NEED TO KNOW
With his perspective honed by time and experience, Daryl Hall is quick to point out what it takes to stay on top of one’s game for decades on end.
Over the years, the founding member of Hall & Oates, 87, has amassed five Grammy nominations, 24 BMI Pop Awards, 14 BMI Million-Air awards and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. His perspective on keeping things fresh: to “reinvent yourself constantly.”
“You have to refresh yourself and find new ways to keep it interesting and seek out things in a million different ways,” the icon tells PEOPLE.
He touts that observing “all those things” and consciously making them “part of your arsenal” of “creative energy” is integral to that reinvention.
Scott Legato/Getty
While Hall adds that being “strong” and “brave,” as well as maintaining a “don’t-listen-to-people” mentality is key for success in his industry, he notes that his certain brand of resilience often requires one to “be hard-ass about it all.”
“You know, you have to be very, very focused and know what the long game is — and not be distracted,” he continues.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ultimately, though, Hall isn’t one to put much weight on the concept of leaving behind a legacy, candidly saying, “I have to tell you, [legacy] doesn’t mean a whole lot because once you’re gone, you’re gone. John Lennon said that, and I agree with him.”
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Adds Hall, “I just wanna be known to have been the carrier of a certain kind of vibration, you know, the attitude and point of view.” And to him, if fans can simply take away that “this guy wrote good songs,” that’s the ultimate tell of success.
Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty
That perspective goes hand-in-hand with Hall’s take on wellness, on which he cites “the old cliché, health is everything … If you feel good and you are good and your health is good, then you’re capable of doing a lot of things. If it goes the other way, then it limits your abilities.”
Hall’s musical prowess and proven ability to keep himself and his music relevant across generations is in full effect on his 2024 solo project, D, which he is currently touring around North America with support from Glenn Tilbrook, whom he lauds as a “creative powerhouse.”
The singer considers D a “continuation” of the musical lineage he has put forth over half a dozen solo albums, with collaboration on this particular effort coming by way of his longtime friend and Eurythmics member Dave Stewart.
