Don Felder's Book about The Eagles

[Paul in Colorado]

I can't remember the name, but saw it in a bookstore a few weeks ago. Has anyone read it yet? Any revelations? Is it worth chacking out?

[boris bubbanov]

I dunno, but I guess I'd better check it out.

On the road through Texas the other day, I kept hearing the nice work he did in those songs and was wondering how he got the knife, so to speak.

[cantolina]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I dunno, but I guess I'd better check it out.

On the road through Texas the other day, I kept hearing the nice work he did in those songs and was wondering how he got the knife, so to speak.

A quick search landed me an excellent snippet of the disagreement...

When Felder joined the band in 1974, he says there was an agreement that all members would share profits equally. When the band reunited in '94, all that changed and Henley/Frey got a far bigger slice of the pie, according to the guitarist.

The other second-tier members (like Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit) never complained about the situation. Felder's increasing challenges to the change led to his expulsion (suits and countersuits followed).

[emu!]

The Leadon era was the best Eagles IMO.

[Telemaniac]

If you mean Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles, 1974-2001, I've got it.

It's an OK read, probably about 50% longer than it need be. Most of it is pretty much the expected, not all that much new, and of course he is unsurprisingly a bit biased!

I will admit to liking the Eagles (and not just the Leadon era) and so perhaps enjoyed it more because of that. Not as good as the Hotel California book by Barney Hoskins, though.

[Slow Reflexes]

Originally Posted by cantolina

...second-tier members (like Joe Walsh...)...

Ouch. That hurts my brain.

[Twangmeister]

There was a lengthy thread about this over on The Gear Page. You can do a search: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/

Consensus seems to be that it was a money issue, with Frey and Henley as ersatz CEOs and everyone else a member-for-hire.

[vjf1968]

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

I can't remember the name, but saw it in a bookstore a few weeks ago. Has anyone read it yet? Any revelations? Is it worth chacking out?

I read it and it reads like a "tell all.” It is always difficult to read these types of books because mostly the person in question is usually just talking and someone else is writing it down. I admit Don Felder got a pretty bum deal at the hands of Messer Henley and Frey (especially Frey) and it is not as if any of Felder's claims cannot be proven but he had to recognize the warning signs during his tenure and the recording of “The Long Run.” He should have never again gotten involved in such a toxic environment

[Nighthawk]

Beagles?

[rand z]

imho, felder is an excellent player and utility person. he contributed greatly to some of the classic albums made after leadon departure. some of their success has to go to him... and, of course all of them including the other "hired" players.

i do feel, having followed their career for many years, that much of the credit to the eagles great success has to go to henley and frey. they've guided the ship through personnel changes, the songs and most of all, their voices.

henley and frey ARE the "voice" of the eagles. when the two of them sing together in duet, you can clearly hear that VOICE. the other voices can come and go (and have), but henley without frey, and frey without henley, would NOT be the eagles. and, THAT has proven to be worth a lot of $$$$$$$.

henley and frey have to be compensated for THAT fact. it's really their band.

imho.

rand z tropicalsoul.net

[Tim Armstrong]

I've always preferred the pre- Hotel California Eagles, myself. Tim Schmidt is no Randy Meisner, either as a bassist OR as a high harmony singer (or, according to many, as a major buttpain! ), and Bernie is one of those stealth smooth-voiced middle harmony singers that you never notice until they aren't there. And, of course, with them gone, so went every bit of country influence!

Cheers, Tim

[getbent]

The best stuff to hear Don Felder on is the Joe Walsh Live album "You can't argue with a sick mind".... I think it was recorded when Joe was on the bill with the eagles and they sing harmony on a couple of songs. Felder plays great on that album... Listen to that with Desperado, on the border, and One of these Nights and you've several hours of good music... I'd hit shuffle.

[Tim Armstrong]

My favorite Joe Walsh record:



I couldn't understand why, after putting out records this good, Joe became an Eagle sideman. Okay, maybe it was about money?

But he never made another record as good...

Tim

[Buckocaster51]

We all know The Eagles jumped the shark after Desperado.

At least they did for me.

What was it, 10 years ago when that Hell Freezes Over concert was CONSTANTLY on the 'lectric television? To me the only good part about it was watching Felder and Walsh play.

But then I am just an old stick in the mud.

