individuals working together and I felt like I had the right to do that,' he said, before confirming that they haven't made music for the past two decades - they've only performed their hits live together.

Asked if they'd ever fallen out before the legal feud, Oates revealed: 'No, not really. We never really had a lot of disagreements, but then again we never really talked to each other very much.

'For the past 20 years, we'd show up at a show individually, walk on stage, play and then we'd go our separate ways. It really wasn't as tight as people might... would like to imagine in their fantasy imagination of our relationship.'

When asked what he would say to Hall if he could send him a message, Oates responded: 'I love him like a brother.... I love you like a brother, if I'm talking to him directly. But do you know what? Brothers have disagreements. Families grow apart.

'I would say, I wish him the best, I hope that he has everything he wants in life and that he can pursue his dream of being a respected solo artist, which I believe is something that he's always wanted.'

Oates, who had a restraining order taken out against him by Hall, said that he thinks his former musical partner has 'changed a lot' and also confirmed whether or not they will ever perform live again.  

Oates told GMA's Michael Strahan that he thinks Hall has 'changed a lot' in recent years

Hall and Oates, pictured performing in July 2017, haven't actually made new music together for 20 years

The musical pair, pictured here in 1980, first joined forces in Philadelphia in 1970

'Not from my point of view but you need to ask Darryl how he feels about it,' he told GMA's Michael.

Hall and Oates first joined forces in Philadelphia in 1970 and achieved huge success throughout the 70's and 80's with singles such as Rich Girl, Maneater, and You Make My Dreams.

In 2003, the duo were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and in April 2014, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and went on to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2016.

Most recently, the two men were inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Class of 2023.