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Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles
The Eagles are the bestselling, and arguably the tightest-lipped, American group ever. Now band member and guitarist Don Felder finally breaks the Eagles’ years of public silence to take fans behind the scenes. He shares every part of the band’s wild ride, from the pressure-packed recording studios and trashed hotel rooms to the tension-filled courtrooms, and from the joy of writing powerful new songs to the magic of performing in huge arenas packed with roaring fans.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
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March 26, 2016
Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974- 2001) by Don Felder is a 2009 Wiley publication.
I’ve had this book in my TBR for a long while, and after my husband and I watched “The History of Eagles” on Netflix, I decided to push this book to the top of the pile. I had read the first chapter or two when it was announced that founding member of The Eagles, Glenn Frey, had passed away.
After that, I felt weird about reading a book I knew would not cast Glenn in the most positive light, like I was speaking ill of the dead or something…. Not that people on Twitter had any problem in doing that. (which no matter what, was very disrespectful)
However, I have listened to the Eagles music for most of my life and despite their reputation for being egotistical jerks, I still like the music and you have to admit, the guys are talented. They sing, write, harmonize, and play musical instruments, and can cross over into more than one genre.
I will freely admit the band members are not easy to like, and just from watching that documentary over the band, I could tell what of kind of people they are, especially Glenn and Don, at least in their professional lives. So, even though I felt Glenn’s loss, and was very sad to hear of his passing, my curiosity got the better of me, and I kept picking this book up over the past few weeks and reading a few chapters here and there, until finally, I put everything else aside in order to finished it.
So, what did I think of Felder’s take on things?
I have to say, the tone was far less strident than I had anticipated. Felder describes his poor background in Florida, his upbringing, issues with his father, his musical influences, how he got started in music, met Bernie Leadon, and how all this eventually culminated into his long time stint with The Eagles.
As with any rock bio, Felder attempts to portray himself in the best light possible, while everyone else was the villain. Still, it was not hard to believe that Glenn and Don took over the band and became the leaders, delegating everyone else to ‘staff’ positions.
I understood his position on the political front and thought Frey grossly overreacted after playing the dictator, forcing his political leanings down Felder’s throat and then holding a grudge for years on end.
Don was chided for refusing to move forward and accept that the original agreement the band had no longer applied when the band reformed in the nineties. He was sure he was being screwed over, but apparently he was the only one who felt that way. But, frankly, IF his version of events is true, then he has a valid complaint, especially since his manager was not working in his best interest. Don has every right to question all the answers, especially where his pay was concerned. Wouldn’t you?
He did bleed bitterness onto the page as he labeled Don and Glenn as “The Gods”, and described the constant tension he worked in. But, there were no real surprises there, and well, there wasn’t much of anything here had not surmised or heard before, with a few possible exceptions.
However, when it came to Don's personal life, I came away feeling less than impressed with his attitude toward women. We all know the groupies on the road are rampant, especially back at the peak of the group’s success. Don painted himself out to be a victim of circumstances, having to be made of stone in order to have resisted that type of temptation. He had a supportive and loving wife, a nice family, and he rationalized his actions by trying to convince us the women meant nothing and his that he was able to separate what happened on the road from his family life, as though that made it all okay.
Eventually, his wife wises up, and the marriage still manages to survive a great number of years. But, when she launched a highly successful career of her own, he suddenly couldn’t cope with that. He was absent for long periods of times while touring, but when his wife was absent from home, and not putting his dinner on the table and constantly nurturing him, and soothing his ego, the marriage fell apart. Good grief! What a sexist!!
Ultimately, Don complained too long and too loud, and it ended up costing him his gig with the band. Obviously, this was something he never saw coming and he has had a very hard time coming to terms with the way things played out for him. He sued the band and believes he is in the right, but now of course the band is pretty much done as far as touring goes. So, how all that will work out for him now remains to be seen.
Overall, the book is interesting as far as it goes, but in many ways it’s a rehash of old animosity and bitterness, something Don seems to want to hold onto and nurse, instead of letting it go and living his life. As far as how things went within the band, I was not at all shocked, and you won’t be either.
Love them or hate them, (there doesn’t seem to be an in between), The Eagles music will continue on for decades to come. Each band member is talented in his own right, and from a musical standpoint, I respect them.
Don has a lot to be proud of career wise and was far luckier than most in that regard. As it stands now, it would appear he has alienated his former bandmates and friends, or they alienated him, and he seems very hurt by the loss, but hopefully, he can look back on his career and focus on all his success and hold on that, instead of all the negative aspects, and let go of all that bitterness in order to find inner stability and peace.
3.5 stars
I’ve had this book in my TBR for a long while, and after my husband and I watched “The History of Eagles” on Netflix, I decided to push this book to the top of the pile. I had read the first chapter or two when it was announced that founding member of The Eagles, Glenn Frey, had passed away.
After that, I felt weird about reading a book I knew would not cast Glenn in the most positive light, like I was speaking ill of the dead or something…. Not that people on Twitter had any problem in doing that. (which no matter what, was very disrespectful)
However, I have listened to the Eagles music for most of my life and despite their reputation for being egotistical jerks, I still like the music and you have to admit, the guys are talented. They sing, write, harmonize, and play musical instruments, and can cross over into more than one genre.
I will freely admit the band members are not easy to like, and just from watching that documentary over the band, I could tell what of kind of people they are, especially Glenn and Don, at least in their professional lives. So, even though I felt Glenn’s loss, and was very sad to hear of his passing, my curiosity got the better of me, and I kept picking this book up over the past few weeks and reading a few chapters here and there, until finally, I put everything else aside in order to finished it.
So, what did I think of Felder’s take on things?
I have to say, the tone was far less strident than I had anticipated. Felder describes his poor background in Florida, his upbringing, issues with his father, his musical influences, how he got started in music, met Bernie Leadon, and how all this eventually culminated into his long time stint with The Eagles.
As with any rock bio, Felder attempts to portray himself in the best light possible, while everyone else was the villain. Still, it was not hard to believe that Glenn and Don took over the band and became the leaders, delegating everyone else to ‘staff’ positions.
I understood his position on the political front and thought Frey grossly overreacted after playing the dictator, forcing his political leanings down Felder’s throat and then holding a grudge for years on end.
Don was chided for refusing to move forward and accept that the original agreement the band had no longer applied when the band reformed in the nineties. He was sure he was being screwed over, but apparently he was the only one who felt that way. But, frankly, IF his version of events is true, then he has a valid complaint, especially since his manager was not working in his best interest. Don has every right to question all the answers, especially where his pay was concerned. Wouldn’t you?
He did bleed bitterness onto the page as he labeled Don and Glenn as “The Gods”, and described the constant tension he worked in. But, there were no real surprises there, and well, there wasn’t much of anything here had not surmised or heard before, with a few possible exceptions.
However, when it came to Don's personal life, I came away feeling less than impressed with his attitude toward women. We all know the groupies on the road are rampant, especially back at the peak of the group’s success. Don painted himself out to be a victim of circumstances, having to be made of stone in order to have resisted that type of temptation. He had a supportive and loving wife, a nice family, and he rationalized his actions by trying to convince us the women meant nothing and his that he was able to separate what happened on the road from his family life, as though that made it all okay.
Eventually, his wife wises up, and the marriage still manages to survive a great number of years. But, when she launched a highly successful career of her own, he suddenly couldn’t cope with that. He was absent for long periods of times while touring, but when his wife was absent from home, and not putting his dinner on the table and constantly nurturing him, and soothing his ego, the marriage fell apart. Good grief! What a sexist!!
Ultimately, Don complained too long and too loud, and it ended up costing him his gig with the band. Obviously, this was something he never saw coming and he has had a very hard time coming to terms with the way things played out for him. He sued the band and believes he is in the right, but now of course the band is pretty much done as far as touring goes. So, how all that will work out for him now remains to be seen.
Overall, the book is interesting as far as it goes, but in many ways it’s a rehash of old animosity and bitterness, something Don seems to want to hold onto and nurse, instead of letting it go and living his life. As far as how things went within the band, I was not at all shocked, and you won’t be either.
Love them or hate them, (there doesn’t seem to be an in between), The Eagles music will continue on for decades to come. Each band member is talented in his own right, and from a musical standpoint, I respect them.
Don has a lot to be proud of career wise and was far luckier than most in that regard. As it stands now, it would appear he has alienated his former bandmates and friends, or they alienated him, and he seems very hurt by the loss, but hopefully, he can look back on his career and focus on all his success and hold on that, instead of all the negative aspects, and let go of all that bitterness in order to find inner stability and peace.
