HALL & OATESBACK TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE WITH AN ARENA TOUR,
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES MADE SELLING 40 MILLION ALBUMS LOOK AND
SOUND EFFORTLESS. SO WHY ARE THEY REFUSING TO MAKE A NEW RECORD?
AND HOW CLOSE DID THEY COME TO THINKING THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE
WORKED TOGETHER AT ALL? THE SELF-PROCLAIMED JACKASSES TELL ALL...
JOHN EARLSB
efore Daryl Hall and John Oates go on
stage, they spend an hour together with
their backing band, telling stories from
their golden years. It relaxes everyone,
loosening them up so their playing isn’t stiff in front
of 10,000 people. It also gives Daryl and John an
excuse to hang out.
“A lot of times stories just fall out, that the other
one of us has totally forgotten,” laughs Daryl. “John
will tell a tale and I’ll go, ‘Oh yeah, that happened!
Wow! That reminds me of when we were in Chicago
in 1983, when...’ And our band’s either howling
with laughter or totally nonplussed, not having a clue
what we’re on about. And when we’re howling, we
go on stage.” John explains: “It’s a family reunion, in
essence.” Would they consider sharing these stories,
maybe do An Audience With Daryl Hall & John Oatesevent? “Oh no,” says John, aghast. “Our stories are
much too rude to share with the general public.”
If that gives the impression Daryl Hall & John Oates
took advantage of every excess the 1980s had to
offer, it ignores the steely determination that the pair
share. You don’t get to create timeless classics like
I Can’t Go For That, Maneater and Private Eyes if
you’re swimming in hookers and coke. “Our strong
work ethic is something that unites us,” notes Daryl.
“We’re very dedicated to our craft and our creativity.
Drugs never really interested me. I like a whisky, but
I know when it’s time to stop.” John agrees, saying:
“Daryl and I always prioritised music over getting
stoned and getting wrecked. Sensationalism isn’t part
of what we’re about.” So you weren’t falling out of
Studio 54 in New York at 5am? “Oh, we did that,
too. It just never got in the way of the music.”W E ’ R E
CONFIDENT
P E O P L E. W E
UNDERSTAND
THE TALENT
A T O U R
DISPOSAL.