“When Fogerty Comes Calling, Then We’ll Listen”: Cross Canadian Ragweed on Getting Hit With a Cease and Desist by Creedence Clearwater Revisited

When looking at the past of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the American rock band started in California also went by the name Creedence of just CCR. Although many bands go by nicknames or just abbreviations, CCR caused a great deal of confusion for fans of Cross Canadian Ragweed. Also having the abbreviations of CCR, many fans of both bands often debated as to which group was the real CCR. Some claimed Creedence as the band started during the 1960s. But for the drummer for Cross Canadian Ragweed, Randy Ragsdale, he recalled how former Creedence member John Fogerty ended the debate. 

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Appearing on The Watering Hole podcast, Ragsdale discussed Cross Canadian Ragweed finding their way back to the stage after 15 years. With the band’s resurgence starting the debate once again, Ragsdale recalled opening for Fogerty in the past. 

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While opening for Fogerty, Cross Canadian Ragweed eventually returned to the dressing room to relax. That’s when Fogerty decided to introduce himself. “We went down right after we got off stage, we went down in the dressing room and opened a beer, and somebody knocked on the door. And it was me and Grady, and he (John Fogerty) said, ‘Hey, can I come in?’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely.’ He was like, ‘I’ve always wanted to meet the real CCR.’ We laughed.”

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Cross Canadian Ragweed Ignored Cease And Desist Letter

With Fogerty calling Cross Canadian Ragweed the real CCR, it appeared that the debate was officially over. But Cody Canada noted how Creedence tried to send a cease and desist letter to the band. “To add to that story, we had been given a cease and desist by Creedence Clearwater Revisited to quit using CCR. And we were like, man, when Fogerty comes calling, then we’ll listen, but when it’s revisited… I mean piss off, fellas. It’s not happening.”

Not willing to meet their demands, Canada found peace after Fogerty considered them the real CCR. “When he (Fogerty) said that we were like ‘Whew, okay, well we’re good.’” Finally ending the debate, fans can simply enjoy the rich music produced by both groups. And for fans of the real CCR, they made their triumphant return back in January when they took the stage at the Mile 0 Music Festival for the first time in nearly two decades.  

(Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage)