The History of the Eagles

[conversationpc]

Check out Frey picking the guitar...these guys were damn good before Felder and Walsh.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=cal ... FORM=VIRE1

Whoever that was singing is/was horrible.

[Don]

Felder is such a crybaby. He, Lou Gramm and Sammy Hagar need to share a playpen together.
All great artists but this constant need to boo hoo to the public about how their business companions screwed them over is pathetic. Let your lawyers handle it and move on. They're worse than three broads at the hairdresser running their mouth nonstop due to an overindulgence in bonbons.

[conversationpc]

Felder is such a crybaby. He, Lou Gramm and Sammy Hagar need to share a playpen together.
All great artists but this constant need to boo hoo to the public about how their business companions screwed them over is pathetic. Let your lawyers handle it and move on. They're worse than three broads at the hairdresser running their mouth nonstop due to an overindulgence in bonbons.

I've seen/heard Gramm interviewed on multiple occasions and he's never come across that way to me. Hagar? He just sounds like he enjoys talking about it and is probably much happier than anyone in the Van Halen camp. I can't speak for Felder.

[verslibre]

When it comes to Sammy, it's got nothing to do with money. He wipes his ass with $50 bills and flushes them. The guy is loaded. He's like many people, he misses something that was good. But he at least gets to indulge some of that halcyon era with Mikey and his other collaborators.

[Enigma869]

Finally got around to watching this SUPERB documentary. If you're an Eagles fan (and I am), this is an absolute MUST watch! Sure, Glenn Frey comes across a bit harsh, but the reality is that band was built around Frey and Henley's immense talent, period, end of story. That band could have existed with those two and a bunch of hired guns. They were that good. The two of them are brilliant musicians and SUPERB song writers. One of my favorite lines was by Henley when he was asked about Felder demanding to sing lead on some tracks. He said that Felder's demand was every bit as ridiculous as it would have been had Henley demanded to play lead guitar on "Hotel California".

This is easily the best American band ever assembled, and I'm not even sure who a close second would be. Unlike me, my wife isn't into music, even a little, and yet she knows the entire catalogue of Eagles music. It's really astonishing how many classic tunes this band turned out. I marvel at the prolific song writing of Frey and Henley. Hell, these guys went into a room one day after September 11, 2001 and wrote "Hole in the World" (about that event) in a matter of a few hours. Has there been another band (from any country) who had so many hit songs with various lead singers? I think Henley is a great, great singer, but Frey is no slouch. Then you had Schmidt singing lead on a couple of big hits, and Meisner singing lead on "Take it to the Limit". Crazy stuff. On another note, Henley has to be the most accomplished singer I've ever seen while playing the drums. That looks distracting as hell. No wonder, so few even try to do it. Phil Collins is the only one I can think of who did it regularly.

[Liam]

I thought you were gonna post this....

[Enigma869]

I always thought it was funny that Henley is from Texas and Frey is from Michigan and Frey sounds more country than Henley.

Actually, I find it more amusing that they introduce themselves as "The Eagles from Los Angeles". Don Henley is into the earthy, crunchy shit, but he's a Texan all the way.

[No Surprize]

Finally got around to watching this SUPERB documentary. If you're an Eagles fan (and I am), this is an absolute MUST watch! Sure, Glenn Frey comes across a bit harsh, but the reality is that band was built around Frey and Henley's immense talent, period, end of story. That band could have existed with those two and a bunch of hired guns. They were that good. The two of them are brilliant musicians and SUPERB song writers. One of my favorite lines was by Henley when he was asked about Felder demanding to sing lead on some tracks. He said that Felder's demand was every bit as ridiculous as it would have been had Henley demanded to play lead guitar on "Hotel California".

