Why Don Henley is a genius, according to Don Felder: “He would have been a fabulous poet”
Most rock fans are familiar with the Eagles’ story. Perhaps the definitive Californian act of the 1970s, they distilled the good and bad of the era in their sounds, with 1977’s Hotel California defying the passage of time, remaining a time capsule back to those heady days. While the band had many different components, the triumvirate most responsible for their success was Don Felder, Don Henley, and the late Glenn Frey.
While the highlights of the Eagles speak for themselves in terms of what they represent musically and symbolically, the group are also famed for their hard living and mutual animosity. A warring dynasty to even give fellow soft rock icons Fleetwood Mac a run for their money; if you’re looking for a tale of rock excess, the Eagles are one of the ultimate examples. The group comprised several uncompromising characters, all vying for influence and dominance.
One man who had a holistic view of it all was Don Felder. A vital part of the group’s songwriting process alongside Henley and Frey, he conceived most of ‘Hotel California’. He wrote the classic in its earliest form at his rental property in Malibu. After he presented it to them, the other duo penned most of the lyrics describing the pull of Los Angeles and its very prominent mythology. While the trio didn’t often agree on much, they were all united in the fact that they were outsiders, and their individual views of the ‘City of Angels’ were aligned.
The constant friction finally boiled over in 2001 when the Eagles fired Felder. He responded with two lawsuits claiming he was wrongfully relieved of his duties, a breach of contract and fiduciary duty, and sought $50million in damages. The guitarist also alleged that from 1994’s Hell Freezes Over tour onwards, Henley and Frey insisted that they received greater profits than the rest of the band when it had been traditionally split equally between the five members.
In 2007, Felder published his memoir Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001), which detailed his time with the band, including the fallout with Henley and Frey. The book was notorious when released due to the portrayal of both men, as he refers to them as “The Gods” numerous times throughout it, giving a strong flavour of his feelings towards them and their hegemonic status within the Eagles. In response, Henley called it a “bullshit” low-blow and maintained that he and Frey’s leadership had secured success and the longevity of the band. Frey also had his say, calling Felder an “asshole”.
Although Felder’s departure is a sticky subject for the band members, he hasn’t been entirely critical of his old songwriting partners. When speaking to Westword in 2008, shortly after his autobiography arrived, he discussed how he still respects both men’s force as composers. Despite the acrimony, he particularly approved of Henley’s “genius”, saying he would have been a “fabulous poet” if he wasn’t a musician.
He said: “I think Don Henley is a brilliant contemporary rock writer. He would have been a fabulous poet if he weren’t a musician. He was a literary major, and not only that – he’s gifted with a brilliant voice. To me, Don could sing the New York City Yellow Pages and I’d buy it. I just love the sound of his voice.”
Felder caveated his point by maintaining that no one is perfect. He said even those blessed with “elements of genius” have “warts” on their personality and more unpleasant characteristics. Still, he continued that there was no reason not to admire their gifts, calling Henley and Frey’s legacy “undeniable.” He also regrets that he and Frey never patched things up before his 2016 death.
