The tumultuous evolution of Creedence Clearwater Revival: From chart-topping success to internal strife

In 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) experienced a remarkable surge in success, releasing three albums and four singles that collectively generated eight hit tracks, including classics such as “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” and “Bad Moon Rising.” All of these songs were penned by frontman John Fogerty, which inadvertently sowed discord within the band. Fogerty’s bandmates—his brother Tom, drummer Doug Clifford, and bassist Stu Cook—felt sidelined, believing they were denied the opportunity to showcase their own songwriting talents.

As CCR prepared to record their sixth studio album, Pendulum, in November 1970, tensions boiled over. In a surprising turn, Fogerty found himself confronting an ultimatum from the band: they wanted more creative control over the music they recorded. “It was basically an ultimatum,” Fogerty recalled in an interview, adding that he had often resisted similar demands in the past. His conviction was that only he could lead the band to continued success. He expressed a firm belief that without his contributions, the group would likely be forgotten, possibly relegated to local gigs until the band members faced pressures to find “real jobs.”

Despite his initial resistance, the stakes became clear during a critical meeting with his bandmates. Fogerty understood that failing to compromise could lead to the disintegration of the group. “It was clear… the band was going to be no more if I didn’t acquiesce,” he said. Ultimately, he chose to prioritize the band he held dear, despite feeling misunderstood by his fellow musicians regarding the efforts necessary to achieve their level of fame.

As the recording sessions commenced, however, Fogerty found himself in a familiar position; very few new songs had been brought to the studio by the other members. Consequently, he took it upon himself to fill the creative void, writing tracks including “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” The poignant lyrics drew a parallel between the band’s rising fame and the brewing discontent among its members. Fogerty described the song as an exploration of the paradox of success and internal strife: bright skies overshadowed by impending storms.

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Upon its release in January 1971, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100—a relatively modest performance compared to CCR’s previous chart-toppers. Nevertheless, the song has since resonated deeply with modern audiences, accumulating over two billion streams on Spotify, making it CCR’s most popular track of the digital era, surpassing even “Fortunate Son,” which boasts 1.7 billion streams.

Pendulum would mark the last album featuring all four original members. After its release, Tom Fogerty departed from the band, and the brothers remained estranged until Tom’s death in 1990. The remaining members of CCR subsequently disbanded in 1972 following the release of Mardi Gras.

However, time eventually mended some of the rifts for John Fogerty. After a chance encounter with Bob Dylan in 1989 prompted Fogerty to perform “Proud Mary” live, he gradually began to embrace his musical identity once more. In 2016, with the support of his wife, he reclaimed his iconic Fireglo Rickenbacker 325 guitar, which had defined his sound during CCR’s heyday. That same year, he released Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, an album featuring re-recordings of beloved tracks from his past.