Joe Rogan Experience #2485 - John Fogerty

John Fogerty was famously sued by his former label, Fantasy Records, and its owner, Saul Zaentz, for self-plagiarism. After leaving Creedence Clearwater Revival and Fantasy, Fogerty released a new song, 'The Old Man Down the Road,' which Zaentz claimed sounded too much like his earlier CCR work. Fogerty won the lawsuit, establishing a critical precedent for artists' ownership of their unique style.

Fogerty states, 'I got sued for sounding like myself.' He explains the bass player from Creedence, Stu Cook, instigated the lawsuit, telling Zaentz that Fogerty was 'ripping off Credence.' The lawsuit sought $144 million and caused years of anguish, but Fogerty prevailed at trial.

Creedence Clearwater Revival lost their entire life savings, approximately $8.1 million, in an offshore tax plan orchestrated by their record company. The bank, Castle Bank in the Bahamas, disappeared, and the money vanished. Joe Rogan reveals during the interview that the bank was reportedly used by the CIA to funnel money for covert military operations.

Fogerty details how Fantasy Records ushered the band into an offshore tax plan with Castle Bank, promising lower taxes. The bank disappeared, and their money with it. Rogan interjects, 'The bank was being used by the CIA to funnel money for covert military operations.' Fogerty confirms he 'didn't know that part' at the time but suspected 'all that stuff was kind of happening.'

The iconic anti-war anthem 'Fortunate Son' was written in a mere 20 minutes, fueled by Fogerty's personal anger and observations of class inequality during the Vietnam War draft. He had already developed the instrumental track with the band, initially intending a political song titled 'Favorite Son,' but the lyrics flowed rapidly from his frustration with privileged individuals avoiding military service.

Fogerty explains he was drafted and served in the Army reserves, understanding the military mindset. He witnessed senators using their 'political clout' to keep their sons out of the draft or secure 'cushy jobs.' This 'angst and anger' led him to write the song. He recounts taking a yellow tablet into his bedroom, and 'literally walked in and 20 minutes later walked out with the whole song.'

Fogerty's classic song 'Proud Mary' was written in approximately one hour, immediately after he received his honorable discharge from the Army. This moment of profound relief and freedom triggered a powerful creative surge, leading to a song he instantly recognized as a significant evolution in his songwriting.

Fogerty describes opening his 'honorable discharge' papers, feeling 'overjoyed.' He 'turned a little cartwheel on the lawn' and then 'ran in the house and picked up my guitar and started playing these chords.' He heard the chorus, 'Rolling, rolling on the river,' and looked in his songbook to find 'Proud Mary,' realizing it was about a riverboat. He finished the song in 'about an hour' and knew it was 'the classic,' 'way better than anything I'd ever done before.'

Creedence Clearwater Revival's eventual breakup was precipitated by the other band members' demands for equal songwriting and singing credits, despite their lack of prior experience. Fogerty, who had written all previous hits, reluctantly agreed to a 'democracy' for the seventh album, 'Mardi Gras,' which was critically panned and ultimately led to the band's demise.

Fogerty states he 'wrote all the songs from Credence until the last album, the seventh album.' The band members 'demanded that we get to write the songs and sing the songs.' He had 'been resisting that because I just I thought it was going to really I literally thought it would be career suicide.' He notes two band members had 'never written a song in their life.' The album 'Mardi Gras' was called 'the worst album ever made by a major group' by Rolling Stone, a sentiment Fogerty agreed with.