After more than five decades of legal struggles, John Fogerty, founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), has reclaimed the rights to the songs that defined his career. Now 80, Fogerty has released Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version)—an album featuring re-recordings of CCR’s most iconic tracks, including “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Fortunate Son.”
The journey back to his music has been long and painful. When CCR disbanded in 1972, Fogerty lost control over the band’s publishing and distribution rights, which were held by Fantasy Records under a contract he signed in his teens. Speaking with The Guardian, he described how this separation from his work impacted his mental health, saying he once found simple tasks like buying socks overwhelming. “I never really thought I had a nervous breakdown, but I was not well,” he admitted.
Despite releasing several solo albums during that period, Fogerty said the shadow of his legal battles often consumed him. “I tried to be nice. I tried to be humble. But there were times when I would explode,” he told The Guardian.
In 2023, Fogerty finally purchased a majority stake in the CCR catalog from Concord Records, granting him copyright over 65 songs. The emotional weight of reclaiming his music was transformative. He told CBS's Robert Costa that re-recording the tracks took him back in time. “I had to remember what I felt like when I sang it the first time,” he said. “It was life and death.”
With the support of his wife Julie and sons Shane and Tyler—who play in his band—Fogerty found new inspiration. Julie encouraged him not only to seek therapy but also to reclaim and re-record the music. “I think it was more sadness than anger,” she said of his past. “And all he ever wanted to do in life was make music.”
Reflecting on the enduring relevance of his work, Fogerty noted how “Fortunate Son” remains politically charged. “I wrote that during Nixon’s time,” he said. “Donald Trump is almost a direct descendant.”
Now, with Legacy, Fogerty celebrates both a personal and artistic victory—reunited with the music that shaped American rock history.
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