Restraining order filed by Daryl Hall against John Oates is over which hits he wants his ex-partner to sing solo

A restraining order filed by Daryl Hall against John Oates is over which songs his former bandmate is allowed to sing solo, a source has claimed.

Hall, 77, was granted the restriction against Oates, 75, after filing a lawsuit against him over a contract and debt dispute.

Details on the sealed lawsuit are slim, but it has been classified as a 'contract/debt matter'.

Now it has emerged that the two are in arbitration over which of the duo's hits Oates can sing solo, TMZ reports. 

The restraining order was granted on November 17, the day after it was requested.

Hall and his trust, The Daryl Hall Revocable Trust, is suing Oates, as well as his individual trust, The John W. Oates TISA Trust and its co-trustees, in the Nashville Chancery Court on November 16, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

TMZ quoted sources who speculated that the lawsuit could be over the division of royalties for the duo's songs.

Oates had a string of gigs scheduled at the start of the month, but the dates on November 9 and 10 were inexplicably postponed, just days before Hall filed his lawsuit.

Established in Philadelphia in 1970, Hall & Oates are the most commercially successful duo in the history of recorded music, outselling Simon and Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers.

During their peak years, spanning from 1974 to 1991, the duo achieved an impressive feat with 29 Top 40 hits.

Their timeless jams include 'I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)', 'Maneater, 'Rich Girl,' 'Kiss On My List,' 'Out Of Touch' and 'Private Eyes'.

They were also inducted into both the Songwriters and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

But their success has belied a fractious relationship, with the duo breaking up and reforming several times over the years.

On Bill Maher's Club Random podcast last year, Hall slated Oates saying: 'You think John Oates is my partner? He’s my business partner. He’s not my creative partner.

'John and I are brothers, but we are not creative brothers. We are business partners. We made records called Hall & Oates together, but we’ve always been very separate, and that’s a really important thing for me.' 

In a different interview with the LA Times he indicated the duo had no plans to record any music together. 

However he revealed they had collaborated on some material prior to the pandemic. 

The band has also experienced financial woes due to accounting irregularities which came to light in 1987 and which left them virtually broke despite their massive success.

Oates was even forced to sell his four homes, plane and classic-car collection.

They sued their own publisher in 2008 and in 2015, sued a granola company for selling 'Haulin’ Oats'.