3.5 stars
August 20, 2021
Don Felder, the man behind the Eagles' biggest song ever, "Hotel California", writes about his rags to riches story. From humble beginnings in Gainesville Florida to being a key member in the Eagles. Eventually the band's dynamics swayed to Don Henley & Glenn Frey, and even a full share member like Felder became a glorified sideman. Too bad, because Felder rocked up the Eagles' sound, before Joe Walsh came in and rocked it up even more.
Felder manages to contain whatever bitterness he has at Henley/Frey, at the same time sounding more disappointed than anything. The rock world of the 70's had a lot of cocaine and groupies and Felder doesn't shy away from any of that.
Good stories about his upbringing, his getting to know Bernie Leadon, Tom Petty, Steve Stills and Gregg and Duane Allman in his teens. Felder comes across as a musician's musician.
Good read for the rock fans.
Felder manages to contain whatever bitterness he has at Henley/Frey, at the same time sounding more disappointed than anything. The rock world of the 70's had a lot of cocaine and groupies and Felder doesn't shy away from any of that.
Good stories about his upbringing, his getting to know Bernie Leadon, Tom Petty, Steve Stills and Gregg and Duane Allman in his teens. Felder comes across as a musician's musician.
Good read for the rock fans.
August 11, 2009
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I wasn't expecting that much but was surprised what a good read Felder's account of his time in The Eagles turned out to be. The book is informative and fun from the onset unlike most biographies which really drag when detailing time spent at school, relationships with parents etc the accounts of these times really added to giving a full picture of the man and are relevant to decisions made in later life. I didn't find the book scandal laden, the opposite would be more true, with key events in Eagles history explained concisely with very little bitterness even when dealing with what are clearly still painful events. The reason that I think this was achieved is it is very clear that Felder loves music and life far more than fame and money. The is probably the closest we will get to a full account of how the band developed, became the biggest rock act on the planet (at the time) and then imploded. It is certainly one of the strongest rock biographies I even read and a book I found I could not put down until it was finished.
October 20, 2008
THE EAGLES ARE LIKE SAUSAGE....
It is absolutely delicious, but you don't really want to know what is in it. This "tell all" expose of the hey day of the Eagles is sad in many ways because it let's you in on the "family" bickering that you didn't hear in the music. Such tragedy for such talented people. I am disappointed with the way Felder handles the mysterious question of "What is Hotel California really about?" I don't want it demystified. It was always so intriguing to hear the urban myths about the origins and that if you look really closely you will see something in the window of the Hotel California on the album cover, namely Alastair Crowley, the head of the EVIL EMPIRE!
Having seen them in concert "back in the day" and of course at the Hell Freezes Over reunion tour and spend countless hundreds of hours turning them on wax, eight track, cassette, discs and of course now ipod they create a visceral response to those of us who "grew up" in the late seventies and eighties and still try to find music that resonates the way these guys did.
I want to remember the Eagles the way they were in the late 1970s. They were absolutely AWESOME! SO, I do recommend this book, but beware, sometimes the bands who don't let the media in don't display their dark closets and that creates your own back story. This book was tied up in court and I am sure at some point Glenn or Don will come out with a rebuttal to set the stories straight, thereby creating another industry for all of us to contribute to and add wings to their houses.
It is absolutely delicious, but you don't really want to know what is in it. This "tell all" expose of the hey day of the Eagles is sad in many ways because it let's you in on the "family" bickering that you didn't hear in the music. Such tragedy for such talented people. I am disappointed with the way Felder handles the mysterious question of "What is Hotel California really about?" I don't want it demystified. It was always so intriguing to hear the urban myths about the origins and that if you look really closely you will see something in the window of the Hotel California on the album cover, namely Alastair Crowley, the head of the EVIL EMPIRE!
Having seen them in concert "back in the day" and of course at the Hell Freezes Over reunion tour and spend countless hundreds of hours turning them on wax, eight track, cassette, discs and of course now ipod they create a visceral response to those of us who "grew up" in the late seventies and eighties and still try to find music that resonates the way these guys did.
I want to remember the Eagles the way they were in the late 1970s. They were absolutely AWESOME! SO, I do recommend this book, but beware, sometimes the bands who don't let the media in don't display their dark closets and that creates your own back story. This book was tied up in court and I am sure at some point Glenn or Don will come out with a rebuttal to set the stories straight, thereby creating another industry for all of us to contribute to and add wings to their houses.
April 10, 2013
My opinion of the Eagles as a band has not changed after reading this book, but my opinion of Don Felder has. I don't expect so much from musicians, just good music. I don't have visions of elevated rock star divinity. I learned a long time ago the stage persona is false and most people with a great stage presence are pretty much a-holes to live with or be around.
Two things that stand out about Don. First, he is working hard to expose everyone else's flaws and doing a very poor job of doing so, while refusing to admit his own flaws. He tries to come off as a simple poor lad just wanting to make good music and have some fun. But he fails to take any responsibility for the animosity and tension in the band, placing the blame on the manager and his band mates who just dumped him. So, you got treated badly and dumped from a band that wasn't even playing together anymore? Whine somewhere else. You got to be a rock god, incredibly wealthy, waste money like it was monopoly money, and play in the definitive band of the twentieth century.
Second, his wife Susan, who stuck with him for thirty years, raised four kids while he was screwing his drunken, coke fueled way across America and around the world finally gets busy in a career of her own and he can't handle her being too busy to go to a movie and out to dinner with him. The dude just got a taste of his own medicine and couldn't take it, so he dumps her.
Felder is a one hit wonder and it was not this book.
Two things that stand out about Don. First, he is working hard to expose everyone else's flaws and doing a very poor job of doing so, while refusing to admit his own flaws. He tries to come off as a simple poor lad just wanting to make good music and have some fun. But he fails to take any responsibility for the animosity and tension in the band, placing the blame on the manager and his band mates who just dumped him. So, you got treated badly and dumped from a band that wasn't even playing together anymore? Whine somewhere else. You got to be a rock god, incredibly wealthy, waste money like it was monopoly money, and play in the definitive band of the twentieth century.
Second, his wife Susan, who stuck with him for thirty years, raised four kids while he was screwing his drunken, coke fueled way across America and around the world finally gets busy in a career of her own and he can't handle her being too busy to go to a movie and out to dinner with him. The dude just got a taste of his own medicine and couldn't take it, so he dumps her.
Felder is a one hit wonder and it was not this book.
July 19, 2025
Imagine being stuck with the schoolyard bullies for over 25 years, part of their team but only because you are really good at football and all the while never allowed to forget that fact that you have no say in team decisions, are a lesser part of the team, are mocked and humiliated repeatedly because you occasionally question their behaviour and the organisation of the team, meanwhile the team coach is wholly on their side...sounds like a nightmare, and that is what Don Felder bought into when he was asked to join The Eagles all those years ago. What a pair Glenn Frey and Don Henley emerge to be as as the pages and years roll by. Felder himself admits his mistakes and weaknesses and is honest enough not to try to paint himself as wholly innocent in the unfolding drama. A lesson for us all that what we saw throughout all those years was not what was going on behind the scenes!
July 26, 2025
Don Felder’s Heaven and Hell is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at life inside one of America’s biggest bands. From humble beginnings in Gainesville, Florida working at a record store in order to buy guitars to writing the iconic music for Hotel California, Felder shares the highs of rock stardom and the lows of being pushed aside. He opens up about the power struggles with Don Henley and Glenn Frey, the toll it took on his family, and the pain of being fired. It’s a compelling read that pulls back the curtain on the darker side of fame. Highly recommend for readers who love rock bios and The Eagles.
May 20, 2016
Don is a great guitar player but a pedestrian writer. Details are vague, and life flies by at the top of the rock world in a glib, bored manner. Low resolution memories of bland broad scenes. We took coke and wrote some songs. We stayed up late and worked. We played in the stadium. We had a special plane on which we took drugs. We partied with women. It's all very matter of fact. Nothing is said beyond the clichéd. Personalities and characters aren't rounded out or even revealed.
One doesn't get a feel for life in the biggest band in the world. Don doesn't give his opinion on the world, which makes for a lack of historical, cultural or even musical context. His wit is also entirely conventional to the point of corny. For instance: saying goodbye to his friend, producer Albhy Galuten, Don triumphantly jokes "Albhy seeing you." Don is proud of this pun, and frames it as a cool in-joke.
At this point, the reader feels slight embarrassment for Don's pride at making what he feels is a witty comment, when it's an obvious joke which Albhy Galuten has been sick of hearing since 1950.
Pop Trivia: Don Felder's portrayal of Glen Frey is indistinguishable from Skeletor.
