I have to respond to all this , well stuff. None of us know what actually went on as to why when and how come the band changed. yes it is ruff a business and ABOUT MONEY, Even though they all (Musicians say its about the music). I am a don henley fan, as a writer he is wounderful. But the fact of the mater is as a band together they made a special sound. My last remark is this. They tell all there own sides to this story. don't pick sides just enjoy THE EAGLES!!!!!
Don (Henley), Glenn, I respect you very much as artists and song writers. I have seen four concerts of the Eagles 1974, 1977, 1979, and 1980. My problem? YOU'RE GREEDY. Don is one of the reasons why the Eagles went from Country-Rock band to the top of the Pops in 2 years. I don't know what he did to offend you so much, but I pray you can forgive him and do one more concert with him; it would make my day as a die hard eagles fan to see Joe and Don do one more "Hotel" solo together
Red the book ITS a good book what struck me towards the end Don, talk's like hes almost poor or something!! come on man you got screwed true. but you are one rich dude!!!!!!!!!!!
Don Felder's ouster was blasphemy. I won't support Henley and Frey but bought Eagles albums to keep the cash in Don Felder's pocket. In fact, Felder's contributions to One of These Nights were excellent and lest not to Hotel California and The Long Run albums.
Don Felder is like Forrest Gump: he taught "little" Tommy Petty guitar lessons; he was in a band with Stephen Stills; he knew the Allman Brothers Band & 'stole' slide techniques from Duane; was good friends with Bernie Leadon... That's amazing! This guy was destined to make it big. Good for him - he seems like a cool guy. His book is great, by the way.
Regardless how great the band is it was low to kick don felder out over greed. I love the band but what can they all gain out of it? when each one is pushing 65 seems crazy to me!
I have always wondered about the politics of playing in a band--any band. The rise and fall, the egos, etc. Groups that have stuck together for years have my respect as have members who have retired from such things. I cannot imagine the life....
Thats why I'm happy I grew up in the generation I grew up in, because nowadays there is a blueprint for anything and everything someone wants to do.Back then there was no blueprint or rite or wrong way to do something.You just did it literally straight from the heart.I tell my 4 yr. old daughter all the time that when daddy grew up there was no cell phones or computer, and the look she gives me,almost like she thinks im making it up.
The music business is never fair. Business is not fair and sharks have always existed in this business. I feel that most musicians start off loving to play music, but when business people such as managers and lawyers get involved, musicians learn how to behave like them and are influenced to compromise their integrity. I think this happened to Glen Frye and Don Henley. They saw an opportunity to make more and thought they could pull it off. It's pure Capitalism.
Friends with Duane Allman, Bernie Leadon, Stephen Stills...gave Tom Petty guitar lessons. Wrote the music to Hotel California...quite a legacy. The vids from the 1976 tour with Don Felder and Joe Walsh are legendary. Don H. and Glen won't ever put that out on DVD even though you can buy a good quality bootleg. It's their absolute peak and nothing they are doing today can top it.
Frey and Henley are not Egomaniacs . What they have exhibited is pure and simple unbridled GREED. They had made an arrangement that gave them 4 times what Don Felder Got . Felder did not know or why would he have had to ask !! That was why they gave him the boot - 'cos he had inadvertently rumbled them . Any contract has to be two things 1) Fair 2)Agreed by all parties concerned. Especially how the money gets divided up !!
@hazor777 I wouldn't say other than that !! I would say Frey and Henley are aseholes and always were.There is nothing other that they could possibly be !! It is only now that everyone knows it !! I mean WHY did they stiff Don Felder . It's a bit like some pair of mad fellas in a wild west film who just decide to shoot the best looking gang member and take his cut - "jest 'cos we can " - Henley always looked like a back stabber and Frey was always a suspect . I hope they burn in hell !!
Help or no, Don has aged well. Oh, and fuck that other Don. This Don deserves all the success he's found. Just saw his house on google, "Hotel California" appears to have rewarded him handsomely.
