Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles

[chaim]

I agree that he's not a frontman. But the grand announcement about his accomplishments before every gig (I've NEVER heard anyone else have that) and the three-minute life story in the space of a song (never heard anyone else do that either) make it clear who's THE STAR on that stage.

[chaim]

Does that "oh my goodness gracious" come from the PA or did the phone pick it up "acoustically"? Sounds like he's lip-syncing, but I guess his mic could still be on.

[WalshFan88]

Does that "oh my goodness gracious" come from the PA or did the phone pick it up "acoustically"? Sounds like he's lip-syncing, but I guess his mic could still be on.

Not 100 percent sure, but probably phone picked it up but as close as he was its possible it faintly bled into the mic! But it's still so awkward. It seems so forced.

Even if only his bandmates could hear it, do they really need to hear a 70-something dude saying "oh my goodness gracious" as they finish a song?! How about good job, guys or "yeah" or some other words of encouragement or something less phony than feigned shock and excitement?!

[WalshFan88]

I agree that he's not a frontman. But the grand announcement about his accomplishments before every gig (I've NEVER heard anyone else have that) and the three-minute life story in the space of a song (never heard anyone else do that either) make it clear who's THE STAR on that stage.

I do think it stems just from pent up desires from not getting to do that in the 70s/80s/90s. He thought he was cooler than he was, better than he was, or thought he was a leader. "You Don't Have Me" pretty much tells you his mindset. And fine. But you've had how many years to get it out of your system and feed your ego? You're 73 years old. Maybe leave the nanana booboos behind. I can kinda see why he's had so many failed relationships. It's sad. If the man would have invested in some "Soul Searchin'" in therapy, maybe he'd be living a happier life in his golden years. Don can say he's the happiest he's ever been, but his attitude and behavior paint a different picture. I feel sorry for Don. No one should have to go through life feeling like they go unappreciated or feeling victimized real or imagined. But play to your strengths and maybe grow a bit.

[chaim]

I wonder if there's some Joe Walsh influence there as well? Joe is a guitarist in the Eagles, but an accomplished solo artist as a frontman as well. Maybe Don doesn't want to be "the Eagles guitarist who only plays". Who knows. Seems that we agree that 1) Don is a great guitarist and 2) he's no frontman.

[WalshFan88]

I wonder if there's some Joe Walsh influence there as well? Joe is a guitarist in the Eagles, but an accomplished solo artist as a frontman as well. Maybe Don doesn't want to be "the Eagles guitarist who only plays". Who knows. Seems that we agree that 1) Don is a great guitarist and 2) he's no frontman.

Good point! I didn’t even think of Joe envy. Joe might not be the smoothest golden throat out there but I love his singing and entertaining. Good frontman too.

[thebagels]

I wonder if there's some Joe Walsh influence there as well? Joe is a guitarist in the Eagles, but an accomplished solo artist as a frontman as well. Maybe Don doesn't want to be "the Eagles guitarist who only plays". Who knows. Seems that we agree that 1) Don is a great guitarist and 2) he's no frontman.

I'm not sure. Joe is apparently a "hired hand" while I suspect Don still has some ongoing business relationship with the Eagles that may put him (in a corporate sense) above Joe (as Don implied at the beginning of the Howard Stern interview).


I don't think Don has much to worry about as Joe doesn't sing the most in-tune (although his voice has great rhythmic feeling and character), and Don has more technical prowess than Joe.

As for the bowing thing, the reason it seemed "fake" to me was because of the routine Don went through.

"1,2,3, up!"
"1,2,3, down!"
"And go up; oh, here we go!"

"Here we go" with what? They're done lmao

Lots of feigned excitement imo.

[chaim]

I wasn't thinking of Joe as a singer as much as a frontman, which includes singing and interacting with the audience. I don't necessarily believe that Joe has been an influence to Don, but SOMETHING does drive Don to be a frontman even to the point where he rather lip-syncs that hires a singer.

[WalshFan88]

I'm not sure. Joe is apparently a "hired hand" while I suspect Don still has some ongoing business relationship with the Eagles that may put him (in a corporate sense) above Joe (as Don implied at the beginning of the Howard Stern interview).


I don't think Don has much to worry about as Joe doesn't sing the most in-tune (although his voice has great rhythmic feeling and character), and Don has more technical prowess than Joe.

As for the bowing thing, the reason it seemed "fake" to me was because of the routine Don went through.

"1,2,3, up!"
"1,2,3, down!"
"And go up; oh, here we go!"

"Here we go" with what? They're done lmao

Lots of feigned excitement imo.

