{"id":44093,"date":"2025-08-18T13:07:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/18\/the-day-john-fogerty-couldnt-bring-himself-to-buy-socks\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T13:07:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:07:29","slug":"the-day-john-fogerty-couldnt-bring-himself-to-buy-socks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/18\/the-day-john-fogerty-couldnt-bring-himself-to-buy-socks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Day John Fogerty Couldn\u2019t Bring Himself to Buy Socks"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

John Fogerty<\/a> recalled the moment his mental health was so bad that he couldn\u2019t bring himself to buy socks in a store.<\/p>\n

The Creedence Clearwater Revival <\/a>icon explained that he\u2019d struggled to deal with the pressures of success in his 20s. The band had signed a restrictive, exacting record deal that paid them very little.<\/p>\n

Fogerty also struggled with the perception that he had to push himself to achieve greatness. \u201cThe best way I can describe it is I was imprisoned wrongfully and sent away to the penitentiary for many, many years,\u201d Fogerty told the Guardian<\/em><\/a> in a new interview.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>John Fogerty Didn’t Want His CCR Guitar Back, Wife Bought It Anyway<\/a><\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cFor every song I wrote I threw 10 away. When you heard one of my songs, I wanted there to be no doubt it was a really good song. It sounds grandiose to say it, but I was trying to have that as my career goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

CCR also struggled with interpersonal issues that forced a split <\/a>in 1972. Fogerty never reconnected with bandmate and brother Tom, who died in 1990. Looking back, the songwriter said: \u201cI never really thought I had a nervous breakdown, but I would say I was not well.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot stable, or even-keeled, or normal. It would manifest itself in strange ways: I remember going into a department store to buy some socks, and I was unable to approach the salesperson because it was far too complicated for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI tried to be nice. I tried to be humble, but there were times when I would explode. That could come out if I was near people, or even if I was quite alone. It happened a few times when I was alone in the wilderness, fishing, and I\u2019d just go off into a rage about my gear.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Fogerty Wouldn\u2019t Go Back to His Youth, Even For One Day<\/h3>\n

With the benefit of time, therapy and finding love with his wife Julie, Fogerty said he was in much better shape. Asked if he\u2019d prefer never to have become a successful musician, he replied: \u201cI like to hope that being a history teacher \u2013 if I found my partner and had this wonderful life I have found \u2013 would have made me very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

But he offered a second answer too. \u201cI [recently] had this conversation in my mind: \u2018John, would you trade places and be that 24-year-old who was so confused and unhappy and scratching his head trying to figure out life? \u2026 Or would you be the person you are now at 80?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my answer was \u2013 and it\u2019ll always be \u2013 I want to be the guy I am here, now; even though I\u2019m 80. That poor young man had youth, for sure, but he was so confused about what was going on with his gift.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to live even one day like that. I prefer being really happy, very settled, completely in love with my wife, Julie, having raised great kids. It\u2019s a sense of being that\u2019s irreplaceable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Bands That Reunited Without Their Lead Singer<\/h2>\n
\n

Getting the band back together has become a rock \u2019n\u2019 roll clich\u00e9, yet it remains a difficult task for some.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gallery Credit: Bryan Wawzenek<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n