This is easily the best American band ever assembled, and I'm not even sure who a close second would be. Unlike me, my wife isn't into music, even a little, and yet she knows the entire catalogue of Eagles music. It's really astonishing how many classic tunes this band turned out. I marvel at the prolific song writing of Frey and Henley. Hell, these guys went into a room one day after September 11, 2001 and wrote "Hole in the World" (about that event) in a matter of a few hours. Has there been another band (from any country) who had so many hit songs with various lead singers? I think Henley is a great, great singer, but Frey is no slouch. Then you had Schmidt singing lead on a couple of big hits, and Meisner singing lead on "Take it to the Limit". Crazy stuff. On another note, Henley has to be the most accomplished singer I've ever seen while playing the drums. That looks distracting as hell. No wonder, so few even try to do it. Phil Collins is the only one I can think of who did it regularly.

I'm a huge Eagle's fan also. If you go back to the earlier stuff, Henley & Frey while they wrote some, they had outside help, A LOT! J.D. Souther wrote a shitload of them including "New kid in town" & "Best of my love". . Jackson Browne also was one of their songwriters who was the major songwriter of "Take it easy". Jack Tempchin wrote "Peaceful easy feeling" and "Already Gone". The guitar riff was all Felder.

[Enigma869]

I'm a huge Eagle's fan also. If you go back to the earlier stuff, Henley & Frey while they wrote some, they had outside help, A LOT! J.D. Souther wrote a shitload of them including "New kid in town" & "Best of my love". . Jackson Browne also was one of their songwriters who was the major songwriter of "Take it easy". Jack Tempchin wrote "Peaceful easy feeling" and "Already Gone". The guitar riff was all Felder.

I'm well aware that The Eagles had help writing their songs (EVERY band does). That doesn't diminish the musicians that Frey and Henley are. I chuckled at some of the responses in this thread. Especially about The Eagles being "overrated". Really? Overrrated? Name another American band better than them? Sorry, not buying it. I'm not a Beatles fan and never have been. That said, I would never underestimate their significance to the music world by calling them overrated.

On another note, if you're an Eagles fan, you'll probably enjoy Don Henley's "Inside Job" concert on DVD. I haven't watched it in many years, but it's a superb concert...unless you're the guy who thinks Henley can't sing.

[Rick]

I'm a huge Eagle's fan also. If you go back to the earlier stuff, Henley & Frey while they wrote some, they had outside help, A LOT! J.D. Souther wrote a shitload of them including "New kid in town" & "Best of my love". . Jackson Browne also was one of their songwriters who was the major songwriter of "Take it easy". Jack Tempchin wrote "Peaceful easy feeling" and "Already Gone". The guitar riff was all Felder.

I'm well aware that The Eagles had help writing their songs (EVERY band does). That doesn't diminish the musicians that Frey and Henley are. I chuckled at some of the responses in this thread. Especially about The Eagles being "overrated". Really? Overrrated? Name another American band better than them? Sorry, not buying it. I'm not a Beatles fan and never have been. That said, I would never underestimate their significance to the music world by calling them overrated.

On another note, if you're an Eagles fan, you'll probably enjoy Don Henley's "Inside Job" concert on DVD. I haven't watched it in many years, but it's a superb concert...unless you're the guy who thinks Henley can't sing.

You're absolutely right, John. To me, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones are the premier bands of our time. They are the elite, and I feel exactly about the Beatles as you do. I don't care for their music, but sure as hell respect what they accomplished. I do love the other three, the Rolling Stones the least. I can listen to the Eagles for a while, then I'm going to need something a bit harder to listen to, but damn. You'll never find better musicianship. Nowhere will you find better song writing and harmonies. They had it all. Led Zeppelin stands on their own. They were flat out amazing.

[No Surprize]

I'm well aware that The Eagles had help writing their songs (EVERY band does). That doesn't diminish the musicians that Frey and Henley are. I chuckled at some of the responses in this thread. Especially about The Eagles being "overrated". Really? Overrrated? Name another American band better than them? Sorry, not buying it. I'm not a Beatles fan and never have been. That said, I would never underestimate their significance to the music world by calling them overrated.

