Stu Cook, bassist and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, talks about the band’s early years, their rise and the chemistry that fuelled their success. He speaks frankly about working with John Fogerty, including his reaction to Fogerty’s recent re-recordings of Creedence material, and reflects on the tensions that led to the band’s split. Stu also introduces the long-lost Jackdawg recordings, made with John McFee and Keith Knudsen and now finally being released after more than three decades.
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Best moment is when you ask Stu Cook: „Was he (John Fogerty) trying to teach you a lesson?“
What happened to CCR is what happens to nearly 90% of all bands existing – even in the amateur scene. A „hit-writing-talent“ is a gift only few people have. And when a band has such a rare person in the ranks, the others very often do not „celebrate“ that special case of luck. Instead they put that talent down to make themselves look and feel more important.
To this day Cook downplays the importance of John Fogerty. Even when he wrote „two hits“ on one single, it was wrong. When he gave the other members full artistic freedom (they obviously had no talent to use it…) it was also his fault! When after all those legal problems Fogerty’s solo-success was not as huge as before, it is proof for him, that Fogerty was „nothing“ without „them“.
But – neither Tom Fogerty nor Cook and Clifford ever wrote any hit-song in their whole life! Instead Cook and Clifford later earned their money from touring with John Fogerty’s songs!
As I mentioned before, this kind of internal jealousy happens in so many bands, especially when there is also a huge pay-difference. I’m convinced, John Fogerty was no „saint“ at all. And I don’t have to take sides. It is their life. But from the outside is just sad to hear, that Cook has never found a healthy distance from where he can evaluate, what went wrong and what they ALL – him included – could and should have done better. This interview makes clear, why there will never be a moment, when the remaining three CCR members can sit together and enjoy the greatness of the music they have created.
I wish there was a way they could get together and at least talk to each other again 😔. Stu sounds like a great guy.