Brainy Quote

[Freypower]

Great quotes, Df. I'd love to see Don perched on a bull!!

I found this on a newspaper cutting - I don't know its date.

In a letter to Rolling Stone, Don Henley of The Eagles signs off with:"Anyway, just wanted to let you know that we are still managing to survive, even though the slaves escaped, we ran out of Perrier and the BMW blew up."

I think he wrote that letter after the 1979 Rolling Stone cover story, which he also claimed turned out to be 'an essay on our digestive tracts'. It certainly dwells heavily on such topics as stomach flu, Don's ulcer and Glenn talking about the effects of marijuana.

[sodascouts]

Makes sense, Freypower. For those curious about what she is referring to, click here to download the Rolling Stone article as a pdf file.

[glenneaglesfan]

Thanks for the date, FP, and the link, Nancy. That article certainly dwells on the less savoury aspects of their lives, including Don's infamous toilet roll memo!

[farewell]

[quote="DonFan"]

"Can you imagine Don as a cattle rancher?! Gotta love it."

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I have an early article on Don in Rolling Stone right after he went solo that actually has a picture of him, posed sitting on a bull. The picture is hilarious--I will send you a copy of it.
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Me too, or did you post it somewhere on the site?

[katherine5832]

I don't mind doing two or three Eagles songs and playing the drums. I'm not one of those artists who's going to sit here and deny the past. I could stand out front and sing Eagles songs that I sing in my set, but I think people enjoy watching me sing and play the drums. It seems to fascinate people. I don't know why.
Don Henley

I've seen this quote a few times over the last few weeks and I just want to say "Thank you Don for giving us what we want!" I'm one of those people who absolutely loves to watch him sing and drum. Although I was an Eagles fan when I was younger, I never realized he was the band's drummer until I saw him in concert in the late 80's or early 90's and he went back to the drum set to play Desperado. I couldn't believe how clueless I was! It's pure artistry...that's why we're fascinated.

[Ive always been a dreamer]

It's pure artistry...that's why we're fascinated.

Well said, katherine. I totally agree!

[katherine5832]

Although I was an Eagles fan when I was younger, I never realized he was the band's drummer until I saw him in concert in the late 80's or early 90's and he went back to the drum set to play Desperado. I couldn't believe how clueless I was!

Okay, just so people don't think I was a complete idiot...I should clarify that I knew Don was in The Eagles, but didn't know that he was the drummer. After posting last night, I realized that I should probably clarify that. Why, I don't know, because I'm sure this is a forgiving crowd, but still...

[sodascouts]

lol -I got what you meant.

And I agree with dreamer - well said!

[Mrs Frey]

DF, I can't believe it has taken me so long to finally have a look at this thread. I really enjoyed reading these quotes! I'm leaving my favourites in your quote below:

I picked up licks from all the records I ever heard, as I guess all drummers do. I don't care what anybody says about Ringo. I cut my rock -n- roll teeth listening to him.
Don Henley

I don't mind doing two or three Eagles songs and playing the drums. I'm not one of those artists who's going to sit here and deny the past. I could stand out front and sing Eagles songs that I sing in my set, but I think people enjoy watching me sing and play the drums. It seems to fascinate people. I don't know why.
Don Henley

I'm blessed with a pretty good voice. So just sitting back there banging on the tubs wasn't enough.
Don Henley

I still find it more difficult to sing and play guitar at the same time than I do to sing and play the drums.
Don Henley

I'm always jotting things down on pieces of paper. I've got pieces of paper all over my house. When it comes time to make an album, I have to go back through all that stuff and sort it out and put it into some kind of order which is another reason why it takes me so long to make a record!
Don Henley

I would rather take a long time and make a record with eight or ten good songs on it than to rush one out with only one or two good songs on it, which is what I find to be the case most of the time.
Don Henley

I especially enjoyed what Don said about Ringo Starr. I get annoyed with people when they refer to Ringo not being a particularly good drummer. A drummer need not be fancy to make a song sound good. Ringo was a great band drummer, and did exactly what The Beatles needed to make their music sound great. Before Ringo joined the band, in the days of Pete Best, the band was not really gelling. When Ringo joined, everything changed, and The Beatles went from strength to strength. I'm so glad Don made this point! He too is a great band drummer. I remember John Lennon being quoted, and I'll probably not be able to relate the exact quote from memory, but he once instructed his drummer, during the making of one of his solo albums, to "leave the fancy sh*t - play like Ringo!"

As for Don playing drums and singing at the same time, it is indeed fascinating to me too. I've been meaning to share this with all of you (but didn't know where to post it!), that everytime I watch F1, I stare at Don in awe at how he can sing "One of These Nights" so brilliantly and play that complicated drum pattern at the same time. WOW. Yes, FP, Glenn is right about there not being many musicians who do what Don does. In addition to Levon Helm and Phil Collins, I also know of Chris Curtis, who played with The Searchers from 1961 until 1966. It's a pity that Don developed back problems, and has as a result not been playing drums as much as before.

Where Don says that he has been blessed with a "pretty good" voice, it reminds me of something he said during the "Hell Freezes Over" taping ("Second Night"). He talked about someone coming up to the band during the early days and saying that they were "pretty good". He then asked "What is pretty good?" I find this quote amusing as a result!

I love the quote about Don finding it more difficult to sing and play guitar at the same time than to sing and play drums. As a singer/guitarist myself, and having tried a few years back to sing and play drums (I'm no drummer!), I find this surprising! Well, it stands to reason since Don is more of a drummer than a guitarist (but he looks so cool out front, taking a stance with that Fender Telecaster around his neck! )

I also love the quote about the little notes that he jots down (I have a tendency to jot down notes myself!). I thinks it's great that he has a "quality over quantity" viewpoint regarding the making of albums. It reminds me of his "60 Minutes" interview, where he mentioned that he'd rather make one good album every 28 years instead of one mediocre album every year. This may be frustrating for fans hungry for new material, but at least we know that when he finally makes an album, it won't disappoint us!

I tend to take my time to do things as well, as I feel that if I'm not going to do it right, whatever it may be, I'd rather not do it at all. I can identify completely with Don here.

[katherine5832]

A couple of quotes that I've seen in the last few days that I liked (one old, one new):

About moving back to Texas in the mid-90's:
"I want my daughter to grow up around all those conservatives so she'll know how to rebel properly."
A man after my own heart!

“People ask ‘Why are you still doing this? You’ve accomplished everything. There’s nothing left.’ I never hear painters being asked why they still want to paint after 60 or novelists why they want to write after age 60.” “It’s insulting, as if we’re only doing it for the money and the glory and not for the creative and spiritual aspect. Writing songs and performing for people is my life. It’s what
keeps me young and interested and curious and vital.”
So true! Look at Clint Eastwood...7 Oscar nominations while in his mid-70's.