On another note, if you're an Eagles fan, you'll probably enjoy Don Henley's "Inside Job" concert on DVD. I haven't watched it in many years, but it's a superb concert...unless you're the guy who thinks Henley can't sing.

You're absolutely right, John. To me, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones are the premier bands of our time. They are the elite, and I feel exactly about the Beatles as you do. I don't care for their music, but sure as hell respect what they accomplished. I do love the other three, the Rolling Stones the least. I can listen to the Eagles for a while, then I'm going to need something a bit harder to listen to, but damn. You'll never find better musicianship. Nowhere will you find better song writing and harmonies. They had it all. Led Zeppelin stands on their own. They were flat out amazing.

The Eagles without a doubt are a iconic american band and are a top ten band of all time. Better though is subjective and there have been other great american bands. Aerosmith, TP&TH, Kiss, Halen, Metallica, but none of these are the style of music of The Eagles. They are alone in that respect.

The Beatles had amazing songwriters (Lennon & McCartney and Harrison) and to me the songs would have been so much better had they had the recording & production equipment of even the late 70's at their disposal.

I agree, Zeppelin is Iconic but I can only take them when I'm really in the mood to listen to them. There are some of the mainstream songs that I dig, but for the most part I love the lesser known stuff by them.

The Rolling Stones. I think, suck. Jagger, while a good frontman, is very average at singing, especially live. I have some of their music, but never owned an entire album by them, just some songs.

[Enigma869]

The Eagles without a doubt are a iconic american band and are a top ten band of all time. Better though is subjective and there have been other great american bands. Aerosmith, TP&TH, Kiss, Halen, Metallica, but none of these are the style of music of The Eagles. They are alone in that respect.

The Beatles had amazing songwriters (Lennon & McCartney and Harrison) and to me the songs would have been so much better had they had the recording & production equipment of even the late 70's at their disposal.

I agree, Zeppelin is Iconic but I can only take them when I'm really in the mood to listen to them. There are some of the mainstream songs that I dig, but for the most part I love the lesser known stuff by them.

The Rolling Stones. I think, suck. Jagger, while a good frontman, is very average at singing, especially live. I have some of their music, but never owned an entire album by them, just some songs.

I'm with you on the Stones. I've always thought Jagger was an AWFUL singer. I certainly marvel that they've been at it as long as they've been at it, but that's about it for me. I've never quite "got" the whole Stones thing and never will. Jagger proves that you can be a talentless hack and still front a rock and roll band for decades.

[conversationpc]

I chuckled at some of the responses in this thread. Especially about The Eagles being "overrated". Really? Overrrated? Name another American band better than them? Sorry, not buying it. I'm not a Beatles fan and never have been. That said, I would never underestimate their significance to the music world by calling them overrated.

It depends on what you consider "better". If you're going purely by numbers of albums sold, the only ones "better" would be Elvis and Garth Brooks, both of whom have easily outsold the Eagles.

[slucero]

I chuckled at some of the responses in this thread. Especially about The Eagles being "overrated". Really? Overrrated? Name another American band better than them? Sorry, not buying it. I'm not a Beatles fan and never have been. That said, I would never underestimate their significance to the music world by calling them overrated.

It depends on what you consider "better". If you're going purely by numbers of albums sold, the only ones "better" would be Elvis and Garth Brooks, both of whom have easily outsold the Eagles.

You sure about that bruddah? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_b ... re_records

250 million or more records
1.The Beatles
2.Elvis Presley
3.Michael Jackson
4.Madonna
5.Led Zeppelin
6.Pink Floyd


200 million to 249 million records
7.Mariah Carey
8.Celine Dion
9.Whitney Houston
10.AC/DC
11.The Rolling Stones
12.Queen
13.ABBA


120 million to 199 million records
14.Eagles
15.U2
16.Billy Joel
17.Phil Collins
18.Aerosmith
19.Frank Sinatra
20.Barbra Streisand
21.Garth Brooks
22.Genesis
23.Donna Summer
24.Neil Diamond
25.Bruce Springsteen
26.Bee Gees
27.Julio Iglesias
28.Dire Straits

[Enigma869]

It depends on what you consider "better". If you're going purely by numbers of albums sold, the only ones "better" would be Elvis and Garth Brooks, both of whom have easily outsold the Eagles.

