John Fogerty’s music throbs with the heart of Americana. From his days fronting Creedence Clearwater Revival to his successful solo career, Fogerty’s gritty vocals and swampy guitar riffs have consistently captivated audiences.
Hits like “Born on the Bayou” and “Centerfield” are testaments to his enduring musical legacy. But there’s a surprising wrinkle in Fogerty’s story. Despite the iconic status of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music, there was a period when Fogerty himself wouldn’t perform their songs live.
The reason? A bitter legal battle that left him feeling dispossessed of his own creations. Dive deeper to understand the shady contracts and corporate wrangling that fueled this situation.
Fogerty Has Regained Control of CCR Music Just Last Year
For now, Fogerty can finally breathe some sigh of relief. After years of legal wrangling, he has reacquired the rights to play his CCR compositions live. This means fans can expect to hear classics like “Fortunate Son” at his upcoming concerts.
The road to regaining control wasn’t easy. In 2023, Fogerty had to purchase a majority stake in the publishing rights for his CCR songs from Concord Music Group. The exact cost remains undisclosed, but it’s safe to assume it was a hefty sum.
While Fogerty now owns his compositions, Concord still holds the rights to the master recordings for Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music. This means they’ll continue to administer Fogerty’s share of publishing royalties for the foreseeable future, though the exact timeframe remains unclear.
A Long Road to Ownership
The legendary frontman’s fight for ownership of his band’s music began shortly after signing a contract with Fantasy Records in 1968. The label, now owned by Concord, controlled both recording and publishing rights. Seeking to escape the deal, Fogerty was forced to relinquish royalties in exchange for termination.
This decision had a significant impact on Fogerty’s creative output. I found myself in the horrible position of having to give any new music, any new records, to Saul Zaentz,” he stated in a 2019 interview. This ultimately led Fogerty to stop performing CCR songs live.
The battle escalated further when Zaentz sued Fogerty for plagiarism in the 1980s, accusing him of copying his own work! Though Zaentz passed away in 2014, the fight for ownership continued.
“They Never Should Have Been Taken Away”
While Fogerty could have waited for the rights to eventually revert back to him, this wouldn’t have secured ownership outside the US. Taking matters into his own hands, he purchased the publishing rights for the songs he wrote with CCR between 1969 and 1972.
“I created [these songs]…,” Fogerty stated, reflecting on the ordeal. “They never should have been taken away.” He described the experience as a “hijacking” that left a deep mark. “It’s not a 100% win for me,” he conceded, “but it’s better than it was..”
This victory allows Fogerty to perform his iconic CCR songs freely, without the threat of lawsuits or enriching the original record company. After decades of struggle, fans can finally experience these classic hits live, performed by the man who brought them to life.