saturn Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I've seen it twice so far. Very long but interesting IMO. Some great old footage too. I have always liked The Eagles, but wouldn't consider myself a rabid fan or anything. Some people think they were "too country" or whatever, but I say a great song is a great song, no matter what style it is. They wrote some great songs. I have always thought Felder's solo in "One Of These Nights" is one of the best. The movie does seem to be told mostly from Glen Fry and Don Henley's side of the story. I haven't ever read Don Felder's book, but I might have to find a copy. Edit: I just realized I misspelled "watched" in the subtitle but can't figure out how to Edit that part. Ha. I figured it out. I have to use Full Editor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenKen Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 The movie does seem to be told mostly from Glen Fry and Don Henley's side of the story. "History is written by the victors." Sir Winston Churchill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I always liked the Eagles too but don't tell anyone, it's not cool to like the Eagles... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I liked them in the early days when they would shut up and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 The movie does seem to be told mostly from Glen Fry and Don Henley's side of the story. I haven't ever read Don Felder's book, but I might have to find a copy. Read Felder's book. Surprisingly, Frey & Henley confirmed a lot of what was in the book. I've always liked the Eagles music, but after reading Felder's book and watching this special, I don't think much of those two as people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saturn Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 From the film, I'm kinda torn between Frey's side and Felder's when it come to the money thing. Yes Frey and Henley get most of the writing and singing credit, and their solo careers were the most successful, post Eagles. From a personal viewpoint it seems like a **** move to take more money than the other members, but from a business perspective it's hard to ague against them. Even Joe Walsh, who is a star in his own right, rationalized that making less than Frey and Henley, he is still making more than he would be doing anything else. It's not like Felder has some booming solo career. Why couldn't he just be happy playing awesome songs to sold out venues and still making good money even if less than the other two? IDK. I'm sure there was more to it... Even before seeing this, I had the impression that Frey was a difficult person and Henley has always seemed like a temperamental artist type. I read old interviews with Frey and he is one of those brutally honest, tell-it-like-it-is, pull no punches kind of guys. At least you know where you stand with someone like that, but in my experience with people I know who have that trait, the brutal honesty only works one way. They are very fragile and can't take it when it comes back at them. Not sure if that applies to Glenn Fry or not? I guess it's like a lot of other bands that have very talented musicians with big, fragile egos. They just can't work through it. I just know that I like The Eagles better with Don Felder than without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueblooded Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I like the Eagles and the work of each of them in their solo careers. When it comes to artists, whether it be the Eagles, Van Halen, or any other, I separate the band dynamics/ego/business BS and try to just enjoy the product of their musicianship while it lasts. All the drama is just that and typically really has nothing to do with why I would listen to something or not. It doesn't affect me and I rarely could say that I would feel sorry for any of them that appear to have been "shafted" by their bandmates. They all seem to have plenty of money unless they pissed it away foolishly. And if they did, bad on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky4 Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 From the film, I'm kinda torn between Frey's side and Felder's when it come to the money thing. Yes Frey and Henley get most of the writing and singing credit, and their solo careers were the most successful, post Eagles. From a personal viewpoint it seems like a **** move to take more money than the other members Jane's Addiction almost broke up before Nothing's Shocking was recorded as Perry Ferrall demanded 62% of the royalties since he wrote all the lyrics as well as some of the music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 From the film, I'm kinda torn between Frey's side and Felder's when it come to the money thing. Yes Frey and Henley get most of the writing and singing credit, One of the things Felder talks about in his book is Frey being known amongst the others as "change a word, grab a third" meaning that if one or two of them would write a song, Frey would always make a minor change and take a 1/2 or 1/3 songwriting credit (think royalties). I also remember a segment a few years ago on "60 Minutes" that featured primarily Henley and Frey, and as I recall a lot of their "personality" for lack of a better term was quite evident in that interview as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I think the issue for Felder was the fact that when he was asked to join the Eagles he was brought in as a partner and equal member of the band. When the whole Hell Freezes Over reunion came along Frey and Henley would only agree to it if the others piece of the corporate pie was smaller. As in hugely lucrative eagles merchandise, t-shirts, tour books etc. Henley and Frey were the majority songwriters and they made millions in royalties but to me a band is a band. If your playing, harmonizing and sharing the tour load and your face is one of 5 on the shirt that says Eagles you deserve equal share. Now Felder claims that he agreed to the reunion and was promised by management that the disparity would be correctedas the band continued but it never happened and Felder wouldn't let it go. Schmidt and Walsh were on the other hand good little soldiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krock Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I went to one of their gigs a few years back. They all had to play sitting down and kept taking breaks, kind of killed the atmosphere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I think the issue for Felder was the fact that when he was asked to join the Eagles he was brought in as a partner and equal member of the band. When the whole Hell Freezes Over reunion came along Frey and Henley would only agree to it if the others piece of the corporate pie was smaller. As in hugely lucrative eagles merchandise, t-shirts, tour books etc. Henley and Frey were the majority songwriters and they made millions in royalties but to me a band is a band. If your playing, harmonizing and sharing the tour load and your face is one of 5 on the shirt that says Eagles you deserve equal share. Now Felder claims that he agreed to the reunion and was promised by management that the disparity would be correctedas the band continued but it never happened and Felder wouldn't let it go. Schmidt and Walsh were on the other hand good little soldiers. I think you pretty much nailed it right there Cookieman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I went to one of their gigs a few years back. They all had to play sitting down and kept taking breaks, kind of killed the atmosphere Saw them a couple of years ago at the "Honda Center" (Anaheim). While they took turns sitting down, they only took one intermission, no other breaks, and all in all a pretty damned good show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I loved watching it because I love that kinda stuff. I honestly thought Joe Walsh and Don Henley wrote Hotel California. I learned Felder wrote the music and it's what I think is the best song that the Eagles have put out to date. Also Take it to the Llimit with Randy Meisner's fabulous voice was written by him. Yes a lot of the early stuff was Glen and Don but the others certainly came into their own. Reminds me of a certain guitar player from Liverpool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PingPongBob Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I saw it. Was never a big Eagles fan probably due to them being on every FM station all the time in the day, but I always respected them. What I forgot was how smoking hot Linda Ronstadt was. Whoa!