I guess the term "better" is certainly subjective. I definitely wasn't referring to amount of albums sold, because that doesn't mean a thing to me. Hell, I suspect that Justin Bieber would sell a fuckload of albums if anyone was actually buying them, these days. I'm referring more to their body of work. I can't think of a band (and last I checked, Elvis wasn't a band...and neither is Garth Brooks) who has so many GREAT songs (again...subjective, but soooo many people know this band's music). I would say that The Eagles "Greatest Hits 1971-1975" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Chronicle" are my two favorite albums of all time. It's simply music that never gets old to me.

[conversationpc]

I chuckled at some of the responses in this thread. Especially about The Eagles being "overrated". Really? Overrrated? Name another American band better than them? Sorry, not buying it. I'm not a Beatles fan and never have been. That said, I would never underestimate their significance to the music world by calling them overrated.

It depends on what you consider "better". If you're going purely by numbers of albums sold, the only ones "better" would be Elvis and Garth Brooks, both of whom have easily outsold the Eagles.

You sure about that bruddah? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_b ... re_records

250 million or more records
1.The Beatles
2.Elvis Presley
3.Michael Jackson
4.Madonna
5.Led Zeppelin
6.Pink Floyd


200 million to 249 million records
7.Mariah Carey
8.Celine Dion
9.Whitney Houston
10.AC/DC
11.The Rolling Stones
12.Queen
13.ABBA


120 million to 199 million records
14.Eagles
15.U2
16.Billy Joel
17.Phil Collins
18.Aerosmith
19.Frank Sinatra
20.Barbra Streisand
21.Garth Brooks
22.Genesis
23.Donna Summer
24.Neil Diamond
25.Bruce Springsteen
26.Bee Gees
27.Julio Iglesias
28.Dire Straits

Your list is worldwide...I was just looking at U.S. numbers...


Number Name Nationality Years Active Genre Certification
in millions
1 The Beatles UK 60s Rock / Pop 177
2 Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock and roll / Pop / Country / Gospel 134.5
3 Garth Brooks U.S. 80s-10s Country 128
4 Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s Hard rock / Heavy Metal / Blues rock / Folk rock 111.5
5 Eagles U.S. 70s-10s Rock / Country rock 100

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_be ... ted_States

[slucero]

Your list is worldwide...I was just looking at U.S. numbers...


Number Name Nationality Years Active Genre Certification
in millions
1 The Beatles UK 60s Rock / Pop 177
2 Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock and roll / Pop / Country / Gospel 134.5
3 Garth Brooks U.S. 80s-10s Country 128
4 Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s Hard rock / Heavy Metal / Blues rock / Folk rock 111.5
5 Eagles U.S. 70s-10s Rock / Country rock 100

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_be ... ted_States

Well you didn't say that!

[Ehwmatt]

Great band, horrible people (talking Henley and Frey here).

There are obviously multiple sides to the felder stOry, but all the stories I've heard over the years leads me to believe they simply aren't good people... Especially Henley.

[Enigma869]

Great band, horrible people (talking Henley and Frey here).

There are obviously multiple sides to the felder stOry, but all the stories I've heard over the years leads me to believe they simply aren't good people... Especially Henley.

I definitely walked away from that documentary thinking that there was a much bigger rift between Frey and Felder than between Felder and Henley. In fact, the only hint of any ill feelings between Felder and Henley is when Henley was asked about Felder "demanding" to sing lead vocals on two or three tracks on one of their studio albums. Henley said that the demand was ridiculous. In some respects, I'm not sure just how "ridiculous" the suggestion really was, given the history of this band. Frey sang lead on almost as many tracks as Henley. Meisner sang lead on "Take It To The Limit" (One of their biggest songs, ever). Schmidt sang lead on more than one big hit, and I think even Walsh sang lead on a track or two. I've never heard Felder sing. Perhaps, Frey and Henley just thought the guy didn't have the pipes to sing an "Eagles" song. I would hope that if Jon Cain insisted upon singing lead on a Journey song back in the day that Schon and Perry would have squashed the idea, IMMEDIATELY!