Your work made the Eagles possible...and was the best work they ever created. God only knows where the band would be (more great hits) IF you were still with them.
may be frey & don henley had worked more or wrote more songs. but felder made eagles a recongnizable band to most of the people. hotel california is undoubtfully the best song eagle ever produced and without tht, eagels would not have been as successful as they are today
@dewy200884 You're absolutely right my friend! I agree totally. Though Henley and Frey wrote more and sang lead vocals on plenty more songs Felder made a great contribution to the success of the Eagles!
Felder's absence from the last album, Long Road Out of Eden, was very obvious.
Those fuckers should rename themselves Eagles Lite. Without Don's playing, they sound like a bunch of lightweights. I like Joe Walsh but he isn't enough to pull it off by himself.
@CowbellProfessional Egomaniacs !! - That is far too polite - shit bar grifters !! But it looks like Don felder got a settlement as they did not go to court - That would have hurt Henley and Frey far worse than Don Felder. -Don't forget he only got the heave -ho for asking were all the money went .They thought he'd caught them out !! He Had !! They are just pure Evil .Particularly when you think of all the rich entertainers who have set up trusts and foundations to help various charities !!
My sons band HOVER opened for Mr Felder at the SpediFest/Balloon Rally in Binghamton, NY in August. Hover is a group of 14 year old boys and Don talked alot to them about ...stuff...He is a class act and a wonderful musician. He rocked the house. The hover kids sat, watched, learned and were proud to open for him.
I liked the book. It's a shame his tenure with the Eagles ended like it did, and I agree that Henley and Frey had too big of egos, but at the same time, I agree with them that they did deserve more money since they wrote the majority of the songs, and were the faces of the band. Like anything else in life, those who do the work, should get the money. That being said, I can't watch them now without Felder's brilliant guitar work, anybody else is truly the sideman.
@1mkboyd You may not know these two aholes were (rightfully) getting artist and copyright royalties, for all the songs they had written,as well as the majority of the share from the concerts,cd and dvd sales. They were the faces of the band because they set it up that way. Don Felder's brillant guitar was responsible for bringing the Eagles from a mediocre country style band into what they are today, so he did not deserve to be treated in the way he was. Henley and Frey are greedy egotists!
The same could be said of the Eagles without Randy Meisner, or Bernie Leadon, they were never the same and not nearly as versatile as musicians. One Of These Nights was a great album, with the original lineup, plus Don Felder who joined them during the recording of On The Border. Bernie played a lot of different instruments which gave them a unique sound, and Felder's guitar work fit their style more than Joe Walsh ever did. Randy's vocals are impossible to replace.
@1mkboyd Yes, i don't know about you, but I always preferred the live "band" with Bernie, Randy,Don, Don and Glenn, to the manufactured perfect studio sound that Henley and Frey insisted on later. they are now almost like an Eagles tribute band. These two guys are now also, surfing utube and getting anything to their dislike taken down, such as Randys vocals on take it to the limit (the only guy to do it justice).
WOW WOW WOW what a great story. He sure paid his dues. It's sad to see that Don and Glen tried to rip him off. I'm glad to see that he never lost who he was as a person and musician.
I'm halfway through the book right now. Felder is certainly the unsung hero of the Eagles!!!!! The book is available at your public library, and is a very good book!
Felder was the man who gave birth to Hotel California, but in the credits of the song you'll see to Frey and Henley as co- writters, the men who sued Felder for asking his rights of royalties and you better read his book for knowing better these two great musicians full of greed and power goals. too bad......
Best Guitarist the Eagles ever had, pity Henly & Frey couldn't see that when they got greedy.
pcollinsfamily 4 hours ago
JOE WALSH WAAAAAAAAAAY OVERRATED! FELDER WAAAAAAY BETTER .FUCK henleyfrey
skydogging 1 week ago
I have to respond to all this , well stuff. None of us know what actually went on as to why when and how come the band changed. yes it is ruff a business and ABOUT MONEY, Even though they all (Musicians say its about the music). I am a don henley fan, as a writer he is wounderful. But the fact of the mater is as a band together they made a special sound. My last remark is this. They tell all there own sides to this story. don't pick sides just enjoy THE EAGLES!!!!!
Jeflazb 2 weeks ago
@Jeflazb Well I've read two books one by Don Felder and one about the Eagles, both by different people, yet they both tell the same story.
Henley and Frey don't come out well in either.
