The legal battle between Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty and Fantasy Records boss Saul Zaentz went down in rock history as one of the most controversial. Saul emerged victorious, earning the rights to Creedence’s catalog in the ’80s. John made his comeback with the popular 1985 album, Centerfield, featuring hits like “The Old Man Down The Road.”
Upon listening to “The Old Man Down The Road,” Saul sued John, his songwriter, and his guitarist for sounding like Creedence’s “Run Through the Jungle.” “I was criticized for sounding too much like Creedence, and Zaentz and Fantasy actually sued me for sounding like myself,” John told Guitar Player in 2008.
John Fogerty faced legal battles for sounding too much like Creedence
Thankfully, John won that case against Saul; however, the preceding chaos would continue to haunt him in the ‘80s. “Even though I won that case…what happened to me personally was that every time I’d get into a songwriting groove by playing something I’d just do naturally, a little gremlin would pop up on my shoulder, and, looking very much like a lawyer, would go, ‘No, no, no,” he recalled. “You can’t sound like that or I’m going to sue you.”
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He struggled with staying motivated and confident about this work for fear of another expensive legal battle. “Inevitably, that would piss me off, and whatever inspiration I had would just wither and die,” he added. “It happened to me dozens of times since the ’80s, and it was like an affliction.”
Band feud
John left behind bandmates Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his late brother, Tom, in the early ‘70s due to financial issues. The group’s split was so messy they are regarded as one of the most unreuniteable bands in rock. John and his brother, Tom, also fell out as the latter seemed to support Saul during legal battles. “I have very confused feelings for my brother because there was a time when things were happy,” he said.
John also believed Tom was envious of him because he was more talented. “The best I can say in Tom’s case is he was the older brother therefore, he was jealous even to a greater degree than the other two in Creedence Clearwater Revival,” he noted. They were able to resolve the feud before Tom’s death in 1990, which saddened John greatly. “I was sad that life had been taken from Tom. That sadness was mixed with other emotions. But I’ve forgiven Tom. I’m not angry any more. I love my brother,” he said.