[No Surprize]

Great band, horrible people (talking Henley and Frey here).

There are obviously multiple sides to the felder stOry, but all the stories I've heard over the years leads me to believe they simply aren't good people... Especially Henley.

I definitely walked away from that documentary thinking that there was a much bigger rift between Frey and Felder than between Felder and Henley. In fact, the only hint of any ill feelings between Felder and Henley is when Henley was asked about Felder "demanding" to sing lead vocals on two or three tracks on one of their studio albums. Henley said that the demand was ridiculous. In some respects, I'm not sure just how "ridiculous" the suggestion really was, given the history of this band. Frey sang lead on almost as many tracks as Henley. Meisner sang lead on "Take It To The Limit" (One of their biggest songs, ever). Schmidt sang lead on more than one big hit, and I think even Walsh sang lead on a track or two. I've never heard Felder sing. Perhaps, Frey and Henley just thought the guy didn't have the pipes to sing an "Eagles" song. I would hope that if Jon Cain insisted upon singing lead on a Journey song back in the day that Schon and Perry would have squashed the idea, IMMEDIATELY!

Yeah, Felder couldn't sing anywhere near the others. He's good for harmonies and guitar slinging, that's it. While I think your correct in assuming the rift goes a bit deeper with Freybaby, Henley still seethes underneath. The animosity and the other members leaving, should tell you something about Frey & Henley. It's to bad that it all boils down to who gets paid this and who gets paid that. Your a BAND, and it should be split equally. That would solve 80% of the bullshit. I say, let it go. Fuck, life's to short and everything was settled and everyone has more money than they will spend. It's to bad that Meisner health will never allow him to do a full fledge tour again.

[Memorex]

Not sure why everyone has to be paid equally. I work at a company and we all come to work and we all do our job, but some have talents that others do not. If me and the receptionist had to average our salaries, I'd have to quit.

In a band, everyone does not contribute equally.

Not to mention, you have to weigh what one member is giving up to reform vs another. Don Henley would put his solo career on hold and his opportunity to tour on his own to come back. Felder has to put virtually nothing on hold. He's giving up no income to come back.

People are too romantic about these things. A band is a business. And each "employee" has to have the right compensation to make it work for them. We'd like to think these are all just friends being artists, but it's their living.

[Enigma869]

Not sure why everyone has to be paid equally. I work at a company and we all come to work and we all do our job, but some have talents that others do not. If me and the receptionist had to average our salaries, I'd have to quit.

In a band, everyone does not contribute equally.

Not to mention, you have to weigh what one member is giving up to reform vs another. Don Henley would put his solo career on hold and his opportunity to tour on his own to come back. Felder has to put virtually nothing on hold. He's giving up no income to come back.

People are too romantic about these things. A band is a business. And each "employee" has to have the right compensation to make it work for them. We'd like to think these are all just friends being artists, but it's their living.

Absolutely SPOT ON with this post! I couldn't agree more. Why the hell should every member of the band be paid equally? Not everyone at my company gets paid equally, and not even everyone who has my position gets paid equally. Frey and Henley wrote more than 80% of The Eagles music (and I suspect that is a conservative number). Regardless of what anyone feels about Frey and/or Henley, without them, The Eagles don't exist and guys like Felder are playing in piano bars! Also, it's worth noting that both Frey and Henley had great success as solo artists, so they proved that they didn't need the name of "The Eagles" to have a career. Hell, Henley had wild success on his own. I guarantee you that the guys calling themselves "Journey" these days are not paying Arnel what the little midget is taking home!