Leadon did the best thing when he poured a dring over Frey's head
62Bassman 2 hours ago
Comment removed
ToddSweeneyOnce 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
ToddSweeneyOnce 2 weeks ago
@tjrrockandrollmaster And with on the border. And live he was phenomenal
guitarplayer30001 2 weeks ago
Don (Henley), Glenn, I respect you very much as artists and song writers. I have seen four concerts of the Eagles 1974, 1977, 1979, and 1980. My problem? YOU'RE GREEDY. Don is one of the reasons why the Eagles went from Country-Rock band to the top of the Pops in 2 years. I don't know what he did to offend you so much, but I pray you can forgive him and do one more concert with him; it would make my day as a die hard eagles fan to see Joe and Don do one more "Hotel" solo together
71thewho 2 weeks ago 2
Red the book ITS a good book what struck me towards the end Don, talk's like hes almost poor or something!! come on man you got screwed true. but you are one rich dude!!!!!!!!!!!
kenasu1258 1 month ago
Don Felder's ouster was blasphemy. I won't support Henley and Frey but bought Eagles albums to keep the cash in Don Felder's pocket. In fact, Felder's contributions to One of These Nights were excellent and lest not to Hotel California and The Long Run albums.
tjrrockandrollmaster 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@malilebu1303621 HFO??
ZR1Terror 1 month ago
Henley & Frey are greedy Cunts! I hope they go broke.
Johnnyboi456 2 months ago
Don Felder is like Forrest Gump: he taught "little" Tommy Petty guitar lessons; he was in a band with Stephen Stills; he knew the Allman Brothers Band & 'stole' slide techniques from Duane; was good friends with Bernie Leadon... That's amazing! This guy was destined to make it big. Good for him - he seems like a cool guy. His book is great, by the way.
jefffro66 2 months ago
Don Felder was screwed over when The Eagles fired him in 2001.
MNVike26Fan 2 months ago
Read his book if you have time.Good reading.
BEATDOWNBANKER 2 months ago
Did he mention that he came from poor conditions?
2much4mymirror 3 months ago
Don Felder - What an inspiration - came from nothing and paid his dues. Always was my favorite Eagle.
TAYLORFAN50 4 months ago 3
agreed about the former points and a nice guy to go with it also.
danvelgtr 4 months ago
Hey everybody's got a story and their own perspective. Who knows? Did he say Gainesville? As in Skynyrd....
rektuner 4 months ago
Don Felder was the main composer of Hotel California, the others were co-writer!!!
the so-called "GODS" (Henley & Frey) wrote Don Felder's name only in third place, because they will bring themselves in the forefront!!
I recommend you read the book "Heaven & Hell - My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)" written by "Don Felder and Wendy Holden"
wambui37 4 months ago
part 2?
guitarplayer30001 5 months ago
Regardless how great the band is it was low to kick don felder out over greed. I love the band but what can they all gain out of it? when each one is pushing 65 seems crazy to me!
TheSTEVEHICKS 5 months ago
I have always wondered about the politics of playing in a band--any band. The rise and fall, the egos, etc. Groups that have stuck together for years have my respect as have members who have retired from such things. I cannot imagine the life....
cochranexyz 6 months ago
Don Felder is "Hotel California" !
abraxas896913 8 months ago
Thats why I'm happy I grew up in the generation I grew up in, because nowadays there is a blueprint for anything and everything someone wants to do.Back then there was no blueprint or rite or wrong way to do something.You just did it literally straight from the heart.I tell my 4 yr. old daughter all the time that when daddy grew up there was no cell phones or computer, and the look she gives me,almost like she thinks im making it up.
DARRINCONNOR1 9 months ago
I just finnished this book. A great read.
