John Fogerty

Date: 2026-04-17 | Duration: 2h 40m

Episode Overview

John Fogerty recounts his tumultuous journey through the music industry, revealing how he narrowly avoided the Vietnam draft by losing weight and using marijuana before his physical. The conversation centers on his exploitation by Fantasy Records and producer Saul Zaentz, who used offshore tax schemes—possibly CIA-connected through Castle Bank—to siphon millions from Creedence Clearwater Revival's earnings. Fogerty describes the ultimate absurdity: being sued for plagiarizing his own sound on "The Old Man Down the Road," which Zaentz claimed infringed on the earlier CCR song "Run Through the Jungle." The betrayal extended to his bandmates demanding songwriting credits on what became the poorly-received *Mardi Gras* album, leading to the group's dissolution. Beyond the legal battles, Fogerty explores the mystical nature of creativity and songwriting. He describes how songs like "Fortunate Son" arrived fully formed in twenty minutes, and traces his musical awakening to hearing Elvis's "My Baby Left Me" and discovering Stephen Foster through his mother. After years of depression following CCR's breakup, meeting his wife Julie restored his joy and creative spirit. Now touring with his children in his band, Fogerty reflects on ego dynamics that destroy groups, contrasting his experience with the Rolling Stones' ability to transcend internal conflicts, and expresses lingering regret over refusing to appear in the Woodstock documentary.

About John Fogerty

Rock legend and co-founder of Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty is known for crafting iconic 1960s hits like "Fortunate Son" and "Run Through the Jungle." Beyond his musical achievements, Fogerty's career is defined by his battle against industry exploitation—he was systematically defrauded by his record label and producer through offshore schemes, then bizarrely sued for plagiarizing his own sound. His story uniquely bridges the creative and the litigious, offering rare insight into how corporate greed dismantled one of rock's most influential bands from within.

Key Moments

00:00:40 – Avoiding Vietnam draft through weight loss and marijuana
00:03:32 – Getting screwed by the record business
00:03:48 – Zanz Can't Dance lawsuit and name change
00:04:29 – Sued for sounding like himself
00:09:18 – How evil the music business really is
00:14:24 – Betrayal by band members and bitterness
00:15:46 – Castle Bank offshore tax scheme
00:18:25 – CIA involvement in stealing band's money
00:35:51 – Band renamed 'The Golliwogs' without consent
00:42:02 – Fantasy Records profited from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
00:47:08 – First grade trauma at Catholic school
00:57:33 – Early musical inspiration from parents singing harmonies
01:02:43 – Hearing Elvis's 'My Baby Left Me' changed everything
01:09:11 – Writing first song at age eight: 'Wash Day Blues
01:12:14 – How 'Old Man Down the Road' riff came together
1:14:47 – The mysterious origins of 'Old Man Down the Road'
1:18:42 – Shapeshifting song titles in the book
1:19:08 – Ideas feel like they come from somewhere else
1:22:00 – How 'Fortunate Son' was written
1:23:36 – Fogerty's military service and Vietnam era
1:29:51 – Writing 'Fortunate Son' in 20 minutes
1:34:33 – John Mellencamp's shower songwriting story
1:40:29 – The danger of writing to please others
1:42:55 – Post-Centerfield depression and Eye of the Zombie
1:46:36 – Meeting Julie and finding joy again
2:02:03 – Discovering Johnny Thunder's 'I'm Alive'
2:06:07 – The moment an artist crosses the threshold
2:12:44 – Writing 'Proud Mary' after honorable discharge
2:19:45 – Band demands to write songs for seventh album
2:25:30 – Mardi Gras album criticism and aftermath
2:27:32 – Decision not to be in Woodstock movie
2:28:52 – Regretting the Woodstock decision and missing the opportunity
2:29:25 – Grateful Dead also not in Woodstock film
2:30:47 – Playing with his sons' band versus Creedence
2:31:52 – Not playing Creedence songs on 1986 tour
2:32:21 – Current band with sons Shane, Tyler, and daughter Kelsey
2:33:05 – Dealing with jealousy and personal agendas in bands
2:34:16 – The Rolling Stones as example of rising above conflict
2:35:34 – Ego conflicts when one person writes all the songs
2:35:55 – Mother's gift: introducing him to Stephen Foster
2:37:23 – Learning that real people write songs
2:38:43 – Stephen Foster could have written Proud Mary
2:39:02 – Wrapping up and discussing current tour

Transcript Excerpt

[00:00:01] Joe Rogan Podcast, check it out. The Joe Rogan Experience. Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day. They put your stuff on the floor. It doesn't matter. You can keep it on the table. It's fine. There's water there, too, in this metal cup. [00:00:22] And then there's coffee. Oh, thanks so much. Okay, yeah, you're ready to. I have some notes that I'll probably never look at. You got notes? Me? What's on the notes? Oh, just stuff like what I went through with CCR and all that. [00:00:40] But tell me something. Did you read up on me or anything? I'm a huge fan. I don't have to read up on you. Okay. I read up on you a little bit just to catch up about how you got out of the, well, you did do military service, but you got out by smoking a lot of weed and not eating. I read that. [00:01:26] So I was kind of really skinny by 1967, 68. I mean, like 100, I think it was 129 pounds. Whoa. Yeah. And then I was going to go to the thing. It was the procedio, and I had to meet with the Army doctor, right? And my friends gave me a couple of joints, and I stuck them in. You know, I used to smoke in those cigarettes. [00:01:58] I stuck it in the cigarette and going across the Bay Bridge. I smoked them. I hadn't even thought about it. So if you went, yeah, man, he went on a starvation diet, a protest diet, and then smoked a lot of weed. That's what I heard. That's quite that way. But yeah, okay, but it's essentially some truth. [00:02:39] You know, when the UFC has a lot of walkout songs, you know, when fighters come out and walk out, a lot of guys walk out to your music. I don't even know if you're aware of it. Fortunate Sun is a big one. Yeah. Bad mood rising, that's another big one people walk out to. Great. It's pretty awesome. [00:02:57] Wow. Yeah, I'm not that aware of the UFO. see stuff, but it, you know, everybody, whatever floats your boat. Well, people just love your music. Yeah. So you went through many generations. Like, you got your first record ...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2485?

John Fogerty was the guest on JRE #2485. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2485?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2485 with John Fogerty, topics include Avoiding Vietnam draft through weight loss and marijuana, Getting screwed by the record business, Zanz Can't Dance lawsuit and name change, and Sued for sounding like himself.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #2485?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #2485 with John Fogerty is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.