[slucero]

Not sure why everyone has to be paid equally. I work at a company and we all come to work and we all do our job, but some have talents that others do not. If me and the receptionist had to average our salaries, I'd have to quit.

In a band, everyone does not contribute equally.

Not to mention, you have to weigh what one member is giving up to reform vs another. Don Henley would put his solo career on hold and his opportunity to tour on his own to come back. Felder has to put virtually nothing on hold. He's giving up no income to come back.

People are too romantic about these things. A band is a business. And each "employee" has to have the right compensation to make it work for them. We'd like to think these are all just friends being artists, but it's their living.

Absolutely SPOT ON with this post! I couldn't agree more. Why the hell should every member of the band be paid equally? Not everyone at my company gets paid equally, and not even everyone who has my position gets paid equally. Frey and Henley wrote more than 80% of The Eagles music (and I suspect that is a conservative number). Regardless of what anyone feels about Frey and/or Henley, without them, The Eagles don't exist and guys like Felder are playing in piano bars! Also, it's worth noting that both Frey and Henley had great success as solo artists, so they proved that they didn't need the name of "The Eagles" to have a career. Hell, Henley had wild success on his own. I guarantee you that the guys calling themselves "Journey" these days are not paying Arnel what the little midget is taking home!

Not that your point isn't correct... but....

It is a business, but only AFTER it was a bunch of guys in a band, who all started with nothing.. and Frey and Henley made Felder an equal partner back when none of them had a dime... then reneged on their contractual agreement....


If one of you had started a business with your friends when you had nothing, then years later after having success, 2 of your friends turned around and decided that, because they were the primaries in the business and you were not a major contributor (even though one of your ideas went on to be the #1 selling idea in the company) that you deserved less.. even though all of you had already agreed to split things equally..


Maybe that's why Tom Petty, even though he was the only guy with the label deal, made all his band members equal partners from the get go.. but then Petty was a band guy.. he wanted to be in a band.. where areas Frey and Henley's actions towards their fellow founding band-mates speaks volumes..

wouldn't you be a bit pissed?

[conversationpc]

If one of you had started a business with your friends when you had nothing, then years later after having success, 2 of your friends turned around and decided that, because they were the primaries in the business and you were not a major contributor (even though one of your ideas went on to be the #1 selling idea in the company) that you deserved less.. even though all of you had already agreed to split things equally..

wouldn't you be a bit pissed?

Agreed...A "band" to me means having equal partners in a musical endeavor. We all know one person in that band may be more responsible for the success of the band but if they agree to be equal partners, then the others really have no moral right to not split things equally. I can see that in cases where original members leave and newer ones come onboard and sign agreements that don't pay them equally.

[Enigma869]

Not that your point isn't correct... but....

It is a business, but only AFTER it was a bunch of guys in a band, who all started with nothing.. and Frey and Henley made Felder an equal partner back when none of them had a dime... then reneged on their contractual agreement....


If one of you had started a business with your friends when you had nothing, then years later after having success, 2 of your friends turned around and decided that, because they were the primaries in the business and you were not a major contributor (even though one of your ideas went on to be the #1 selling idea in the company) that you deserved less.. even though all of you had already agreed to split things equally..


Maybe that's why Tom Petty, even though he was the only guy with the label deal, made all his band members equal partners from the get go.. but then Petty was a band guy.. he wanted to be in a band.. where areas Frey and Henley's actions towards their fellow founding band-mates speaks volumes..

wouldn't you be a bit pissed?

Sure, I'd probably be pissed, from a selfish point. That said, things change. There are decisions that I made 10, 20, and 30 years ago, that I certainly wouldn't make today. Ultimately, Felder was along for the ride, and he made the decision (which is certainly his right) that he didn't feel as though he was being treated fairly. I just think it's absurd for anyone to suggest that this guy has a birth right to be compensated what everyone else is compensated, regardless of what these guys agreed to when they didn't have two nickels to rub together.

