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Bookshelf: Don Felder, “Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)”

Started by popdose · 1 year ago

Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder titled his memoir Heaven and Hell: My Life in The Eagles (1974-2001) in an attempt to sell more copies of the book. Co-written with journalist Wendy Holden, the book is more than the tell-all Felder’s former band feared when they took him to court ... Continue reading »

27 comments

  • DwDunphy

    1 year ago

    One more reason to dislike Frey, aside from his crappy solo output.
    reply
  • Ray

    1 year ago

    fuck you! there is nuthn wrong with glenn frey, he is the founder of the best band on earth!
    reply
  • DwDunphy

    1 year ago

    Glenn Frey was not the founder of The Damned.
    reply
  • kevin markham

    1 year ago

    fuck you ray . they are jumped up bigheaded bastards.
    reply
  • John

    1 year ago

    True, but he is a talentless hack.
    reply
  • Elaine

    1 year ago

    Thanks for this piece. I might actually read the book. Can't say I'm surprised about Henley & Frey. They're such control freaks, they'd probably have tried to stop Felder from writing, even if he was 100% positive. Instead of Frey's awful solo records and Henley's endless political whining, it's good to hear from others in the story. They deserve it.
    reply
  • Malchus

    1 year ago

    It's a pretty quick read, even though it's over 300 pages.
    reply
  • 1Py_Korry1

    1 year ago

    I am so tired of The Eagles, but your review made me see the band a new light. I've listened to their music since I was kid, but I never paid attention to the bios of the individuals members enough to care about the friction between the guys. However, it's interesting to read how "The Gods" are control freaks and complete dicks.
    reply
  • David_E

    1 year ago

    Great post, and I've ordered the book from Amazon based on your write-up.

    Felder's story, from abusive dad to Florida youth to LA dreams to success, sounds a lot like Tom Petty's (and is connected, as it stands, by Bernie Leadon's younger brother Tom, an original member of Mudcrutch).

    And call me apostate, but I like "You Belong To The City." Though I pretend it was written by Joe Piscopo.

    This doesn't take a lot of imagination.
    reply
  • Malchus

    1 year ago

    I like a couple Frey songs, too. "The One You Love", though sappy, is a nice love song, and I have a sentimental spot for "Part of You, Part of Me."

    Petty is mentioned a couple of times in the book, too.

    The Eagles are one of those groups in which I have to separate my feelings about the individuals from the music they made.
    reply
  • Elaine

    1 year ago

    You're right about "The One You Love." Did he also have a hand in "I Can't Tell You Why?" That's one fine, fine song.
    reply
  • DavidMedsker

    1 year ago

    I love anything that makes Glen Frey look like a douchebag.
    reply
  • Ray

    1 year ago

    why?! glenn frey is amazing!
    reply
  • kshane

    1 year ago

    I wonder if Felder ever mentions folksinger David Blue in the book. The first time I ever saw Felder, then known as "Cotton" Felder, he was accompanying Blue at a club in Greenwich Village years before The Eagles. Blue was a talented songwriter who just somehow never made it.
    reply
  • Malchus

    1 year ago

    HeFelder covers quite a bit about Blue and how touring with the folk singer led to his being hired to tour with Graham Nash and David Crosby.
    reply
  • Pete

    1 year ago

    Thanks for this review-I'm contemplating reading it based on this.
    reply
  • el bandito

    1 year ago

    Thanks, great review.
    reply
  • Pico

    1 year ago

    Very nicely done, Malchus. Sounds like an intriguing read, especially in light of the Eagles recent new album.
    reply
  • Ray

    1 year ago

    what exactly happened when he quit the eagles? someone please email me at wnyghosts@yahoo.com, type Don Felder in the subject bar. thanks!
    reply
  • Elaine

    1 year ago

    To All: I just read this blog entry: http://idolator.com/392421/rolling-stone-flies-...

    I don't know the blog or the author, but I found the article interesting, and right in line with our discussion here. It's a discussion about the Eagles being on the cover of the Rolling Stone. There's Eagles backstory for those of you who are interested. And, is the blind item about R. Kelly? Is he saying Henley liked to relieve himself on girls, or that he always got it up for the touch of the younger kind...? HM.

