John Fogerty Loses Song Rights in Poker Game Just Days After Regaining Them

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty lost the music rights to his songs in a high stakes poker game. This was extremely heartbreaking news considering Fogerty just reclaimed the rights to his song catalog after a 50 year legal battle.

John Fogerty, the founding member and songwriter for Creedence Clearwater Revival was riding high earlier this week. Fogerty was elated after news broke that he now owns the global publishing rights to the iconic rock band’s songs. John bought a majority stake in the rights to the band’s catalogue from Concord Records, which has owned the rights since 2004. Fogerty tweeted, “This is something I thought would never be a possibility. After 50 years, I am finally reunited with my songs.” However, as Frank Sinatra sang in “That’s Life”, “You’re riding high in April but shot down in May.” In Fogerty’s case it was more like riding high on Thursday and shot down on Saturday.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Fogerty founded Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1967, alongside his older brother Tom, Doug Clifford and Stu Cook, and was its lead singer, lead guitarist and principal songwriter. The band scored nine top-10 singles and five top-10 albums and even outsold the Beatles in 1969. They disbanded in 1972 after the other dimwits in the band insisted they were to be given equal time to write songs. The dimwits had a cash cow but took their lucky break and broke it in two.

John Fogerty Loses Song Rights in Poker Game Just Days After Regaining Them

For years, the copyrights to Fogerty’s classic songs were the property of Saul Zaentz, the owner of Fantasy Records. Fogerty claims Zaentz stole the rights and the two exchanged lawsuits and insults over the years. Zaentz went so far as to sue Fogerty for sounding like himself. Zaentz used the CCR money to start a film company. He went on to win three Oscars. Some say he was a mentor to a young Harvey Weinstein. You gotta love Hollywood. After Zaentz died, it was rumored that Fogerty peed on his grave.

Las Vegas

Well, the good news reunion between Fogerty and his songs did not last long. John stopped by Zaentz’s grave tone last time to pee on it and dance a jig. Then he went to Las Vegas to celebrate his good fortune. His good fortune did not last long. Fogerty got into a high stakes poker game in Las Vegas with none other than Zaentz’s nephew Claude.

“I was up big” said Fogerty. “I was invincible, I couldn’t lose. Claude Zaentz was almost wiped out. Then Claude suggested he would put up the rights to the Lord of the Rings film franchise against my song rights. I said OK. I had a full house, Aces full of Jacks. As I was preparing to scoop up the pot, Claude throws down his hand, a Royal Flush. I couldn’t believe it. Zaentz beat me again.”