MrUltraworld 11 months ago
he's a nice guy
cbarrett34 11 months ago
The music business is never fair. Business is not fair and sharks have always existed in this business. I feel that most musicians start off loving to play music, but when business people such as managers and lawyers get involved, musicians learn how to behave like them and are influenced to compromise their integrity. I think this happened to Glen Frye and Don Henley. They saw an opportunity to make more and thought they could pull it off. It's pure Capitalism.
veeoleary 11 months ago
Friends with Duane Allman, Bernie Leadon, Stephen Stills...gave Tom Petty guitar lessons. Wrote the music to Hotel California...quite a legacy. The vids from the 1976 tour with Don Felder and Joe Walsh are legendary. Don H. and Glen won't ever put that out on DVD even though you can buy a good quality bootleg. It's their absolute peak and nothing they are doing today can top it.
virnman 11 months ago 3
Greetings from Holland,
Don Felder.....the best guitar player in the world!
daschudde 1 year ago 3
Frey and Henley are not Egomaniacs . What they have exhibited is pure and simple unbridled GREED. They had made an arrangement that gave them 4 times what Don Felder Got . Felder did not know or why would he have had to ask !! That was why they gave him the boot - 'cos he had inadvertently rumbled them . Any contract has to be two things 1) Fair 2)Agreed by all parties concerned. Especially how the money gets divided up !!
domnal 1 year ago
@hazor777 I wouldn't say other than that !! I would say Frey and Henley are aseholes and always were.There is nothing other that they could possibly be !! It is only now that everyone knows it !! I mean WHY did they stiff Don Felder . It's a bit like some pair of mad fellas in a wild west film who just decide to shoot the best looking gang member and take his cut - "jest 'cos we can " - Henley always looked like a back stabber and Frey was always a suspect . I hope they burn in hell !!
domnal 1 year ago
Help or no, Don has aged well. Oh, and fuck that other Don. This Don deserves all the success he's found. Just saw his house on google, "Hotel California" appears to have rewarded him handsomely.
KnqsX 1 year ago
@KnqsX i bet he is very grateful for don henley taking his strummings on an old tape and turning it into that song for him...
mrbarleymob 11 months ago
Your work made the Eagles possible...and was the best work they ever created. God only knows where the band would be (more great hits) IF you were still with them.
besthits2011 1 year ago
may be frey & don henley had worked more or wrote more songs. but felder made eagles a recongnizable band to most of the people. hotel california is undoubtfully the best song eagle ever produced and without tht, eagels would not have been as successful as they are today
dewy200884 1 year ago
@dewy200884 You're absolutely right my friend! I agree totally. Though Henley and Frey wrote more and sang lead vocals on plenty more songs Felder made a great contribution to the success of the Eagles!
RPSteve 6 months ago
Don Felder said in his book that Joe Walsh could suck his own cock.
yourdickis2limp 1 year ago
@yourdickis2limp The book never said anything about Joe's ability to do this, which would be quite a feat, but one he should keep to himself!
1mkboyd 1 year ago
@1mkboyd Oops...My bad,that was in Don Henleys book not Don felders.
yourdickis2limp 1 year ago
Felder's absence from the last album, Long Road Out of Eden, was very obvious.
Those fuckers should rename themselves Eagles Lite. Without Don's playing, they sound like a bunch of lightweights. I like Joe Walsh but he isn't enough to pull it off by himself.
thozzman 1 year ago
And, at 1:40 we show a 5-string bass with 24 frets. Um.... I just finished reading his book. Great stuff. Henley & Frey are egomaniacs, go figure.
CowbellProfessional 1 year ago
@CowbellProfessional Egomaniacs !! - That is far too polite - shit bar grifters !! But it looks like Don felder got a settlement as they did not go to court - That would have hurt Henley and Frey far worse than Don Felder. -Don't forget he only got the heave -ho for asking were all the money went .They thought he'd caught them out !! He Had !! They are just pure Evil .Particularly when you think of all the rich entertainers who have set up trusts and foundations to help various charities !!
domnal 1 year ago
Never knew Stills & Felder were kids playing guitars together in Florida!
4catsgg 1 year ago
@4catsgg : read the book, you wont put it down till yer finished - excellent read!!
hazor777 1 year ago
My sons band HOVER opened for Mr Felder at the SpediFest/Balloon Rally in Binghamton, NY in August. Hover is a group of 14 year old boys and Don talked alot to them about ...stuff...He is a class act and a wonderful musician. He rocked the house. The hover kids sat, watched, learned and were proud to open for him.
Jimarama123 1 year ago
there is a big hole in the Eagles without this man. I cant think of the senenties without thinking of the original Eagles.
MrGalaxie65 1 year ago
What an inspiring story. This man has strenght of character. Looking forward to the show on Saturday night and Kathrin is going to be there! YAY!