    "Glenn Frey...now defers to Henley. 'Without Don,' he says, '...we'd be Air Supply.'" That's almost .sig worthy.
    reply
  • joe

    1 year ago

    Felder's book doesn't come as a surprise. I can remember seeing the
    Eagles "Hell Freezes Over Tour" back in 1994 at Hershey Park Stadium.
    It was an amazing concert, but not long after the show, I was watching Entertainment Tonight and Don Henley gave a brief interview about the tour. Without being asked, Henley volunteered some information that suggested "Hell" wasn't completely frozen over. In paraphrasing his comments, he said "I don't want to break up the party or anything for the fans, but we really don't bother with each other after the shows or hang out." As I recall, the reporter didn't even ask him that question, he just decided to let it out. JLC
    reply
  • Roy G

    11 months ago

    Here are their rates for their 9/08 show at United Center in Chicago;

    MAIN FLOOR
    US $185.00

    LOWER (100 LEVEL)
    US $85.00 - US $185.00

    CLUB (200 LEVEL)
    US $85.00 - US $185.00

    UPPER (300 LEVEL)
    US $50.00 - US $85.00


    Meaning, the back of the upper level is $50, back of
    the middle level $85. The only good seats are ALL
    $185 - even those not on floor.

    I am glad Felder exposed them for the egomaniac,
    elitist f*ckwads that they are. Sure, we all love their
    songs. But they are persons who play music, not
    gods.

    They are completely out of touch now with the
    lunchpail crowd that put them on the map with
    $6 LP's and tickets, and now are effectively locked
    out at this price. Hell Freezes Over or, "We'll Do
    Anything At This Price"?

    They were extemely fortunate to come along after
    technology could make them that big, but before
    it democratized the industry with digital technology
    that everyone can copy. Bands in the future will never
    get this big, and Frey and Henley show us all why
    that is a very good thing...

    - Roy G / Cincinnati
    reply
  • Roy G

    11 months ago

    They'll never take in another dime of my money, btw...
    reply
  • VinceAdame

    10 months ago

    I just finished this book after purchasing it just a couple of days ago. I only put it down when I had to. I was impressed with Felder's even-handed approach while still laying bare the brutal reality of the Eagles, the record industry, and the Zeitgeist of L.A. in the 70's-80's. At the center, "Heaven and Hell" is a voyeuristic ride to redemption, relatable to anyone who ever felt marginalized in their work or betrayed in their life. Be it through victimization or self-empowerment, it is a testament to finding the courage and taking the steps to regain your integrity and move on.

    I'll always love their music, but now with a touch of bittersweet. Good for Don Felder. Shame on Glenn Frey and Don Henley.
    reply
  • Ken

    8 months ago

    I saw the Eagles in Chicago and although they sounded great, the fact that Don Felder was gone had a big impact on the the feel of the show. When you see Don Play with the Eagles< he is in a zone and just plays beautiful with grace and a sound that the new sideman just can't c ome close to
    hell freezes over is their best work(touched up as it may be) All I can say is best of luck Don, I always thought that frey was a pompus asshole anyway! Henley has a great voice But a bigger ego that Pumpkin head of his. they are lucky to still have Tim and Joe ( Timmothy has a voice from God and Joe isa great guy and way too popular to get rid of) but Don was just a great guitarist who had the balls to stand up to George Bush and Dick Chaney and lost. the two others( Joe and Tim) should be ashammed to have let him stand out with his dick in the wind. GO Don!
    reply
  • bob

    5 months ago

    I have just finnished reading dons book it will make me look at the eagles a differnent way. But I will look out for some other ons side of the story unless we think we no it all I will judge after maybe reading take it to the limit unless anyone can recomend any other source.I found Dons book very absorbing & I wanted to read it once I started very good book
    reply
  • Wolfgang

    1 month ago

    As a born German and a proud US-Citizen I saw "The Eagles" in Duesseldorf, Germany, when Hotel California came out. Since then I saw the Band at least 50 times, and that gives me the right to comment on the book from Don Felder. Here it is: it is very, very sad, that a person like Don Felder is not seen these days on stage. I personally miss him. Without him, would there be a "Hotel California?" Let's face it, he is a wonderful human being ( actually you can see it on stage ), who is very much concentrating on his guitar.
    He stood up for himself, and it is so sad, that only money put that great musician away from "The Eagles". Wolfgang, Santa Monica,CA
    reply

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