Entertainment
“John’s Version”: John Fogerty on re-recording Creedence Clearwater Revival hits
“It was life and death,” said musician John Fogerty. “I used to tell myself that phrase: ‘This is life and death.’ You’re against the whole world.”
He felt that as a young man: “Yes, oh yes. I mean, there’s a million records out there. It’s me against everybody that’s every recorded and ever will record. You’ve got to do a great job. It was either be great, or go home!”
You know how it turned out for Fogerty. “Great” is something of an understatement. That voice … that guitar … and those songs, so many of which became hits that are now classics. But Fogerty, who recently turned 80, says every time he steps up to the mic, he still has something to prove – and still feel a little nerve. “Oh yeah, yeah, every time!” he laughed. “But I think the nerves is what gives you the edge.
I asked, “How do you do that? What’s the magic there?”
“I wish I had a really great, contrived answer for you, but I don’t!” he laughed.
The answer seems quite simple when you watch Fogerty rehearse. There is love of craft, and love of family. (His sons, Shane and Tyler Fogerty, help lead his touring band.)
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The group that put Fogerty on the charts was Creedence Clearwater Revival, which got its start in the late 1950s. Though a native of Northern California, Fogerty soaked up the rhythms of the South, giving birth to his so-called “swamp rock” sound, which he honed in the mid-’60s.
He recalled: “I received my honorable discharge from the Army. And the first line I wrote was, ‘Left a good job in the city, workin’ for the man every night and day.’ Well, of course that was the Army. I mean, it had just happened. But as I begin to strum, I started singing this phrase: ‘Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.’ And at that point I’m, Well, what is this song? What is this? And I went to this songbook that I had just started keeping, and on the very first page, the very first entry, I had written the words ‘Proud Mary.’
“And I actually understood right then that I’d written a classic song, a really great, American song,” he said. “And a few moments later, ‘Oh my God. What if I never get to do this again? What if this is the only one that ever happens, and I’m a one-hit wonder?'”
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Turns out, Fogerty was anything but that. Yet, after the 1972 breakup of Creedence, his solo career became mired in legal battles. He was stunned to discover he no longer had control over the use of the songs he wrote – and a limited share of the profits.
Fogerty has looked on as others have endured similar challenges, and pain. The most famous current example: Taylor Swift, who earlier this year purchased the rights to her compositions, and won back control of her music.
I asked, “If you could pull her aside, John, and give her a piece of advice about how to get over the pain of a fight over your own music, what would you tell her?”
“Well, I don’t think you get over that kind of fight,” he replied. “What happened to me is, I stopped touring, and I stopped singing my own songs. I don’t recommend that move to anybody. You become invisible. You’re just forgotten about. It’s like you died.”
I asked Julie, his wife of 34 years, if she ever doubted that he would be able to pull himself out of that anger. “I think it was more sadness than anger,” she said. “And all he ever wanted to do in life was make music. That was his love. That was his best friend. And having that taken away and turned so bad was really hard for me to understand.”
Fogerty gives Julie credit for turning his life around. And she encouraged him not only to buy back the rights to his Creedence catalog, but to re-record those songs with his sons. The result: a new album, “Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version).”
Julie said, “Having those songs and being able to put his fist in the air and go, ‘I own those songs,’ I couldn’t think of a better gift than having him record these with friends and family.”
You can stream John Fogerty’s album “Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version)” by clicking on the embed below (Free Spotify registration required to hear the tracks in full):
Since they were children, sons Shane and Tyler learned guitar from their father. The new album is a family affair, but it’s also serious business. “I have the feeling that somehow Julie knew, she knew that at some point, the life-and-death John would kick in and I would have to roll up my sleeves,” Fogerty said. “‘Cause that’s what happened. And literally, this was kind of when the record was done, I think she told me, she said she could see me going back in time. With each one of these tracks, especially when I was doing the lead vocal, I had to remember what I felt like when I sang it the first time.”
And what a time it has been. For John Fogerty, the highs and lows have landed him here: at peace with it all, and lucky enough to have his songs still playing.
I asked, “What’s it like for you to hear your music everywhere, even now?”
“I don’t know the exact right words; I can almost not believe it actually happened, or that that was me,” he said. “It’s a prideful thing. I think it makes you feel really happy that you are able to tune into the radio station that God delivers, you know, and receive a song like ‘Proud Mary,’ and write it down, and even take credit for it, right? And then have it go around the world like that? It’s kind of too much to really be able to grab hold of.”
