In a classic rock feud that makes the three-way battle between Courtney Love, Billy Corgan, and Marilyn Manson look like a bunch of goofy children calling each other Charlie Brown, the former members of Creedence Clearwater Revival—who now tour under the name Creedence Clearwater Revisited—are suing CCR frontman John Fogerty. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the disagreement comes from a 1996 lawsuit in which Fogerty took the former CCR members to court over their use of the “Revisited” name.
Both parties eventually settled, but now those same former CCR members are turning around and suing Fogerty for disparaging their use of the “Revisited” name, referring to it as “sort of a sacrilege.” The band is upset about this because they say it infringes on the terms of their settlement that allowed them to tour as Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Plus, Fogerty himself has been promoting his own tours by saying he “performs the albums of Creedence Clearwater Revival.” The band’s argument is that, with Fogerty publicly denouncing the fact that they’re performing their old songs while he also performs their old songs, it could get confusing for people who just want to go to a state fair, get drunk, and hear somebody—anybody—sing “Proud Mary” or whatever.
That won’t stop Fogerty, though. In a statement that he released today, he talks about being “surprised to learn” that his old bandmates are suing him, but also he doesn’t really care. “No lawyers, lawsuits, or angry ex-band members will stop me ever again from singing my songs,” he said. “I am going to continue to tour and play all my songs every single night I am out on the road.” Finally, he concluded with “Rockin’ all over the world!” which does put a nice button on all of this. Presumably, the other members of CCR will now give up.