One doesn't get a feel for life in the biggest band in the world. Don doesn't give his opinion on the world, which makes for a lack of historical, cultural or even musical context. His wit is also entirely conventional to the point of corny. For instance: saying goodbye to his friend, producer Albhy Galuten, Don triumphantly jokes "Albhy seeing you." Don is proud of this pun, and frames it as a cool in-joke.
At this point, the reader feels slight embarrassment for Don's pride at making what he feels is a witty comment, when it's an obvious joke which Albhy Galuten has been sick of hearing since 1950.
Pop Trivia: Don Felder's portrayal of Glen Frey is indistinguishable from Skeletor.
January 12, 2026
I read this book because my lovely parents are faking me to Vegas to see The Eagles at The Sphere. You can probably guess what a memoir based around a ‘70s rock group entails, but I thought the story was really well told and helped me build some background knowledge for the concert. Would recommend.
July 24, 2015
I've become a big Eagles fan over the last 7-10 years or so. I thought it would be cool to get a perspective from the only guy to ever be kicked out/fired by the band. I must say, this book should be titled "My Life AND the Eagles" because it's not just a book about Don Felder's career with the Eagles and the lawsuits that followed his firing. It's an auto-biography. Hey, that's fine. But the first quarter to one third of the book was more a story about the first 20 plus years of Felder's life and how he eventually wound up as the fifth Eagle.
My favorite part of the book was hearing details about the recordings, song writing, etc. The tension in the band was not surprising. It was intriguing to learn about the painstaking details that went into recording the Hotel California album. In a sense, the band burned themselves out...causing their next album to arguably be their worst (despite 3 hits) as well as their demise shortly thereafter.
It's easy to sympathize with Felder when, after Meisner and Leadon's departures, he was pushed backwards into becoming more of a sideman. The agreement the Eagles had made in the mid-70's (Eagles Limited) where they would share everything in equal parts as a band was virtually torn up, and Felder's income more than likely began to take a hit as the band rose to massive fame, putting Henley and Frey up front.
At the same time, there were points during the book that Felder's recounting of his woes was absolutely pathetic. You got screwed, we know. I believe you. But not one time do I recall Felder ever accepting any of the blame. It was he who was not smart enough to bring in his own separate business manager when he signed on with the Eagles. I understand it was 1975 and everyone was too high and drunk to care, but that's no excuse. Nowadays, no one in their right mind would strike a deal the way those 5 guys did back then.
Seriously, folks. Even when crap was hitting the fan and Felder had his suspicions of what Henley and Frey (referred to as "The Gods" in the book as well as in real life) were doing, Felder kept his manager - the SAME GUY THAT WAS MANAGING HENLEY AND FELDER. Really?!?
All in all, things turned out okay for Don Felder. When he sued the band following his firing a settlement was eventually reached. I'm sure it was a decent one for Felder. Of course, he made sure we were aware that half of it went to his now ex-wife, Susan, whom he was married to through all of his years with the Eagles. I have to give him credit, though. For the most part he never said one bad word about her in the book. He knew it was all his fault, and despite the fact that it sounds like there might have been some tension during the divorce, he was extremely graceful when talking about it and her.
This book serves as a good lesson to anyone in business. 40 years ago Felder was clueless as to how the real business world works. The story he describes in detail about the rise and fall of the Eagles and his eventual boot is no different than a number of other stories I could tell you about XYZ company or ABC company. When you get down to brass tacks in business, it always goes back to money and egos. It's not about art. It's not about making people happy. It's about making yourself happy, watching out for YOUR best interests. Because in the end no one else is going to give a crap about you. Or let me put it this way: in the end if someone else DOES give a crap about you, it's unusual. Never expect it. Worry about A #1.
My favorite part of the book was hearing details about the recordings, song writing, etc. The tension in the band was not surprising. It was intriguing to learn about the painstaking details that went into recording the Hotel California album. In a sense, the band burned themselves out...causing their next album to arguably be their worst (despite 3 hits) as well as their demise shortly thereafter.
It's easy to sympathize with Felder when, after Meisner and Leadon's departures, he was pushed backwards into becoming more of a sideman. The agreement the Eagles had made in the mid-70's (Eagles Limited) where they would share everything in equal parts as a band was virtually torn up, and Felder's income more than likely began to take a hit as the band rose to massive fame, putting Henley and Frey up front.
At the same time, there were points during the book that Felder's recounting of his woes was absolutely pathetic. You got screwed, we know. I believe you. But not one time do I recall Felder ever accepting any of the blame. It was he who was not smart enough to bring in his own separate business manager when he signed on with the Eagles. I understand it was 1975 and everyone was too high and drunk to care, but that's no excuse. Nowadays, no one in their right mind would strike a deal the way those 5 guys did back then.
Seriously, folks. Even when crap was hitting the fan and Felder had his suspicions of what Henley and Frey (referred to as "The Gods" in the book as well as in real life) were doing, Felder kept his manager - the SAME GUY THAT WAS MANAGING HENLEY AND FELDER. Really?!?
All in all, things turned out okay for Don Felder. When he sued the band following his firing a settlement was eventually reached. I'm sure it was a decent one for Felder. Of course, he made sure we were aware that half of it went to his now ex-wife, Susan, whom he was married to through all of his years with the Eagles. I have to give him credit, though. For the most part he never said one bad word about her in the book. He knew it was all his fault, and despite the fact that it sounds like there might have been some tension during the divorce, he was extremely graceful when talking about it and her.
This book serves as a good lesson to anyone in business. 40 years ago Felder was clueless as to how the real business world works. The story he describes in detail about the rise and fall of the Eagles and his eventual boot is no different than a number of other stories I could tell you about XYZ company or ABC company. When you get down to brass tacks in business, it always goes back to money and egos. It's not about art. It's not about making people happy. It's about making yourself happy, watching out for YOUR best interests. Because in the end no one else is going to give a crap about you. Or let me put it this way: in the end if someone else DOES give a crap about you, it's unusual. Never expect it. Worry about A #1.
December 18, 2021
Rock autobios & bios are like junk food for me; relaxing. I liked the Eagles, I've seen them in concert when Linda Ronstadt opened for them (a lyric soprano I knew dragged me to see Linda sing) - WOW! I was there to hear/watch Linda, Eagles had poor sound that was difficult to hear in the upper balcony of The Forum.
Other than the fact that a few of them were cute, I don't own their albums but I can sing most of their songs. I know the band's name is "Eagles", but grammatically I'm going to use "The" bc it reads better.
I read this bc I wanted to hear Felder's POV on why he was THROWN out of the Eagles, after I saw a documentary on them & watched as Felder WEPT when he recounted being thrown out. WEPT. Couldn't finish the interview.
Felder was not in the original group, but joined about a year later bc Henley & Frey wanted a 'harder rock sound' vs pop country/rock. Felder did a session, the two songwriter/vocalists watched Felder play & were blown away by "Fingers". Felder isn't a singer, a fact he refuses to accept. Felder doesn't write songs. Frey also wrote with Jackson Brown. Both Frey & Henley wrote with J.D. Souther (great songwriter, womanizer who broke Ronstadt's heart but she continued to record his songs). Another fact that Felder refused to accept, he can't write songs.
Randy Meisner, the original Eagle who sang high harmony & co-wrote Take It to the Limit, couldn't deal with the stress of touring, so he quit (this left an opening for Timothy Schmidt). Bernie Leadon who brought Felder into Eagles, wrote Witchy Woman, had a country/rock background bc he'd been in the Flying Burrito Brothers, played pedal steel & electric guitar. He left bc he didn't want to be in a rock band. This pushed Felder to the front of Eagles, eventually Joe Walsh was added.
Felder's book does detail some of the rowdy stuff from the road... His long-suffering wife (#1) stayed home in Topanga Canyon & it seems she got pregnant every time Felder was off tour. Their tours lasted 1-2 years. They made a fortune. Felder claims to be a devout Christian, this did not stop him from f*cking a lot of groupies... though he didn't get as strung out on cocaine as Frey or bed as many women. Eagles had multiple groupies in their beds, at the same time & snorted piles of cocaine.
Felder & Frey didn't get along, they actually physically fought on stage. I don't know why there was bad blood, it's never discussed. Glenn Frey seemed to be a narcissistic jerk.
Eagles broke up. Henley had a particularly successful solo career, thanks to the brilliant songwriting of JD Souther (he wrote Heart of the Matter w Henley; the lyric "and the work I put between us, you know, it doesn't keep me warm..." is pure JD Souther), Frey got into acting & had less success with his solo career. Henley had a 1 year romance with Stevie Nicks.
Felder wrote the opening chord progression & melody to Hotel California, Henley wrote the poetic lyrics. Felder had to fight for the credit. Henley claims it was just a lick, not a melody. I believe Felder because Henley doesn't write electric guitar songs, he writes acoustic guitar & piano songs, and Hotel California is a tour de force with the solo played on an electric 12 string by Felder (a la Jimmy Page Stairway to Heaven).
