Who Made Them What They Are Today?

[Ive always been a dreamer]

I read a comment in another topic that made me think about this. I can see the potential for some sparks flying here, so rather than take the other thread totally off-topic, I thought I'd start a new one here.

The comment I read said something to the effect that the person the Eagles owe their career to is David Geffen. I'm not sure I really buy that. Of course, Geffen does get a lot of credit for giving the band it's first break and getting them started. However, after 3 short years, Irving Azoff became their manager in 1974 and has remained so to this day. Love him or hate him, you can't underestimate the impact that Irving has had on this band's success and legacy. Then, there are also the contributions of Glyn Johns and Bill Szymczyk. And this is only a few - there are countless other individuals who have also had an enormous impact. Of course, without the incredible collective talents of each band member, were would they be today?

So, what individual(s) would you say is/are most responsible for making the Eagles what they are today?

[TimothyBFan]

The fans!!! Ok not the only ones that are responsible but I still say you're only as big as your fan base will allow. Granted they needed a start with their talent, management, etc... but without all of us and millions like us, they sure wouldn't be filling arenas and still selling albums almost 40 years later!

[bernie's bender]

When I was in graduate school, I got a job as a line cook in a good restaurant. The master chef was, well, a master chef. He taught me something that I've never forgotten: in cooking, process and ingredients are the provence of the cook (essentially, see it and smell it and make it) it is the interaction of things that make the food great. In baking, precision is everything.

With the Eagles, the main ingredients are: their talent and raw unadulterated ambition and vision for what they should be and what their music should say. They made very calculated decisions to further the band. Second, Geffen got them to the point that they could be a giant band. Third, Irving was all in. Willing to do whatever to get the band to the top.

I remember watching the old Howard Cosell show. They had Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles on (I think from San Diego)... IIRC, the Eagles played Already Gone and I remember Howard saying something to the effect that the Eagles were right on the cusp of being the most popular band in America or something like that... and I remember being both exhilarated and scared that their sound would change because of that.

I think discounting David Geffen's role would be missing that he got them to the point that they mattered enough to become the band that made the HC record (not my favorite, but the album that made them permanently big.)

I love coach, but I think there were 3 or 4 other producers that would have gotten them there too. So, I don't think the band thing is baking... I think it is cooking... folks sometimes think it is a precise set of ingredients, but I think it is the ingredients and the social climate it cooks in...

I don't think the eagles would make it today...

[Ive always been a dreamer]

With the Eagles, the main ingredients are: their talent and raw unadulterated ambition and vision for what they should be and what their music should say. They made very calculated decisions to further the band. Second, Geffen got them to the point that they could be a giant band. Third, Irving was all in. Willing to do whatever to get the band to the top.

I pretty much agree with everything you said here.


I think discounting David Geffen's role would be missing that he got them to the point that they mattered enough to become the band that made the HC record (not my favorite, but the album that made them permanently big.)

Hmmm - don't agree here. IMO, Geffen got them to the point that they could record On the Border. However, I believe One of These Nights was the band's true transitionary album that propelled them towards mega success. But the combination of bringing in Felder, Bernie's exit, and bringing in Joe Walsh got them to the point that they could record Hotel California.

[sodascouts]

I think this question is one of those that really can't be debated. One moment leads to another, one person's contributions leads to another's. How can anyone really say "THIS PERSON is who made them what they are today" when that person wouldn't have done what they did without influences of others? It's like looking at a rose and saying "What made this flower what it is today? The sun? The rain? The soil? The seed? The stem? The thorns? The bloom?" They all did.

Although many are eager to take credit, no one deserves all of it - not even the guys themselves.

I'd also argue no one can claim MOST of it, for the same reason - every action is influenced by others. Even within the band, you can't determine it. Don Felder claims credit for the band's success as readily as Glenn and Henley, and there are those who would agree. We can discuss it all we like, but coming to a definitive conclusion is impossible. Life doesn't work that way.

[GettheLeadonOut!!]

I give Geffen a lot of credit. He repped Glenn, had faith in him and encouraged him to start the band which led to him recruiting Don and Randy, all of which caught the attention of Bernie who knew a good thing when he saw it. Geffen got them one of the best producers around in Glyn Johns and most notably, got this unknown band lots of airplay, a hit record and instant success. But I give the guys credit too, they knew what they wanted and worked their ass off.

But who made them what they are today? That would be evil Irv. no doubt about it. He made them into the mega-selling corporation they are today.

[Scarlet Sun]

But who made them what they are today? That would be evil Irv. no doubt about it. He made them into the mega-selling corporation they are today.
yes, agreed, with Glenn and Don's total blessing of course

[Ive always been a dreamer]

Well, I agree that this question is rather like the chicken and the egg question in that there is no right answer. As Soda said, everyone has been influenced by others. I guess you can even reasonably argue that the individuals that got the band where they are today are Glenn or Don’s parents because if they hadn’t conceived these two, then there would be no Eagles. :lol: However, that was not what I intended when I started this thread. I wasn’t looking to come to a definitive conclusion to this question because I agree that would be impossible. Even though a lot of this is subjective, I thought this topic might generate some interesting discussion.

For example, TBF makes a good point about the fans being the most important. On one level, I agree with that. However, you can also argue that fan support is contingent on the band making the right choices and decisions. There are so many missteps along the way that entertainers could make to lose fan support (just ask the Dixie Chicks). So in the case of the Eagles, someone has been bright enough not to allow any huge missteps. Have they done everything right – I don’t think so. However, considering after nearly 40 years that the band continues to maintain a huge and loyal fanbase, they must have gotten something right.

So, when it comes right down to it, here are my choices for who made them what they are today ...

1. Glenn Frey and Don Henley for their immense singing and songwriting talent, skill, vision, and intellect to make this all happen, and to get it back together again and keep it going all these years against all odds.

2. Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner, Don Felder, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit for all of their talents and contributions in providing the ingredients to complete the formula for a legacy.

3. Irving Azoff for his skills in managing the process and all of the different personalities through the years. Yeah, it definitely was far from perfect, but they made it in the long run. My personal feeling is the manager never gets top credit. He has to have the right players. As the old saying goes - "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it".

And OBTW, Willie, the main reason I didn't chose the fans is because I orginally said to list individuals and I consider fans more of a collective group. But you can certainly argue that they are a group of individuals. :thumbsup: