More than fifty years after Creedence Clearwater Revival's split, John Fogerty has acquired control of the band's publishing rights.
The CCR founding member, now 77, has gained a majority interest in the global publishing rights to the band's catalogue for an undisclosed amount, as reported by Billboard. The acquisition includes hits like "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son," "Born on the Bayou" and more.
Originally a garage rock outfit called the Golliwogs, the band became CCR after Saul Zaentz bought Fantasy Records and signed them. Following the rock icons' breakup in 1972 — which Fogerty blames in part on the allegedly harsh contract — Zaents claimed Fogerty owed Fantasy a slew of solo records. After a strenuous legal battle, Fogerty signed away his rights to the catalogue in 1980 to get out of the deal.
Concord Records bought out Fantasy Records in 2004, and reinstated Fogerty's royalties at a higher pay rate. Zaentz died 10 years later in 2014. While Concord still owns Creedence Clearwater Revival's masters, Fogerty now has the majority share in the song's copyrights.
"I'm the dad [of these songs]. I created them. They never should have been taken away in the first place," said Fogerty [via Billboard]. "And that hijacking left such a massive hole in me … The happiest way to look at it is, yeah, it isn't everything. It's not a 100 percent win for me, but it's sure better than it was. I'm really kind of still in shock. I haven't allowed my brain to really, actually, start feeling it yet."
The re-acquisition of his rights to his songs reportedly has Fogerty in high spirits. "I'm ready to feel really good about music," he said.
The CCR founding member, now 77, has gained a majority interest in the global publishing rights to the band's catalogue for an undisclosed amount, as reported by Billboard. The acquisition includes hits like "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son," "Born on the Bayou" and more.
Originally a garage rock outfit called the Golliwogs, the band became CCR after Saul Zaentz bought Fantasy Records and signed them. Following the rock icons' breakup in 1972 — which Fogerty blames in part on the allegedly harsh contract — Zaents claimed Fogerty owed Fantasy a slew of solo records. After a strenuous legal battle, Fogerty signed away his rights to the catalogue in 1980 to get out of the deal.
Concord Records bought out Fantasy Records in 2004, and reinstated Fogerty's royalties at a higher pay rate. Zaentz died 10 years later in 2014. While Concord still owns Creedence Clearwater Revival's masters, Fogerty now has the majority share in the song's copyrights.
"I'm the dad [of these songs]. I created them. They never should have been taken away in the first place," said Fogerty [via Billboard]. "And that hijacking left such a massive hole in me … The happiest way to look at it is, yeah, it isn't everything. It's not a 100 percent win for me, but it's sure better than it was. I'm really kind of still in shock. I haven't allowed my brain to really, actually, start feeling it yet."
The re-acquisition of his rights to his songs reportedly has Fogerty in high spirits. "I'm ready to feel really good about music," he said.