If you know what I mean.

[getbent]

joe singing at his best

[TeleDrifter]

No wonder Jeff Lebowski said " Man I hate the Eagles ".

[J. Hayes]

with "Hotel California" a semi acoustic version with Joe Walsh and Don Felder playing acoustic classical guitars. Joe's solo is OK but in my book Don totally blew him right off the stage with his solo. I love his playing and I wish I could find more of it out there.......JH in Va.

[Paul in Colorado]

After reading this thread, I pulled out the Hell Freezes Over video and gave it another chance. Why did they play so many medium tempo middle aged angst songs? I kept waiting for them to rock. As someone else said, Felder and Walsh were the reason I watched it all the way through. And I'm a sucker for "I Can't Tell You Why." Henley looks like he's either scared to death or pissed off most of the time.

Someone told me that they heard Joe Walsh say in a radio interview, that when the whole contract brew-ha-ha came up after the reunion started, he and Timmy put Felder up to go deal with Henley and Frey. When they canned him, Timmy and Joe had second thoughts about making a fuss.

Joe had a solo career when he joined The Eagles, but it really wasn't going anywhere. Yeah, he was making records and touring, but nothing like a lot of acts at the time. So as they say, it was a good career move for him.

There was another guitarist whose name came up in the quest to fill Bernie's shoes. Richard Thompson. Linda Ronstadt and her circle were huge Richard and Linda Thompson fans and would show up when they played the Troubador in LA. R&L were deeply into Sufiism at the time, so they didn't even consider it. I can only imagine what that would have been like? Somehow I can't hear The Eagles doing "Whithered and Died."

[emu!]

I find it somewhat ironic that the "new" Eagles now are playing a country-fied song (I think it is called How Long???...they played it at the Grammys) filled with Leadon type guitar licks. Maybe kicking out Bernie back in the 70's wasn't such a good idea after all.

[getbent]

Bernie didn't get kicked out. He left of his own accord. The song is an old JD Souther song. The Eagles actually had it worked out once for an album but it didn't make the cut.

[franchelB]

Quite frankly, I just like to listen/play their songs. I disagree with their personal beliefs...but that's another topic.

[Paul in Colorado]

Thinking about it, my beef with The Eagles is that they had the potential to be a really great band. And they let drugs, their egos and the need to be in control keep them from becoming that. Sure they play note for note renditions of their hits to stadiums full of fans, and I can't deny that I'd like to be that position (well the stadiums of fans anyway). And I don't think that they should still be jammed in a van playing little clubs (though it would propably do them some good). But it's just a show. There's no soul. It's cold and calculated and every note is pre-planned. No chances are taken. If they were walking a tightrope it's be six inches off the ground. I'd love to hear what those guys could do if they raised it to the top of the tent and did it without a net. I have some boots from the Leadon/Felder era that just rocks. I don't hear that in them any more. For once in your life, Don Henley, cut loose! You have enough money. Face your need to be in control and let it go, man!

That's my $.02 FWIW.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

Thinking about it, my beef with The Eagles is that they had the potential to be a really great band. And they let drugs, their egos and the need to be in control keep them from becoming that. Sure they play note for note renditions of their hits to stadiums full of fans, and I can't deny that I'd like to be that position (well the stadiums of fans anyway). And I don't think that they should still be jammed in a van playing little clubs (though it would propably do them some good). But it's just a show. There's no soul. It's cold and calculated and every note is pre-planned. No chances are taken. If they were walking a tightrope it's be six inches off the ground. I'd love to hear what those guys could do if they raised it to the top of the tent and did it without a net. I have some boots from the Leadon/Felder era that just rocks. I don't hear that in them any more. For once in your life, Don Henley, cut loose! You have enough money. Face your need to be in control and let it go, man!

That's my $.02 FWIW.

Brother, that's the truth! You have IMO just said all there is to say.

[jumpnblues]

It's an interesting argument...Should you make more money if you are responsible for making the group more money? On a much smaller scale, I've been in bands where there are arguments about one member making more money because he booked the jobs or because he supplied the PA or a place to practice or something to haul the equipment and on and on and on. Not saying they shouldn't, just saying. Now multiply that by, sometimes, hundreds of millions of dollars and it almost guarantees litigation.


Tom