John Fogerty, the frontman of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), has been candid about the factors leading to the band’s breakup in 1972. In a recent interview with Dan Rather, he discussed the internal tensions that contributed to the dissolution of CCR. One significant issue was the band’s contract with Fantasy Records, which he felt was unfair and exploitative. Fogerty expressed his frustration with the label’s owner, Saul Zaentz, describing their relationship as “awful” and “personal,” particularly after Zaentz acquired the rights to his songs before the band’s success. This situation led to years of legal battles and a sense of betrayal on Fogerty’s part.
Additionally, Fogerty revealed that his bandmates, Doug Clifford and Stu Cook, were resistant to his decision to have each member contribute equally to the band’s final album, Mardi Gras. He recalled that when he proposed this idea, they were initially hesitant and only agreed after he threatened to quit. This move, along with his refusal to sing on their songs, created further strain within the group.