I agree Don is more technically proficient on guitar than Joe, no question but I don't think that means better guitarist rather than just a different approach. I mean he knows more theory but it's possible to be very appealing and have a great sound and tone and style without having a surgical like precision or a lot of other scales on tap. But does it mean Don would be envious of Joe on guitar, probably not. That's just my personal thing. I prefer a bluesier raw thing. Some people like Steve Vai or Larry Carlton. Some people want to hear Angus Young or Joe Perry. I'm in the latter camp. BUT, I think in a multi guitar band having one of each approach really is a wonderful thing. Be it Felder/Walsh, Perry/Whitford, Clark/Collen, etc. Yin and yang thing that is classic.

Joe isn't a Don Henley type of singer but he sings very well with a characteristic voice (which again can be a good thing or bad thing but can be as great as a smooth voice with a lot of range) and can sing in tune, at least he did on those Eagles songs he sang lead on. There is a reason there is only 1 DF lead vocal on an Eagles track (to which I'm surprised they even allowed). Joe didn't sing a ton but he did way more than Felder, especially including bringing his James Gang and solo music into live shows. Don Felder is a terrible singer. Even when he isn't autotuned, he just has this rasp and not the good kind. You can be Rod Stewart and have a rasp everyone loves or you can sound like nails on a chalkboard. He's also a very cringy showman who just can't find the natural stage presence to have. He truly is a sideman and a hired hand also. I think he seems awkward taking center stage like that. He *can* do the step out stuff on guitar like a bad@ss and can stand toe to toe with anyone on a solo.

In that regard, I could see Felder being envious of being both a guitarist AND a frontman/singer. You know who else could do both? Glenn Frey! His arch nemesis until the end.

[thebagels]

I agree Don is more technically proficient on guitar than Joe, no question but I don't think that means better guitarist rather than just a different approach. I mean he knows more theory but it's possible to be very appealing and have a great sound and tone and style without having a surgical like precision or a lot of other scales on tap. But does it mean Don would be envious of Joe on guitar, probably not. That's just my personal thing. I prefer a bluesier raw thing. Some people like Steve Vai or Larry Carlton. Some people want to hear Angus Young or Joe Perry. I'm in the latter camp. BUT, I think in a multi guitar band having one of each approach really is a wonderful thing. Be it Felder/Walsh, Perry/Whitford, Clark/Collen, etc. Yin and yang thing that is classic.

Joe isn't a Don Henley type of singer but he sings very well with a characteristic voice (which again can be a good thing or bad thing but can be as great as a smooth voice with a lot of range) and can sing in tune, at least he did on those Eagles songs he sang lead on. There is a reason there is only 1 DF lead vocal on an Eagles track (to which I'm surprised they even allowed). Joe didn't sing a ton but he did way more than Felder, especially including bringing his James Gang and solo music into live shows. Don Felder is a terrible singer. Even when he isn't autotuned, he just has this rasp and not the good kind. You can be Rod Stewart and have a rasp everyone loves or you can sound like nails on a chalkboard. He's also a very cringy showman who just can't find the natural stage presence to have. He truly is a sideman and a hired hand also. I think he seems awkward taking center stage like that. He *can* do the step out stuff on guitar like a bad@ss and can stand toe to toe with anyone on a solo.

In that regard, I could see Felder being envious of being both a guitarist AND a frontman/singer. You know who else could do both? Glenn Frey! His arch nemesis until the end.

To me it's really a wash between who's "better" on guitar; as you said, the approaches are different but complementary when they're together. I always liked the way Joe really had a great rhythmic feel where he'd just get with a groove. Don can do that too, but it seems like there's more polish (which I like) and less accenting of strong beats (I prefer some accenting as it can give the playing a lyrical sort of quality imo).

I agree that Don's not a good singer. I think he did okay on Heavy Metal, but it really sounds like he was trying to rip off Henley's vocal style. It didn't work out super well to my ear, but it seems miles better than his singing now.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the last part. Don has always stated that he has admiration for people who can play, write and sing. Of course, Don can play, so there's no problem there. Singing has been addressed. I think he's good at writing "music beds" and guitar parts, but when it comes to lyrics:

"Gimme that good ol' American rock and roll"

Yeah; Henley and Glenn probably don't have much to be concerned about. Maybe he is envious.

Actually, it kind of makes sense as Don seems to really like getting applause.

He wrote about playing the intro to Hotel and other songs in his book and the accompanying roar of the crowd at least 3x in his book.

His concert speech before "The Long Run" is filled with cheap applause lines, and his band models the expected behavior by leading the claps.

He also has a very particular set of motions he does after Hotel. First, he bursts into a huge smile, then he raises his guitar over his head, and then he does the bow thing.

Austin, you seem to have more onstage experience than I (especially in a rock context), so correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like this routine is designed to encourage a standing ovation?

Regardless, maybe this is his way of getting the adulation that he didn't get much onstage. Other than Hotel, it seems like Don never had the stage presence that could captivate the audience and get them to cheer him on. Even Tim could do that when he started singing Keep On Tryin', not to mention his solo songs.