Eventually MILLION$ called & they made up hence the title of The Hell Freezes Over Tour. Felder toured with them. I've watched the concert film a few times; it's amazing how many great songs & the beautiful harmonies they created. Felder sings into a microphone when the band is doing harmonies, but I don't know if his mic is turned up bc Schmidt can SING beautifully, Walsh has a distinctive voice... In the documentary when they show them 'tuning up' their harmonies, Felder is never present.
When the lineup changed; Timothy Schmidt (high harmony & bass, songwriter), Joe Walsh (rock guitarist, songwriter, vocals, harmony) it changed the dynamics of the Eagles; Felder was relegated to the level of Schmidt & Walsh because the two songwriter/singers were managed by the meanest, toughest guy in the music biz; Irving Azoff (think nasty troll from under a dark, dank bridge).
Azoff & the two stars, Henley & Frey, decided that they WERE Eagles.
When it was time to renegotiate their deal; Azoff offered 20% of revenues to Felder, Schmidt & Walsh, with Henley & Frey getting 80%. The songwriting pals refused to share any songwriting money at all! The fact that Felder wanted a cut of the songwriting revenues infuriated Henley, it angered Frey too. Felder kept pushing & pushing.
After the tour, Felder (IMO stupidly) pushed the issue & tried to get Schmidt (a longtime family man w a long marriage & kids) & Walsh (multiple wives, kids, cocaine, heroin, lots of expenses, also dated Stevie Nicks) to unite with him to fight the 'stars' for a bigger piece of the pie.
I don't know why. I was incredulous that Felder was so myopic that he couldn't SEE that Eagles were Schmidt's (he'd only been in POCO) & Walsh's GOLDEN GOOSE; they would be FOOLS to bite the hand that fed them! Felder was hurt when neither late-comer, kinda-sorta sidemen to the band, agreed to fight for more money, he didn't understand that 20% of $100 million from tours split three-ways plus other money (album sales, radio plays) was still a lot of money. He was so into fighting that he also alienated Schmidt & Walsh who were very happy making million$.
Felder went to battle against Henley & Frey who were backed by Azoff, by himself. Henley belittled Felder's contribution to Eagles; he actually told Felder; Glenn & I ARE the Eagles! Felder wanted a song on each album, Henley told him he couldn't sing. It got really ugly, but Felder kept pushing... It reminded me a bit of The Beatles with John & Paul writing all the songs & not open to letting George have more than one song on their (later) albums.
Why did Felder continue to fight? I don't know. Is he a fool? Maybe. He must have had a huge alimony to pay bc they had 5 kids. Felder complains at one point about putting his wife through school after their divorce. Really, Don? Wife 1 raised 5 kids by herself while he cavorted all over the world and you don't want to help her have a better her life & you call yourself a "Christian"!?
So, Glenn & Henley fired Felder. The next tour; also a concert film in Melbourne, AU was huge; with horn section, keyboards, organist, percussionist, another drummer (Henley plays drugs & sings lead vocals... I don't know how) and backing vocalists.
FYI, Felder had to be replaced by three musicians; a nondescript (no personality) guitarist who copied Felder's licks note for note, a 2nd guy that played pedal steel guitar, another guitarist that could play banjo, fiddle & rhythm guitar... because although Fingers couldn't sing, he was a brilliant musician/guitarist that could play anything with strings.
Felder wrote his book & then married a very successful, blonde Beverly Hills real estate agent, they do charitable stuff. He's worth $10 million.
Henley is fat, had a bad facelift & is worth $200 million; he likes to buy homes, lives with his wife who has MS in Texas. Frey died of pneumonia in Cedars-Sinai, his wife sued for wrongful death. Walsh is sober, married to wife 3 or 4, who's the same age as his eldest daughter, Schmidt is still a vegan, married to his longtime wife and wrote the ONLY number ONE hit song Eagles ever charted: "I Can't Tell You Why."
If you're an Eagles fan, this is a good read bc it serves the tea.
Other than the fact that a few of them were cute, I don't own their albums but I can sing most of their songs. I know the band's name is "Eagles", but grammatically I'm going to use "The" bc it reads better.
I read this bc I wanted to hear Felder's POV on why he was THROWN out of the Eagles, after I saw a documentary on them & watched as Felder WEPT when he recounted being thrown out. WEPT. Couldn't finish the interview.
Felder was not in the original group, but joined about a year later bc Henley & Frey wanted a 'harder rock sound' vs pop country/rock. Felder did a session, the two songwriter/vocalists watched Felder play & were blown away by "Fingers". Felder isn't a singer, a fact he refuses to accept. Felder doesn't write songs. Frey also wrote with Jackson Brown. Both Frey & Henley wrote with J.D. Souther (great songwriter, womanizer who broke Ronstadt's heart but she continued to record his songs). Another fact that Felder refused to accept, he can't write songs.
Randy Meisner, the original Eagle who sang high harmony & co-wrote Take It to the Limit, couldn't deal with the stress of touring, so he quit (this left an opening for Timothy Schmidt). Bernie Leadon who brought Felder into Eagles, wrote Witchy Woman, had a country/rock background bc he'd been in the Flying Burrito Brothers, played pedal steel & electric guitar. He left bc he didn't want to be in a rock band. This pushed Felder to the front of Eagles, eventually Joe Walsh was added.
Felder's book does detail some of the rowdy stuff from the road... His long-suffering wife (#1) stayed home in Topanga Canyon & it seems she got pregnant every time Felder was off tour. Their tours lasted 1-2 years. They made a fortune. Felder claims to be a devout Christian, this did not stop him from f*cking a lot of groupies... though he didn't get as strung out on cocaine as Frey or bed as many women. Eagles had multiple groupies in their beds, at the same time & snorted piles of cocaine.
Felder & Frey didn't get along, they actually physically fought on stage. I don't know why there was bad blood, it's never discussed. Glenn Frey seemed to be a narcissistic jerk.
Eagles broke up. Henley had a particularly successful solo career, thanks to the brilliant songwriting of JD Souther (he wrote Heart of the Matter w Henley; the lyric "and the work I put between us, you know, it doesn't keep me warm..." is pure JD Souther), Frey got into acting & had less success with his solo career. Henley had a 1 year romance with Stevie Nicks.
Felder wrote the opening chord progression & melody to Hotel California, Henley wrote the poetic lyrics. Felder had to fight for the credit. Henley claims it was just a lick, not a melody. I believe Felder because Henley doesn't write electric guitar songs, he writes acoustic guitar & piano songs, and Hotel California is a tour de force with the solo played on an electric 12 string by Felder (a la Jimmy Page Stairway to Heaven).
Eventually MILLION$ called & they made up hence the title of The Hell Freezes Over Tour. Felder toured with them. I've watched the concert film a few times; it's amazing how many great songs & the beautiful harmonies they created. Felder sings into a microphone when the band is doing harmonies, but I don't know if his mic is turned up bc Schmidt can SING beautifully, Walsh has a distinctive voice... In the documentary when they show them 'tuning up' their harmonies, Felder is never present.
When the lineup changed; Timothy Schmidt (high harmony & bass, songwriter), Joe Walsh (rock guitarist, songwriter, vocals, harmony) it changed the dynamics of the Eagles; Felder was relegated to the level of Schmidt & Walsh because the two songwriter/singers were managed by the meanest, toughest guy in the music biz; Irving Azoff (think nasty troll from under a dark, dank bridge).
Azoff & the two stars, Henley & Frey, decided that they WERE Eagles.
When it was time to renegotiate their deal; Azoff offered 20% of revenues to Felder, Schmidt & Walsh, with Henley & Frey getting 80%. The songwriting pals refused to share any songwriting money at all! The fact that Felder wanted a cut of the songwriting revenues infuriated Henley, it angered Frey too. Felder kept pushing & pushing.
After the tour, Felder (IMO stupidly) pushed the issue & tried to get Schmidt (a longtime family man w a long marriage & kids) & Walsh (multiple wives, kids, cocaine, heroin, lots of expenses, also dated Stevie Nicks) to unite with him to fight the 'stars' for a bigger piece of the pie.
I don't know why. I was incredulous that Felder was so myopic that he couldn't SEE that Eagles were Schmidt's (he'd only been in POCO) & Walsh's GOLDEN GOOSE; they would be FOOLS to bite the hand that fed them! Felder was hurt when neither late-comer, kinda-sorta sidemen to the band, agreed to fight for more money, he didn't understand that 20% of $100 million from tours split three-ways plus other money (album sales, radio plays) was still a lot of money. He was so into fighting that he also alienated Schmidt & Walsh who were very happy making million$.