Ultimately, different people bring different things to the table, and they should be compensated, accordingly. I'm not even going to get into the "moral" argument, because it's not relevant to me. This is a BUSINESS, period, end of story. You probably can't find any two guys on the same sports team who make the same amount of money, and in my opinion, a band isn't much different. If Felder brought to The Eagles what Henley and Frey did, you would get no argument from me, AT ALL. The Eagles would have had the same success with anyone else (not named Felder) playing guitar, and I suspect Henley and Frey both knew that.

[No Surprize]

Sure, I'd probably be pissed, from a selfish point. That said, things change. There are decisions that I made 10, 20, and 30 years ago, that I certainly wouldn't make today. Ultimately, Felder was along for the ride, and he made the decision (which is certainly his right) that he didn't feel as though he was being treated fairly. I just think it's absurd for anyone to suggest that this guy has a birth right to be compensated what everyone else is compensated, regardless of what these guys agreed to when they didn't have two nickels to rub together.

Ultimately, different people bring different things to the table, and they should be compensated, accordingly. I'm not even going to get into the "moral" argument, because it's not relevant to me. This is a BUSINESS, period, end of story. You probably can't find any two guys on the same sports team who make the same amount of money, and in my opinion, a band isn't much different. If Felder brought to The Eagles what Henley and Frey did, you would get no argument from me, AT ALL. The Eagles would have had the same success with anyone else (not named Felder) playing guitar, and I suspect Henley and Frey both knew that.[/quote]


BULL fucking shit! The same success with anyone not named Felder? Johnathon, you way off base. Since you like using football terminology to the extreme, I'll use it. So if Joe Montana played his entire NFL career with oh, let's say the New Orleans Saints of yesteryear, would he have had the same sterling career? Fuck no he wouldn't have. Your way of thinking is that anyone could have wrote "Hotel California" and all the guitar parts & more for the band. While all the Eagles were partier's and fuck ups, Felder was a functional fuckup, kind of like Liam on this board . His guitar style & playing bought the Eagles out to the general masses & made them HUGE! Look at the last Eagles album "Long Road out of Eden". That was a bonafide piece of stinking shit right there!

[slucero]

Not that your point isn't correct... but....

It is a business, but only AFTER it was a bunch of guys in a band, who all started with nothing.. and Frey and Henley made Felder an equal partner back when none of them had a dime... then reneged on their contractual agreement....


If one of you had started a business with your friends when you had nothing, then years later after having success, 2 of your friends turned around and decided that, because they were the primaries in the business and you were not a major contributor (even though one of your ideas went on to be the #1 selling idea in the company) that you deserved less.. even though all of you had already agreed to split things equally..


Maybe that's why Tom Petty, even though he was the only guy with the label deal, made all his band members equal partners from the get go.. but then Petty was a band guy.. he wanted to be in a band.. where areas Frey and Henley's actions towards their fellow founding band-mates speaks volumes..

wouldn't you be a bit pissed?

Sure, I'd probably be pissed, from a selfish point. That said, things change. There are decisions that I made 10, 20, and 30 years ago, that I certainly wouldn't make today. Ultimately, Felder was along for the ride, and he made the decision (which is certainly his right) that he didn't feel as though he was being treated fairly. I just think it's absurd for anyone to suggest that this guy has a birth right to be compensated what everyone else is compensated, regardless of what these guys agreed to when they didn't have two nickels to rub together.

Ultimately, different people bring different things to the table, and they should be compensated, accordingly. I'm not even going to get into the "moral" argument, because it's not relevant to me. This is a BUSINESS, period, end of story. You probably can't find any two guys on the same sports team who make the same amount of money, and in my opinion, a band isn't much different. If Felder brought to The Eagles what Henley and Frey did, you would get no argument from me, AT ALL. The Eagles would have had the same success with anyone else (not named Felder) playing guitar, and I suspect Henley and Frey both knew that.

