How ‘Hotel California’ led to the Eagles’ downfall
The 1970s spawned some of the greatest rock bands of all time and, consequently, some of the most beloved songs in the genre. Half a century later, the decade’s contributions to rock have only increased in influence – Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is revered by budding guitarists worldwide, while Queen’s epic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is any rocker’s dependable karaoke staple. But while other bands forged their legacies in the 1970s, the Eagles’ biggest contribution to rock history was also the cause of their downfall.
Though they released six albums during their first run as a band, Eagles would forever be associated with one song, one album, and two words: ‘Hotel California’. Giving its name to their chart-topping fifth album and their most iconic hit, the phrase ‘Hotel California’ seems as though it should evoke pride in the band. Really, guitarist and vocalist Glenn Frey associates the success of Hotel California with the band’s split in 1980.
“Until recently, I’ve always explained The Eagles’ break-up in two words, ‘Hotel California’, and left it at that,” Frey reflected in a conversation with The Independent. Released in 1976, the album and its titular song earned Eagles unparalleled critical and commercial success. The record sold over 32 million copies, while ‘Hotel California’ became one of the most iconic rock songs of all time.
But rather than relishing in that success, the band struggled under the pressure. “There’s only a handful of artists per decade that have success on that scale,” Frey shared, “But the underside of it is following it up and The Long Run was the most difficult album I’ve ever been involved with.” The band spent three years making the follow-up record, which was finally released in 1979. By that point, they were no longer enjoying their craft.
“It had stopped being fun,” Frey admitted. The band had creative disagreements, exacerbated by their lack of touring, substance abuse and their easy, lavish lifestyles. “Going to the studio was like going to school – I simply didn’t want to go,” Frey surmised.
The pressure to match up to the lyrical prowess they had demonstrated on Hotel California became too much for the band, as they discovered they were “not a replenishable source”.
Frey explained: “We, Don in particular, said a mouthful on Hotel California and a big part of the problem was ‘What do we talk about now?’ Then, because of what we were as members of The Eagles, we had far fewer real-life experiences to draw on.”
Though they eventually got through the making of their sixth record, it was to be the last as the band decided they didn’t want to repeat that process: “We figured it was the right time to call it a day. Once that decision was made, I experienced an overwhelming sense of relief.”
Despite the band’s doubts and though it could never compare to the mammoth success of Hotel California, The Long Run still provided a solid send-off for the rockers.
Revisit Hotel California below.