Felder went to battle against Henley & Frey who were backed by Azoff, by himself. Henley belittled Felder's contribution to Eagles; he actually told Felder; Glenn & I ARE the Eagles! Felder wanted a song on each album, Henley told him he couldn't sing. It got really ugly, but Felder kept pushing... It reminded me a bit of The Beatles with John & Paul writing all the songs & not open to letting George have more than one song on their (later) albums.
Why did Felder continue to fight? I don't know. Is he a fool? Maybe. He must have had a huge alimony to pay bc they had 5 kids. Felder complains at one point about putting his wife through school after their divorce. Really, Don? Wife 1 raised 5 kids by herself while he cavorted all over the world and you don't want to help her have a better her life & you call yourself a "Christian"!?
So, Glenn & Henley fired Felder. The next tour; also a concert film in Melbourne, AU was huge; with horn section, keyboards, organist, percussionist, another drummer (Henley plays drugs & sings lead vocals... I don't know how) and backing vocalists.
FYI, Felder had to be replaced by three musicians; a nondescript (no personality) guitarist who copied Felder's licks note for note, a 2nd guy that played pedal steel guitar, another guitarist that could play banjo, fiddle & rhythm guitar... because although Fingers couldn't sing, he was a brilliant musician/guitarist that could play anything with strings.
Felder wrote his book & then married a very successful, blonde Beverly Hills real estate agent, they do charitable stuff. He's worth $10 million.
Henley is fat, had a bad facelift & is worth $200 million; he likes to buy homes, lives with his wife who has MS in Texas. Frey died of pneumonia in Cedars-Sinai, his wife sued for wrongful death. Walsh is sober, married to wife 3 or 4, who's the same age as his eldest daughter, Schmidt is still a vegan, married to his longtime wife and wrote the ONLY number ONE hit song Eagles ever charted: "I Can't Tell You Why."
If you're an Eagles fan, this is a good read bc it serves the tea.
July 8, 2008
It's a testament to either Don Felder or The Eagles that I blew through this book in 2 days. To Felder's credit he captures the rise/fall/rise/fall of rock stardom with honest reflection. At the same time, The Eagles music was an important part of the soundtrack of my life, and this memoir offered a chance to relive some of those experiences. Funny how I can so clearly recall falling to sleep at 12 years old to Witchy Woman. That was 35 years ago.
This is robust story on many levels. The insight into The Eagles is may be the primary reason for picking the book up, but what holds the readers is the exploring the progression of Felder's life and the many stories/people that populate it. I didn't know that he had tutored Tom Petty as a young guitar student or that he had played with Stephen Stills when he was still a teenager in Gainsville.Nice touches.
You may not always agree with positions that Felder takes but overall his memoir is fairly balanced. Yes, the bitterness seeps through but in the end he seems to be able place his life in the proper perspective and appreciate the great experience being in The Eagles offered him. The book was eye-opening and enjoyable. If you want to get a true sense of the great artist that Felder is, just watch his Hotel California lead-in on the "Hell Freezes Over" DVD. It may remove any doubt that he was a critical part of this seminal American band.
This is robust story on many levels. The insight into The Eagles is may be the primary reason for picking the book up, but what holds the readers is the exploring the progression of Felder's life and the many stories/people that populate it. I didn't know that he had tutored Tom Petty as a young guitar student or that he had played with Stephen Stills when he was still a teenager in Gainsville.Nice touches.
You may not always agree with positions that Felder takes but overall his memoir is fairly balanced. Yes, the bitterness seeps through but in the end he seems to be able place his life in the proper perspective and appreciate the great experience being in The Eagles offered him. The book was eye-opening and enjoyable. If you want to get a true sense of the great artist that Felder is, just watch his Hotel California lead-in on the "Hell Freezes Over" DVD. It may remove any doubt that he was a critical part of this seminal American band.
September 7, 2011
Only confirms what we all knew... Henley and Frey are douches
January 10, 2018
Worth reading if you like the Eagles but find Don Henley and Glenn Frey unbearable.
November 7, 2022
**SPOILER ALERT: MANY EXERPTS FROM THE BOOK**
"A roar went up. Nobody expected this to be the first number. They thought we would close with it. The audience exploded. For those first few seconds, there was no sound but that of the crowd - a deafening cacophony of screaming, cheering, bellowing, whistling, and tumultuous applause. Swaying in the spotlight, soaking up the intense, electrically charged atmosphere, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and closed my eyes. As my fingers moved automatically up and down the frets, I allowed myself a small smile. This was it. All that I ever dreamed of in the depths of the night - to hear those voices calling from far away - the exhilarating sound of success." -Don Felder
Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001)
In 2008, I learned that Don Felder wrote a book chronicling his life and time with The Eagles after he was fired from the band in 2001. His book was on my To Read list for 8 years. After watching History Of the Eagles in 2015 and after the death of Glenn Frey in 2016, I just had to get this book and History Of The Eagles DVD.
Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001) turned out to be an enjoyable, very interesting, and insightful read. I considered Don Felder one of the greatest guitarists of the Rock music genre.
The book chronicles Don's humble beginnings in Gainesville, Florida up through his superstardom with The Eagles, his life post Eagles, ending with a visit back to his childhood home after the death of his mother. The book ends on an almost spiritual note back to where he started from, juxtaposing then with now.
Insights into the backstage life of his tenure with the band, the love/hate relationship with Frey & Henley ("The Gods"), the often dysfunctional and contentious dynamics of the band, his private personal and family struggles during The Eagles days, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner's departure, The Eagles reunion, The "Hell Freezes Over" tour, The Eagle's induction into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, his divorce, and the stories of the people he met and were friends with, was intriguing, entertaining, sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, and opened a portal into a world and lifestyle most of us will never experience.
Sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll is almost an understatement in Don Felder's book. He takes responsibility for his life choices, but the debauchery (known as "The 3rd Encore" in the book) is flagrantly shown in the History Of The Eagles DVD.
The Eagle's then last performance was a benefit concert July 31, 1980, at Long Beach. Frey & Felder's feud started after Senator Alan Cranston thanked Felder for performing at the benefit and Felder replied: "You're welcome, I guess." Frey, a Cranston supporter, overheard it and was deeply offended by Felder's comment. The fight carried over to The Eagle's live stage performance where Bill Szymczyk recorded the exchange between Felder and Frey on a single-track audio tape. The sound engineers actually turned down Frey's mic until he had to sing for fear the audience would hear. That was bad.
When the benefit concert was over, an emotionally spent & frustrated Felder wiped himself down in his dressing room. He walked out, picked up one of his acoustic guitars and smashed it into kindling against a concrete pillar. Felder turned around to see an aghast Cranston, his wife, and a stone-faced Frey standing behind him. That was really bad. I think that's when the animus between Frey and Felder became permanently cemented. Felder recalled:
"Honest to God, I didn't even see them there."
After watching the DVD and reading this book, I've become convinced that Don Henley and Glenn Frey, gifted musicians and songwriters to their credit, were horrible people and controlling, entitled, greedy, self-important, strutting martinets offstage. Case in point, Felder recounts the reunited Eagles touring in Germany. Glenn Frey preferred smoking Marlboro cigarettes from hard packs and the only Marlboros he could get in Germany were soft packs. He instructed the press agent to contact his assistant Stateside and have several cartons of Marlboro cigarettes in hard packs flown over by airborne express courier. When the cigarettes arrived the next day, Frey opened one of the cartons. They were soft packs. Frey fired the press agent. Over cigarette packaging.
Felder was invited into the band in 1974 by Glenn Frey as the 5th Eagle to bring a harder, rock edge to the band's sound. Felder delivered in spades. Felder became a full-share partner in "Eagles Limited" whereas Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmit were not share partners after joining The Eagles later. After reading the book and watching the DVD, it seems Felder was increasingly regarded and treated more like a side man than a share partner with Henley and Frey. Don Henley once described the band as a "benevolent dictatorship" with him and Frey in charge.
Felder felt that the money, taken in by the band after reuniting in 1994, should be equally distributed "All For All." A sentiment not shared by Henley and Frey, as they had successful solo careers and name recognition. As the self-important pricks Frey & Henley were, they wanted the lion's share of everything. From the book:
"Glenn sighed and formed his fingers into a steeple. 'You know, Fingers', he said, as if explaining something to a child, 'this band's like a football team. Some players are more noteworthy and more famous, and they can command bigger salaries, like a Quarterback. Others are just defensive linebackers who play OK, but don't get as much money. Don and I feel we're entitled to more'."