MississaugaDreamHome 1 year ago
I liked the book. It's a shame his tenure with the Eagles ended like it did, and I agree that Henley and Frey had too big of egos, but at the same time, I agree with them that they did deserve more money since they wrote the majority of the songs, and were the faces of the band. Like anything else in life, those who do the work, should get the money. That being said, I can't watch them now without Felder's brilliant guitar work, anybody else is truly the sideman.
1mkboyd 1 year ago
@1mkboyd You may not know these two aholes were (rightfully) getting artist and copyright royalties, for all the songs they had written,as well as the majority of the share from the concerts,cd and dvd sales. They were the faces of the band because they set it up that way. Don Felder's brillant guitar was responsible for bringing the Eagles from a mediocre country style band into what they are today, so he did not deserve to be treated in the way he was. Henley and Frey are greedy egotists!
teddyoneills 1 year ago
@teddyoneills
The same could be said of the Eagles without Randy Meisner, or Bernie Leadon, they were never the same and not nearly as versatile as musicians. One Of These Nights was a great album, with the original lineup, plus Don Felder who joined them during the recording of On The Border. Bernie played a lot of different instruments which gave them a unique sound, and Felder's guitar work fit their style more than Joe Walsh ever did. Randy's vocals are impossible to replace.
1mkboyd 1 year ago
@1mkboyd Yes, i don't know about you, but I always preferred the live "band" with Bernie, Randy,Don, Don and Glenn, to the manufactured perfect studio sound that Henley and Frey insisted on later. they are now almost like an Eagles tribute band. These two guys are now also, surfing utube and getting anything to their dislike taken down, such as Randys vocals on take it to the limit (the only guy to do it justice).
teddyoneills 1 year ago
WOW WOW WOW what a great story. He sure paid his dues. It's sad to see that Don and Glen tried to rip him off. I'm glad to see that he never lost who he was as a person and musician.
gmajorspresents 1 year ago
haha 1:41 it's a bass
ohvnaq 1 year ago
@ohvnaq dickhead! It's just a picture to help the story!!
kevlength 1 year ago
@kevlength i know
surath27 1 year ago
steuart smith is no slouch with that 2 necked guitar. take him and walsh away, and you have a very average group.
ramhakus 1 year ago
I'm halfway through the book right now. Felder is certainly the unsung hero of the Eagles!!!!! The book is available at your public library, and is a very good book!
irve 1 year ago
Don seems so humble. Frey and Henley could have learned about how to conduct themselves from Mr. Felder.
gordlightfootfan 1 year ago 4
Felder was the man who gave birth to Hotel California, but in the credits of the song you'll see to Frey and Henley as co- writters, the men who sued Felder for asking his rights of royalties and you better read his book for knowing better these two great musicians full of greed and power goals. too bad......
myryckyz 1 year ago 2
You could be right.
ZR1Terror 1 year ago
I love how these guys always have their names with a wonderful occupational description.
Don Felder
legendary musician
My description would read
johndoebob69
unremarkable at best
johndoebob69 1 year ago
Crime what happened, and that Joe and Timothy put up with the Frey/Henley monopoly, however, I still love the band, it's just a shame, is all
MetallicBill 1 year ago 2
Whats with the bass.
Dannymusic1999 2 years ago
Agreed--Felder rules!
GarAndTeed 2 years ago 4
I love Don Felder. Thanks for posting this.
jts001 2 years ago 5
felder is the man!!!
manemustaine 2 years ago 3
One of the best guitarists ever
xXxFatalClawxXx 2 years ago 33
@xXxFatalClawxXx
What a pity they (Henley Frey) couldn't take the truth and made a petty effort to stop the book being released.
Sad pathetic people can't face the truth.
62Bassman 2 hours ago
Best guitar player from the Eagles!
ZR1Terror 2 years ago 20
@ZR1Terror Felder would say it was Bernie Leadon however! haha
MetallicBill 1 year ago
@ZR1Terror no i think its joe walsh or bernie leadon
guitargeek1122 1 year ago
@ZR1Terror The BEST.....he was fantastic on the HFO Hotel california version.....
malilebu1303621 1 month ago