Frey and Henley are great songwriters, no doubt... but

"Take It Easy" was a Jackson Browne song
"Peaceful Easy Feelin", "Already Gone", "You Belong to the City", "Smuggler's Blues" were co-written by Jack Tempchin
"Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight", and "New Kid in Town". "How Long" were co-written by JD Souther

Remove Felder, Hotel California the song, and the whole album is different, and the Eagles may well have not blew up as big as they did..

I do get yer point.. but moral, birthright, or "who contributed more than the others" arguments really don't matter..the only one that ever mattered was the legal one.... because Felder was legally a equal partner... which Frey and Henley AGREED to.

The simple truth is Felder had to AGREE to give up his shares and sell them back to the band.. which he did, to rejoin the band. He should have stood his ground, said no.. and sued them til their balls fell off. But Felder wanted to be in the Eagles more than he wanted the hundreds of millions that Henley and Frey were more interested in. Felder got fucked, legally, and he did it to himself.

Ultimately, even after Felder gave them what they wanted.. Frey and Henley still kept him out.

In the end it was always about "business"..even though they all are richer than sin.. Felder included.

[Enigma869]

Frey and Henley are great songwriters, no doubt... but

"Take It Easy" was a Jackson Browne song
"Peaceful Easy Feelin", "Already Gone", "You Belong to the City", "Smuggler's Blues" were co-written by Jack Tempchin
"Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight", and "New Kid in Town". "How Long" were co-written by JD Souther

Remove Felder, Hotel California the song, and the whole album is different, and the Eagles may well have not blew up as big as they did..

Really? Your argument is that some of their big hits were "co-written"? And? Who helped Tempchin write those songs? Listen, good on Felder for assisting Frey and Henley with writing "Hotel California". As far as I can tell, Felder didn't write the song himself! Sure, it was a huge hit for The Eagles, but I'm not buying that The Eagles don't become The Eagles without that one song. Their catalog of music is simply way too impressive, and goes way beyond just "Hotel California". Great song and classic, American, rock anthem. That doesn't change how I view Felder's significance to the band, when I compare it to that of Frey and Henley. Just one man's opinion.

[slucero]

Frey and Henley are great songwriters, no doubt... but

"Take It Easy" was a Jackson Browne song
"Peaceful Easy Feelin", "Already Gone", "You Belong to the City", "Smuggler's Blues" were co-written by Jack Tempchin
"Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight", and "New Kid in Town". "How Long" were co-written by JD Souther

Remove Felder, Hotel California the song, and the whole album is different, and the Eagles may well have not blew up as big as they did..

Really? Your argument is that some of their big hits were "co-written"? And? Who helped Tempchin write those songs? Listen, good on Felder for assisting Frey and Henley with writing "Hotel California". As far as I can tell, Felder didn't write the song himself! Sure, it was a huge hit for The Eagles, but I'm not buying that The Eagles don't become The Eagles without that one song. Their catalog of music is simply way too impressive, and goes way beyond just "Hotel California". Great song and classic, American, rock anthem. That doesn't change how I view Felder's significance to the band, when I compare it to that of Frey and Henley. Just one man's opinion.

Your argument is ironically is a moral argument (Felder not contributing as much as Frey and Henley believed they did) regarding a business consequence (Felder getting paid more than they believed he should)... to justify Frey and Henley's position based on the contributions that occurred AFTER they'd agreed Felder being a full member...

It doesn't make your position wrong.. hell I agree that Felder didn't contribute as much..

My argument has always been that Frey and Henley entered in to a legal obligation that they got out of, only because Felder agreed to it. Had Felder pursued it, they were legally obligated to honor it.


...and Felder wrote all the music of Hotel California.. Henley wrote the lyrics.

[Enigma869]

...and Felder wrote all the music of Hotel California.. Henley wrote the lyrics.

According to everything I've read about this classic son, it wasn't just Henley and Felder. Frey also has a writing credit on the song. Here you are...http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1121 . More information than anyone ever needs to know about any one song.