Ironically, Don Henley was a co-founding member of Recording Artist's Coalition, formed to protect artist's rights and compensation against the music industry's common (read predatory) business practices. Earlier in Don Henley's solo career, he broke ties with Geffen Records resulting in a nasty legal battle because Henley felt waning support and lack of compensation for his publishing rights. Earlier than that, The Eagles sued Asylum Records for publishing profits after discovering that Jackson Browne was getting publishing royalties from Asylum.
Azoff apparently kept stringing Felder along through the years after 1994 by telling Felder:
"There will be plenty of time to renegotiate later on when the time is right."
In the book, Felder was pressured into signing the new record deal in 2000 because he was the last man standing. From the book:
"When I called Irving and dared to suggest what he was suggesting might not be fair, the man who once said he had more money than God was unequivocal.
'If you don't sign the f**king deal,' he screamed at me over the phone with that terrifying, booming voice of his, 'you'll never set foot on stage with these guys again!' And I was paying him commissions?"
From the DVD, in Frey's own words, Felder balked at the reunited Eagles contract terms and was coerced by Frey and Azoff into signing the contract under threat of replacement. From the DVD: Frey to Felder's Lawyer: "Hello, Barry, this is Glenn Frey. I'm sorry you happen to represent the only a**hole in the band, but let me tell you something: you either sign the agreement before the sun goes down today, or we're replacing Don Felder. That's the final deal. He signs before sunset, or he's out of the f**king band." At that point, for Felder, the writing was on the wall.
I gathered that this wasn't solely about money, but Felder had the backbone to stand up for himself, Walsh, and Schmit against the backdoor negotiations and dealings of other three greedy little piglets; Frey, Henley, and Azoff. The whole thing became a personality clash and brouhaha over the power structure/consolidation within The Eagles organization. Frey and Henley weren't having any truck with that at any cost.
After pressing for more financial accountability, Felder got a call from Irving Azoff. From the book:
" 'Hi Fingers', he said with a sigh. 'I've got some bad news, I'm afraid. The band had a meeting, and they decided to go on without you.' "
A shocked & distraught Felder was finally able to contact Glenn Frey at his studio for an explanation and plead to stay in the band. Again, from the book:
" 'I never want to get another f***ing letter from Barry Tyerman.' he said gruffly. Hearing the obvious emotion in my voice, he added witheringly: 'Try to reach some higher ground on this, Felder.' The phone line went dead."
Felder was out. So much for the guy whose guitar playing chops helped propel The Eagles to superstardom and gave them one of their greatest songs and one of Rock's most iconic guitar duets on "Hotel California". Tossed away like a used, paper cup. Felder may have willing to let bygones be bygones after 1980, but apparently Frey and Henley hadn't.
One thing was certain: Felder's lawsuits and 2008 tell-all book forever severed all relationships with The Eagles. Lawsuits against The Eagles, the final court showdown with Henley and Frey, a heart-to-heart with Joe Walsh, and an undisclosed, out-of-court settlement for Felder. It was over.
So apparently, "Life In The Fast Lane" is only just life on a dark, desert highway. I was captivated in the first few pages. Don Felder's Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001) read almost like a Sidney Sheldon novel.
The book notwithstanding, The Eagles remain much beloved by many, including me. It's sad how things turned out the way they did for Felder, the band, the scandalous, negative publicity, and the passing of Glenn Frey; but like a rock tumbler, the friction, heat, and occasional violence turn out a smooth, beautiful, polished product.
The Eagles were one of the most popular and iconic bands of the 20th century. Their music and vocal harmonies were almost magical. Even today, close to 50 years later, when I hear a classic Eagles song, it takes me back to the Halcion days of my teens in the early-mid 1970s. Thank you for the great music and memories. The Eagles, once a band of their time, became a band for all time. Don Felder had a big hand in it.
"A roar went up. Nobody expected this to be the first number. They thought we would close with it. The audience exploded. For those first few seconds, there was no sound but that of the crowd - a deafening cacophony of screaming, cheering, bellowing, whistling, and tumultuous applause. Swaying in the spotlight, soaking up the intense, electrically charged atmosphere, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and closed my eyes. As my fingers moved automatically up and down the frets, I allowed myself a small smile. This was it. All that I ever dreamed of in the depths of the night - to hear those voices calling from far away - the exhilarating sound of success." -Don Felder
Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001)
In 2008, I learned that Don Felder wrote a book chronicling his life and time with The Eagles after he was fired from the band in 2001. His book was on my To Read list for 8 years. After watching History Of the Eagles in 2015 and after the death of Glenn Frey in 2016, I just had to get this book and History Of The Eagles DVD.
Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001) turned out to be an enjoyable, very interesting, and insightful read. I considered Don Felder one of the greatest guitarists of the Rock music genre.
The book chronicles Don's humble beginnings in Gainesville, Florida up through his superstardom with The Eagles, his life post Eagles, ending with a visit back to his childhood home after the death of his mother. The book ends on an almost spiritual note back to where he started from, juxtaposing then with now.
Insights into the backstage life of his tenure with the band, the love/hate relationship with Frey & Henley ("The Gods"), the often dysfunctional and contentious dynamics of the band, his private personal and family struggles during The Eagles days, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner's departure, The Eagles reunion, The "Hell Freezes Over" tour, The Eagle's induction into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, his divorce, and the stories of the people he met and were friends with, was intriguing, entertaining, sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, and opened a portal into a world and lifestyle most of us will never experience.
Sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll is almost an understatement in Don Felder's book. He takes responsibility for his life choices, but the debauchery (known as "The 3rd Encore" in the book) is flagrantly shown in the History Of The Eagles DVD.
The Eagle's then last performance was a benefit concert July 31, 1980, at Long Beach. Frey & Felder's feud started after Senator Alan Cranston thanked Felder for performing at the benefit and Felder replied: "You're welcome, I guess." Frey, a Cranston supporter, overheard it and was deeply offended by Felder's comment. The fight carried over to The Eagle's live stage performance where Bill Szymczyk recorded the exchange between Felder and Frey on a single-track audio tape. The sound engineers actually turned down Frey's mic until he had to sing for fear the audience would hear. That was bad.
When the benefit concert was over, an emotionally spent & frustrated Felder wiped himself down in his dressing room. He walked out, picked up one of his acoustic guitars and smashed it into kindling against a concrete pillar. Felder turned around to see an aghast Cranston, his wife, and a stone-faced Frey standing behind him. That was really bad. I think that's when the animus between Frey and Felder became permanently cemented. Felder recalled:
"Honest to God, I didn't even see them there."
After watching the DVD and reading this book, I've become convinced that Don Henley and Glenn Frey, gifted musicians and songwriters to their credit, were horrible people and controlling, entitled, greedy, self-important, strutting martinets offstage. Case in point, Felder recounts the reunited Eagles touring in Germany. Glenn Frey preferred smoking Marlboro cigarettes from hard packs and the only Marlboros he could get in Germany were soft packs. He instructed the press agent to contact his assistant Stateside and have several cartons of Marlboro cigarettes in hard packs flown over by airborne express courier. When the cigarettes arrived the next day, Frey opened one of the cartons. They were soft packs. Frey fired the press agent. Over cigarette packaging.
Felder was invited into the band in 1974 by Glenn Frey as the 5th Eagle to bring a harder, rock edge to the band's sound. Felder delivered in spades. Felder became a full-share partner in "Eagles Limited" whereas Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmit were not share partners after joining The Eagles later. After reading the book and watching the DVD, it seems Felder was increasingly regarded and treated more like a side man than a share partner with Henley and Frey. Don Henley once described the band as a "benevolent dictatorship" with him and Frey in charge.
Felder felt that the money, taken in by the band after reuniting in 1994, should be equally distributed "All For All." A sentiment not shared by Henley and Frey, as they had successful solo careers and name recognition. As the self-important pricks Frey & Henley were, they wanted the lion's share of everything. From the book:
"Glenn sighed and formed his fingers into a steeple. 'You know, Fingers', he said, as if explaining something to a child, 'this band's like a football team. Some players are more noteworthy and more famous, and they can command bigger salaries, like a Quarterback. Others are just defensive linebackers who play OK, but don't get as much money. Don and I feel we're entitled to more'."
Ironically, Don Henley was a co-founding member of Recording Artist's Coalition, formed to protect artist's rights and compensation against the music industry's common (read predatory) business practices. Earlier in Don Henley's solo career, he broke ties with Geffen Records resulting in a nasty legal battle because Henley felt waning support and lack of compensation for his publishing rights. Earlier than that, The Eagles sued Asylum Records for publishing profits after discovering that Jackson Browne was getting publishing royalties from Asylum.
Azoff apparently kept stringing Felder along through the years after 1994 by telling Felder:
"There will be plenty of time to renegotiate later on when the time is right."