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Watch an extended interview with John Fogerty, and a performance of “Proud Mary”:
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Story produced by Ed Forgotson. Editor: Jason Schmidt.
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Taylor Swift has opened up about her close bond with Dakota Johnson, describing the actress as an “endlessly curious” and “empathetic” friend who stands out for her refreshing honesty.
Writing a heartfelt essay for Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026, the 36-year-old singer-songwriter vouched for Johnson’s “realness” in an industry often defined by carefully managed media responses.
Swift praised the bestie for her unique ability to answer questions with such “frank candour” that it leaves people wondering if she is simply incapable of lying.
While the two stars have largely kept their relationship away from the public eye, they have been part of the same social circle since 2016, often spotted enjoying dinner in the company of friends like Zoë Kravitz, Cara Delevingne, and Suki Waterhouse.
This long-standing connection has given Swift a front-row seat to Johnson’s personality, which she describes as being deeply inquisitive about the lives of others.
According to Swift, the actress is constantly exploring the “intricate relationship complexities” of the human experience, a trait that fuels her work both in front of and behind the camera.
Beyond their personal friendship, Swift highlighted Johnson’s professional bravery, specifically noting her willingness to take “newer and bolder risks” by founding her own production company, TeaTime Pictures.
The Grammy-winning artist noted that this drive to challenge herself is a core part of who the actress is.
Swift seems to admire the way Johnson balances being a captivating presence on screen with an inquisitive nature behind the scenes, suggesting that this combination is what makes her storytelling feel so authentic.
Ultimately, Swift believes that Johnson’s commitment to the truth is what defines her legacy in Hollywood.
She concluded her tribute by noting that her friend’s “unfailing truthfulness” helps shape her work into art that feels “as real and timeless as she is.”
By bridging the gap between her public persona and her private self, Johnson has clearly made a lasting impression on Swift, who views her as a rare example of someone whose evolving career is a direct reflection of her genuine, inquisitive character.
- Pakistan reaffirms “shoulder to shoulder” support for Saudi Arabia.
- PM, MBS discuss regional situation during nearly two-hour meeting.
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia review bilateral ties and strategic cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his sincere appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s consistent support for Pakistan’s economic stability during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister called on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is also the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah this evening. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting.
According to the PMO, the two leaders held detailed discussions during a warm and cordial meeting that lasted almost two hours, focusing on the evolving regional situation as well as bilateral relations.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the wake of recent regional escalation, saying that “the people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with our Saudi brethren.” He also conveyed deep condolences over the loss of precious lives.
He appreciated what he described as the Kingdom’s “exemplary patience and restraint,” adding that the Crown Prince’s leadership during the current crisis “has been a source of strength for all peace-loving people in the Kingdom and beyond.”
The Prime Minister also shared recent developments related to Pakistan’s peace efforts, including those that led to the US–Iran ceasefire and the recently held round of historic talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad. He noted that “Pakistan and the Kingdom enjoy a unique relationship as strategic defence partners under the Pakistan–Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.”
He further expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s continued support of Pakistan’s economic stability, describing it as “deeply appreciated.”
Both leaders also exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to continued close cooperation.
Demi Moore is continuing her remarkable career resurgence, signing on for the new culinary thriller Tyrant alongside Charlize Theron and Julia Garner.
Variety broke the news exclusively, reporting that Moore has accepted a key role in the high-stakes film set within New York City’s elite fine dining scene.
David Weil, known for Amazon series Hunters and Invasion, will write and direct, working from a script he developed with Cody Behan.
Production is expected to begin within weeks in Los Angeles, having secured a California Film Tax Credit.
The film will be produced by Theron alongside her Secret Menu partners Beth Kono and A.J. Dix, as well as The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona.
Weil produces with partner Natalie Laine Williams, with Stan Wlodkowski serving as executive producer.
Moore arrives at this project on the back of one of the strongest periods of her career.
Her performance in The Substance, in which she played a fading star who takes a mysterious drug to reclaim her youth, earned her a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award, as well as an Oscar nomination.
She will next be seen in Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters in late May, and currently stars in the top-rated Taylor Sheridan series Landman.
Asian stocks today: Markets inch higher on US-Iran peace hopes; Nikkei jumps 2%, HSI adds 360 points – The Times of India
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