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaleb Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I haven't gotten too deep with The Eagles and their inside problems (I'm not a big fan), but as a big KISS fan, it's not too hard for me to see the similarities. Hell Freezes Over tour= KISS reunion tour Frey/Henley= Simmons/Stanley. The ones getting most of the pie. Walsh/Schmidt= Frehley. Obviously not fully satisfied with the situation, but they're good soldiers about it. Felder= Criss. Won't let it go. Heaven and Hell: My Life in The Eagles (or whatever it's called)= Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of KISS. Tell-alls that shine ex-bandmates in a very negative light and cause not only more tension within the two camps, but division between fans. BTW, I'm not in any way saying that The Eagles and KISS are similar musically or anything, so don't get that idea. And I'm not implying that Gene and Paul are exactly like Don and Glenn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 And I'm not implying that Gene and Paul are exactly like Don and Glenn. Well these days Don and Glenn wear more makeup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Henley and Frey were the majority songwriters and they made millions in royalties but to me a band is a band. If your playing, harmonizing and sharing the tour load and your face is one of 5 on the shirt that says Eagles you deserve equal share. That says it all for me right there. Well, almost all. I definitely feel that recognition of the WORK and the commitment is where it's at. I'll say this: I have been in a lot of situations where my personal involvement, or actual work involved, was less. I got no problems taking less of the cut in favor of those doing more of the work. But granted, this is "working class" in comparism. I imagine a major tour is equal work for all involved. Having said that, when it comes to something as big as the Eagles, and you got 5 guys that pretty much got lucky to make it big, That big money rolling in has as much to do with luck and blessing than it does work or talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.R.M.30! Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Did they actually SAY that they were "lucky" or "blessed". If not, it's a little bit, just a tad bit, just a tiny bit, demeaning to say so otherwise, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.R.M.30! Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I didn't think guests could give a negative rate? Unlearn something every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 When I watch these it reminds me so much of my work life. Professors write papers together and then fight over who really came up with the idea! Here's my take. Yeah the egomaniacs can become successful but they general put themselves on an island with high walls. The ones who don't let their egos get in the way and share credit with everyone will eventually rise above the egomaniacs. Always put the work before your ego is the way I live my life. It's worked very well for me. Bands should use the same approach. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson never fought over who wrote a particular riff. The music was always much more important. That's the biggest reason why they've been together for nearly 40 years and why they are more popular today than ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Here's my take. Yeah the egomaniacs can become successful but they general put themselves on an island with high walls. The ones who don't let their egos get in the way and share credit with everyone will eventually rise above the egomaniacs. Always put the work before your ego is the way I live my life. It's worked very well for me. You just nailed it dude. In my work career I always surrounded myself with people who were at least as good as me, if not better and gave them the credit where credit was due. They'll kill for you if need be, and protect you as well. The same dymanics work in any group environment, be it business, musical, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 You just nailed it dude. In my work career I always surrounded myself with people who were at least as good as me, if not better and gave them the credit where credit was due. They'll kill for you if need be, and protect you as well. The same dymanics work in any group environment, be it business, musical, etc. The irony is that Don and Glenn's Eagles became the take no prisoners, do as we say not as we do, evil corporate empire that they preached against so many years ago. I guess when you reach a certain level of SUCCESS it's ok to screw your brother for a dime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaleb Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Again, the story is parellel to KISS in a way. BUT, it may be different. It is certainly easier for me to justify putting Ace and Peter on a wage than putting Don, Joe, and Timmy on a wage. Here's the difference: The Eagles were disbanded for years, KISS wasn't. Don and Glenn weren't playing under The Eagles name with hired hands in place of the others, KISS was. Their drug use was in the past, Ace Frehley's drug use continued. There you go. It's different when you've had hired hands all those years and then want to take a gamble by letting people back in as partners, let alone an alcoholic/drug addict such as Frehley. There is no justification for Don and Glenn to do this when the band wasn't active and had no hired hands in the in-between period. And it's a bigger slap in the face considering they spoke against this kind of stuff back in the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I watched it again last night. The dynamics were really interesting. Timothy Schmitt made the comment that every band is always about ready to break up at all times. I thought that was great. Don Henley mirrored the sentiment by saying it was like being married to 5 people at the same time. I thought that summed it up pretty nicely. Was also interesting to see the evolution of the band from coutryoid to rockoid. Bringing on Jow Walsh and Felder was calculated to do just that. Another interesting thing was the reflections that folks had about what turned out to be sentinel moments in their history. Bernie pouring beer on Glen's head. The comment to Senator Cranston. Real life drama and it's effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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