In the book, Felder was pressured into signing the new record deal in 2000 because he was the last man standing. From the book:
"When I called Irving and dared to suggest what he was suggesting might not be fair, the man who once said he had more money than God was unequivocal.
'If you don't sign the f**king deal,' he screamed at me over the phone with that terrifying, booming voice of his, 'you'll never set foot on stage with these guys again!' And I was paying him commissions?"
From the DVD, in Frey's own words, Felder balked at the reunited Eagles contract terms and was coerced by Frey and Azoff into signing the contract under threat of replacement. From the DVD: Frey to Felder's Lawyer: "Hello, Barry, this is Glenn Frey. I'm sorry you happen to represent the only a**hole in the band, but let me tell you something: you either sign the agreement before the sun goes down today, or we're replacing Don Felder. That's the final deal. He signs before sunset, or he's out of the f**king band." At that point, for Felder, the writing was on the wall.
I gathered that this wasn't solely about money, but Felder had the backbone to stand up for himself, Walsh, and Schmit against the backdoor negotiations and dealings of other three greedy little piglets; Frey, Henley, and Azoff. The whole thing became a personality clash and brouhaha over the power structure/consolidation within The Eagles organization. Frey and Henley weren't having any truck with that at any cost.
After pressing for more financial accountability, Felder got a call from Irving Azoff. From the book:
" 'Hi Fingers', he said with a sigh. 'I've got some bad news, I'm afraid. The band had a meeting, and they decided to go on without you.' "
A shocked & distraught Felder was finally able to contact Glenn Frey at his studio for an explanation and plead to stay in the band. Again, from the book:
" 'I never want to get another f***ing letter from Barry Tyerman.' he said gruffly. Hearing the obvious emotion in my voice, he added witheringly: 'Try to reach some higher ground on this, Felder.' The phone line went dead."
Felder was out. So much for the guy whose guitar playing chops helped propel The Eagles to superstardom and gave them one of their greatest songs and one of Rock's most iconic guitar duets on "Hotel California". Tossed away like a used, paper cup. Felder may have willing to let bygones be bygones after 1980, but apparently Frey and Henley hadn't.
One thing was certain: Felder's lawsuits and 2008 tell-all book forever severed all relationships with The Eagles. Lawsuits against The Eagles, the final court showdown with Henley and Frey, a heart-to-heart with Joe Walsh, and an undisclosed, out-of-court settlement for Felder. It was over.
So apparently, "Life In The Fast Lane" is only just life on a dark, desert highway. I was captivated in the first few pages. Don Felder's Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001) read almost like a Sidney Sheldon novel.
The book notwithstanding, The Eagles remain much beloved by many, including me. It's sad how things turned out the way they did for Felder, the band, the scandalous, negative publicity, and the passing of Glenn Frey; but like a rock tumbler, the friction, heat, and occasional violence turn out a smooth, beautiful, polished product.
The Eagles were one of the most popular and iconic bands of the 20th century. Their music and vocal harmonies were almost magical. Even today, close to 50 years later, when I hear a classic Eagles song, it takes me back to the Halcion days of my teens in the early-mid 1970s. Thank you for the great music and memories. The Eagles, once a band of their time, became a band for all time. Don Felder had a big hand in it.
May 26, 2015
Mr. Felder wrote a very telling and personal account of his time with the Eagles. I've been an Eagles fan since 1974 and as a kid I simply loved the music, the words, the riffs, renditions and all that represented the Eagles. In 2005 as I moved from Southern California to Northern Virginia I made it a point to drive through Winslow Arizona just because of the song "Take It Easy".
What I appreciated the most about this book was the personal touch Mr. Felder added. The story of his humble beginnings in a similar yet different way reminded me of my own. The roads he took that would lead him to both his wife and the band were simply something that he allowed to happen and he took his course naturally. One gets the sense of reading this outstanding work that he is a man of great patience and privacy - yet he shares with us (his fans) the intricacies of both personal and professional band member life. He exposes the flaws, reminisces of the successes, shares the joys of children being born and reflects passionately on his love for his parents; though this too is not without its trials and tribulations on his personal reflections. As a kid growing up in Southern California it was easy to understand this music, these events, these recordings of (to a larger extent) the American Southwest, the desert that lays between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is vast as one crosses the State Border Line from California to Nevada - that whole area in which it has its own natural beauty has always reminded me of the Eagles.
I hope for the future Mr. Felder will write more books and provide his fans with more insight on the music industry; though I myself am not a musician the simple truth of the matter is I simply know what I like to listen to whether as mundane tasks in life occur and whether (for example) cook inside or have a fire pit outside, Eagles music will be a part of the back drop on occasion. I would love to read a book from him specifically on his experiences with the technological aspect of change in the music industry. It would be a good read should he consider to write one later.
I have been a big Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers fan since 1979 with "Damn the Torpedo's" LP; a treasure treat for me was reading how Mr. Felder and Mr. Petty as kids got together so Mr. Felder could "teach" and assist Mr. Petty with his own personal development. I could just sit back and ponder as read those simple passages within this fabulous book.
Meanwhile, if you're an Eagles fan this book is simply for you and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. For dumb a Jarhead like me, a military guy, a guy no longer in the military and yet a professional within the U.S. Government these songs and this story made me think (of my own life) as I crossed Mr. Felder's account of the many songs and tours he took to support each of the great albums this band made.
I won't be watching the documentary on The Eagles as a result of this book; I do own "Hell Freezes Over" DVD however and I watch it annually.
What I appreciated the most about this book was the personal touch Mr. Felder added. The story of his humble beginnings in a similar yet different way reminded me of my own. The roads he took that would lead him to both his wife and the band were simply something that he allowed to happen and he took his course naturally. One gets the sense of reading this outstanding work that he is a man of great patience and privacy - yet he shares with us (his fans) the intricacies of both personal and professional band member life. He exposes the flaws, reminisces of the successes, shares the joys of children being born and reflects passionately on his love for his parents; though this too is not without its trials and tribulations on his personal reflections. As a kid growing up in Southern California it was easy to understand this music, these events, these recordings of (to a larger extent) the American Southwest, the desert that lays between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is vast as one crosses the State Border Line from California to Nevada - that whole area in which it has its own natural beauty has always reminded me of the Eagles.
I hope for the future Mr. Felder will write more books and provide his fans with more insight on the music industry; though I myself am not a musician the simple truth of the matter is I simply know what I like to listen to whether as mundane tasks in life occur and whether (for example) cook inside or have a fire pit outside, Eagles music will be a part of the back drop on occasion. I would love to read a book from him specifically on his experiences with the technological aspect of change in the music industry. It would be a good read should he consider to write one later.
I have been a big Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers fan since 1979 with "Damn the Torpedo's" LP; a treasure treat for me was reading how Mr. Felder and Mr. Petty as kids got together so Mr. Felder could "teach" and assist Mr. Petty with his own personal development. I could just sit back and ponder as read those simple passages within this fabulous book.
Meanwhile, if you're an Eagles fan this book is simply for you and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. For dumb a Jarhead like me, a military guy, a guy no longer in the military and yet a professional within the U.S. Government these songs and this story made me think (of my own life) as I crossed Mr. Felder's account of the many songs and tours he took to support each of the great albums this band made.
I won't be watching the documentary on The Eagles as a result of this book; I do own "Hell Freezes Over" DVD however and I watch it annually.
May 5, 2013
It's not often that celebrity autobiographies are this well written. While credit goes to writer Wendy Holden, Felder surely provided the content, tone and some editing.
Anyone who has been in a workplace controlled by a negative alliance knows the dynamic Felder describes. He goes light on it, but the examples given are classic power trips which would certainly be magnified by the drugs, the adulation of the crowds, the money and the pressure to record and perform in front of 40,000 people.
It's interesting how this played out legally. To walk away (as did two band member/partners) meant the loss of an ownership share. A share was worth millions, but the true amount was elusive knowledge since Felder's shared manager favored the power alliance. I presume Henley and Frey had wanted Felder out for years, and Felder subconsciously understood this and coped accordingly.
I went to Frey's web site. He seems to be indirectly responding to this book. He puts his spin on the Cranston fund raiser, the allocation of hotel rooms, the tense creative sessions and other items where he doesn't come off very well.
The childhood predicts that Felder would be sensitive, and the abused wife syndrome is an accurate metaphor. When Frey and Henley pulled the plug, Felder's emotional state was as they expected, but they probably never thought he'd sue them. Because these guys are far richer than us normal folks, the suit raised some sneers, but I think Felder needed to do this.
Felder's life is a prism of the times. His roots, while modest, were not uncommon, and are a period piece. His relationship with his parents is pure generation gap. His salt of the earth father had no life experience to help him fathom the forces his son was contending with. His brother, only a few years older, followed the accepted path, but did not have the unseen pressures of Don and his cohorts. A loving mother was caught between.
