John Fogerty Celebrates Creedence Clearwater Catalog Reclamation At Hollywood Bowl [Review/Photos]

At 80 years young, John Fogerty has nothing left to prove. And yet, on Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl, the rock ‘n’ roll lifer and renowned voice of Creedence Clearwater Revival delivered a performance that felt like both a victory lap and a renewal. The show was part of his aptly titled Celebration Tour, commemorating not only his milestone birthday but something far more personal: the triumphant reclaiming of his Creedence Clearwater Revival catalog and the return of the Rickenbacker guitar that helped write so many of the songs therein. On this pleasant July night, Fogerty brought the full weight of his legacy to the Bowl, swamp-rocking his way through an American songbook that felt as vital as ever.

Famed DJ/VJ Matt Pinfield opened the evening with a reverent intro for John, invoking the holy trinity of Bayou Country, Green River, and Cosmo’s Factory. He was followed by video featuring Fogerty himself setting the scene: In 2023, after decades of legal battles, he finally purchased back the publishing rights to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music. Thanks to his wife Julie’s tireless efforts, the rock ‘n’ roll saga had come full circle. Fogerty marked the occasion by re-recording Creedence’s greatest hits with his sons at Apogee Studios for an album called Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, which is due out in August.

Then the music took over. Fogerty kicked things off with “Bad Moon Rising”, which included a lyrical wink at the crowd as the singer himself nodded to the infamous mondegreen, “There’s a bathroom on the right.” “Up Around the Bend” and “Green River” followed, the latter drenched in visuals of a rippling green river as blue and green stripes projected around the Bowl’s shell stage. On the classic “Born on the Bayou”, he showcased his still-potent guitar chops, all grit and groove.

John took a bit of a breather to recount the tale of his legendary 1969 Rickenbacker. He detailed how he purchased it after scoring his first hit song with Creedence, “Suzie Q”, and modified the guitar to mimic the tones of Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton. Years later, he gifted it away after a breakup and a run of bad luck. Just a couple years ago, Julie found the guitar and returned it to him on Christmas morning. Fogerty grinned, “After 44 years, I got my baby back.”

With that, he launched into “Who’ll Stop the Rain?” inspired by his Woodstock experience. From there, the hits kept flowing like the mighty Mississippi. “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” came with a searing solo, “Rock and Roll Girls” begat a bittersweet boogie, and “Effigy” was nothing short of thunderous. Fogerty strapped on a harmonica for “Run Through the Jungle”, then let the bells of Lodi chime behind him on, well, “Lodi.”

“Joy of My Life” was a heartfelt highlight, dedicated to Julie as the couple celebrated 34 years of marriage. With sons Shane and Tyler in the band, and daughter Kelsy joining for a jam on “Keep On Chooglin'”, the night became a full-on family affair. Even the family dog, Creedence, got a shoutout.

John dipped into his pre-CCR past with “Fight Fire”, a Golliwogs nugget led by his son Tyler, then soared into outer space with “It Came Out of the Sky”.

“Hey Tonight” shimmered with city lights, while “Long as I Can See the Light” led to the crowd illuminating the Hollywood Hills with phone flashlights as a sax-guitar duel broke out.

The home stretch was a barnburner. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” rallied the crowd, “Down on the Corner” got them dancing, and “Centerfield” had Fogerty swinging a baseball bat-shaped guitar like he was back in little league. “The Old Man Down the Road” led to a father-son guitar duel, and “Fortunate Son” hit like a thunderclap, complete with sparklers, confetti, and military footage.

Before the encore, Fogerty raised a glass—literally—to his wife, his kids, and his fans. He even saved a sip for the many detractors who’d stood between him and his legendary songbook for so many years. “I outlived all those sons of bitches,” he said with a grin.

With that, John toasted the audience and charged into “Travelin’ Band” and “Proud Mary”, the latter closing the show with a communal howl that rolled on through the Bowl and out into the hills.

Fogerty’s Celebration Tour rolls on through the summer with stops in Hammond, Indiana (July 16th), Battle Creek, Michigan (July 17th), Doswell, Virginia (August 1st), and Selbyville, Delaware (August 2nd). If you’ve got a ticket, hold onto it tight. You’re about to witness a living legend, reclaimed and reborn, playing the songs that shaped America.

On his own terms, at long last.

Find the setlist and a selection of crowd-shot videos from John Fogerty at Hollywood Bowl below. Scroll down to view a gallery of photos from the night by Tim Norris, courtesy of the LA Philharmonic. Find ticket to upcoming John Fogerty tour dates here.

Setlist: John Fogerty | Hollywood Bowl | Los Angeles, CA | 7/6/25
Set: Bad Moon Rising, Up Around the Bend, Green River, Born on the Bayou, Who’ll Stop the Rain, Looking Out My Backdoor, Rock and Roll Girls, Effigy, Run Thru the Jungle, Lodi, Joy of My Life, Mystic Highway, Fight Fire, It Came Out of the Sky, Hey Tonight, Long As I can See the Light, Keep on Chooglin, Have you Ever Seen the Rain, Down on the Corner, Centerfield, Old Man Down Road, Fortunate Son
Encore: Traveling Band, Proud Mary

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John Fogerty – “Bad Moon Rising” – 7/6/25

[Video: Jerry Bell]