I never followed the Eagles, but like all Americans, their music is a backdrop to many events in my life. I hadn't given much thought to why I didn't know their faces, nor much about band personnel until the solo careers of Henley and Frey. Now I know that this was by design.
Anyone who has been in a workplace controlled by a negative alliance knows the dynamic Felder describes. He goes light on it, but the examples given are classic power trips which would certainly be magnified by the drugs, the adulation of the crowds, the money and the pressure to record and perform in front of 40,000 people.
It's interesting how this played out legally. To walk away (as did two band member/partners) meant the loss of an ownership share. A share was worth millions, but the true amount was elusive knowledge since Felder's shared manager favored the power alliance. I presume Henley and Frey had wanted Felder out for years, and Felder subconsciously understood this and coped accordingly.
I went to Frey's web site. He seems to be indirectly responding to this book. He puts his spin on the Cranston fund raiser, the allocation of hotel rooms, the tense creative sessions and other items where he doesn't come off very well.
The childhood predicts that Felder would be sensitive, and the abused wife syndrome is an accurate metaphor. When Frey and Henley pulled the plug, Felder's emotional state was as they expected, but they probably never thought he'd sue them. Because these guys are far richer than us normal folks, the suit raised some sneers, but I think Felder needed to do this.
Felder's life is a prism of the times. His roots, while modest, were not uncommon, and are a period piece. His relationship with his parents is pure generation gap. His salt of the earth father had no life experience to help him fathom the forces his son was contending with. His brother, only a few years older, followed the accepted path, but did not have the unseen pressures of Don and his cohorts. A loving mother was caught between.
I never followed the Eagles, but like all Americans, their music is a backdrop to many events in my life. I hadn't given much thought to why I didn't know their faces, nor much about band personnel until the solo careers of Henley and Frey. Now I know that this was by design.
May 16, 2008
Finally, the firing of Don Felder from the Eagles from Don Felder's point of view! But the book is so much more than that, and spends roughly the first third chronicling Don's life from childhood up to the time he joined The Eagles.
It's a raw and open account of a man baring his soul about not only his life with The Eagles, but mixing in his own personal life. What I've found intriguing about this book is Felder's honesty and the matter of fact tone he has taken in writing this. I never got the sense that he was trying to hide anything.
I do wish that the book didn't have to be re-edited to be acceptable for release. Then we could really see how bad it was in the Eagles.
As a guitar player myself, I found it incredibly cool how Don Felder talked about his obsession with the guitar growing up. For guitar players of all levels and aspiring performers, this is a must-read.
It's a raw and open account of a man baring his soul about not only his life with The Eagles, but mixing in his own personal life. What I've found intriguing about this book is Felder's honesty and the matter of fact tone he has taken in writing this. I never got the sense that he was trying to hide anything.
I do wish that the book didn't have to be re-edited to be acceptable for release. Then we could really see how bad it was in the Eagles.
As a guitar player myself, I found it incredibly cool how Don Felder talked about his obsession with the guitar growing up. For guitar players of all levels and aspiring performers, this is a must-read.
August 12, 2017
FIRST LINE REVIEW: "We could hear the rumble of the crowd in the dressing room." And readers can hear the rumble of discontent through all 300+ pages of this tell-all memoir. Yes, Frey and Henley, "leaders" of The Eagles were arrogant, prima-donnas, but Felder's endless whining about everything (valid or not) got really old. That, and the need for a stronger editor to catch all the repetition that is generously sprinkled throughout the book. Life in the fast lane of this book, almost made me lose my mind.
September 22, 2011
This is one of the best autobiographies I have EVER read. I enjoyed the Eagles, but was never a diehard fan. I found the behind the scenes stuff to be VERY interesting. I always felt that Don Henley was an egotistical, selfish, self-absorbed jerk, but had no idea Glenn Frey was as bad (or worse) than Henley was. Thank you, Don Felder for your candidness and your entertaining memoir.
October 12, 2024
Great writing about a band I've loved since childhood.
SPOILERS:
It is so sad. I could not stop thinking "what a waste".
These guys were and are so talented. I hated to read about the estrangement. I wish all could have worked out fine but I guess that isn't always how reality works.
An engaging story and one I'd recommended especially if you love The Eagles.
SPOILERS:
It is so sad. I could not stop thinking "what a waste".
These guys were and are so talented. I hated to read about the estrangement. I wish all could have worked out fine but I guess that isn't always how reality works.
An engaging story and one I'd recommended especially if you love The Eagles.
May 23, 2022
4.2 for me. The Eagles were part of the soundtrack of my youth so an inside story by one of the members about their history was very welcomed. I was sorry to see the book end.
The power issues the band fought through were interesting. Whose songs get played? What kind of music should they play? Is the band a democracy or an autocracy with sideman? How is the money split? Do some members own more of the group, have more management authority and the right to hire and fire than other members?
Frey and Henley increasingly asserted their decisions for the group. It felt like Felder wrote a pretty honest account of it from his perspective.
I wasn't a big Eagle fan but revisiting the making of all their hits was a lot of fun.
The power issues the band fought through were interesting. Whose songs get played? What kind of music should they play? Is the band a democracy or an autocracy with sideman? How is the money split? Do some members own more of the group, have more management authority and the right to hire and fire than other members?
Frey and Henley increasingly asserted their decisions for the group. It felt like Felder wrote a pretty honest account of it from his perspective.
I wasn't a big Eagle fan but revisiting the making of all their hits was a lot of fun.
March 10, 2026
I found the book an interesting one sided take from Don Felder. While it's well documented how the members of the Eagles had endured their share of in fighting, it seemed that Felder expressed himself as a victim all too often.
If he had expressed more of a 2 sided approach throughout his story, the read would have been better.
I saw the Eagles just prior to Glen Freys passing and their show was extremely tight and with Joe Walsh performing a few of his own singles we were really impressed.
When you get a broad span of talent together like the Eagles, "checking your ego at the door" policy doesn't usually exist, Except for the Rolling Stones of course!
If he had expressed more of a 2 sided approach throughout his story, the read would have been better.
I saw the Eagles just prior to Glen Freys passing and their show was extremely tight and with Joe Walsh performing a few of his own singles we were really impressed.
When you get a broad span of talent together like the Eagles, "checking your ego at the door" policy doesn't usually exist, Except for the Rolling Stones of course!
January 15, 2024
I feel like the most shocking revelation from this book is how many folk rock legends came out of gainesville, florida when really all I wanted to know was if don henley and glenn frey ever kissed each other (my money is on yes). that said, this book having been published within ten years of felder’s unceremonious firing, I wonder how he feels about it all now, twenty plus years later and hope that overall he’s doing well. has he reconciled with joe walsh or timothy b. schmidt who failed to support him against henleyfrey? was he ever asked to join the band when they started touring again in recent years? would he even do it? very curious to know what touring life and band camaraderie are like nowadays. mr. felder if you’re seeing this lmk what your thoughts are.
March 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The Eagles started in 1972 and broke up in 1980…so the years between when I was 7 and 15. They were huge, and I hated their music. It was everywhere and I couldn’t stand it. In the past few years, I’ve started to really like some of their songs….likely after watching live performances from back in the 70s. This book was a fascinating read about their story. It’s no surprise that egos and greed broke up a good thing. Seems that Henley nor Frey know much about being a teammate nor about being a leader. Someone should have told them that you can have leadership without anyone (or any two) being dictators.
All of those songs that I’ve started to love were written and created before the band broke up in 1980. In other words, none of the stuff they’ve done since they’ve relaunched matches the work they did with the original band. In my opinion obviously.
All of those songs that I’ve started to love were written and created before the band broke up in 1980. In other words, none of the stuff they’ve done since they’ve relaunched matches the work they did with the original band. In my opinion obviously.
March 10, 2025
Insight Into The Eagles
I’m really glad Don Felder wrote this book. I always wondered about The Eagles and their break up and animosity towards older members. The refusal of some members to let earlier members to be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame was particularly disappointing.
I’m really glad Don Felder wrote this book. I always wondered about The Eagles and their break up and animosity towards older members. The refusal of some members to let earlier members to be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame was particularly disappointing.
February 15, 2025
Interesting account of one of the mainstays of the Eagles. I really enjoyes his history and his perspective on what took place inside the Eagles. I have a dimmer view of both Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Worth the read!
October 5, 2019
Read it in the past, was so good I think I will read again this winter.
Read
March 25, 2021How fame destroys men.
September 18, 2023
If you're an Eagles fan, you've probably heard all these stories before. But he tells them all so well.
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