Discussion of Eagles Documentary "History of the Eagles"

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Originally Posted by Freypower

Please get the context correct. This was in relation to everybody approving the new contracts for the HFO tour except for Felder. At the time I think Glenn believed that the reformed Eagles needed Felder to be there particularly if there were problems with Joe's recovery. That made it all the more annoying for him as he saw it that Felder was behaving in the way he did over the contracts. No doubt he was also annoyed that the problems he had had with Felder in the past appeared to have returned. I think he was more than patient, and he continued to be more than patient until 2001 when he finally had enough of the difficulties Felder caused.

Please, Felder fans, do not flame me. There are two sides to this story & somebody occasionally has to look at it from Glenn's viewpoint.

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If you check my previous posts here - all the way back - you will notice that Glenn is my favourite Eagles member and that most of the time I tend to look at things from his point of view. Personally I don't see it as a big thing if once in a while I find some of the things he says a bit strange. And I do find this "asshole" thing a bit strange. Personally I feel that later "developments" might've had something to do with Glenn's asshole "quote" in the DVD, and that he didn't necessarily say it like that back then. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he did feel that way - and that strongly - about Felder even then.

Maybe it's bitterness or maybe they just don't want to play that game. I found this from the Sundance Q&A in January:

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During the documentary's post-premiere Q&A, Henley and Frey were asked if they have any current contact with former members of the band -- who were all interviewed in the film. Their responses were telling.
Frey mentioned how he liked Meisner and Leadon, but pointedly didn't mention Felder. Henley said he keeps up with Leadon, has no contact with Meisner and would only refer to Felder as "the other guy."

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Glenn missed an opportunity to have the fans see his side of things when he used such crude, aggressive language in HOTE when speaking about Felder. What I take from this is that he is so completely over the whole Felder issue, he truly doesn't care how it is presented in the media - I think Glenn was traumatized for years by Felder's attitude, yet kept him for the good of the band.

The conclusion I have come to is that the fatal mistake was made by Felder when, in 1994, he agreed to Glenn and Don's terms, but he vehemently disagreed with the terms. It was at this point that he really had two viable options - 1) Refuse the terms and sue the Eagles - he would have had a stronger case than he did post-2001; or, 2) Relent and agree to the new order, get over it psychologically, and be happy to be with the revitalized band, making a shit ton of money. He picked a third option, which was to be overtly passive/aggressive - touring with the band, but pissed off all the time. An organization can't operate effectively with that constant negative vibe from 20% of the band. Frankly, I'm surprised they were able to make it for 6 or 7 years. An even bigger, more important issue was Henley and Frey's relationship with each other - that needed tending to, and then on top of that they were forced to deal with Felder being annoyed and sending lawyer letters...I just picture Joe and Timothy off in a corner, milling around, trying to be invisible.

Insightful post, MC - except I do think Glenn cares about how it's portrayed in the media.

He's obviously not embarrassed about the way he talked to Felder in 1994, nor IMO does he seem to regret it; I guess he figured the viewers would understand his frustration and not be shocked by his language or demeanor. I don't think he believed that viewers would see him as the "bad guy." In his mind, he was perfectly justified in being impatient with the way Felder was holding up the reunion plans with his repeated demands for contract renegotiation. I think he thought viewers would feel the same way and not be offended by his strong language.

That may have been a misjudgment on his part because not all viewers felt that his behavior was justified, but at least he was being real and not trying to whitewash what happened. He chose to relate it as it occurred when he could just as easily have said something along the lines of "I placed a phone call to Felder's lawyer and asked him to make it clear to Felder that the contractual terms were not negotiable, and Felder needed to make a decision as to whether or not he wished to continue with the band under the new terms. Since time was of the essence, I told him we must have a decision from him by the end of the day. At that point, Felder indicated by signing the contract that he found the new terms acceptable; after all, although it was less than what he initially wanted, he was still going to be making a lot of money! Once he'd signed the contract, we were finally able to get the show on the road."

Yes, and how boring! I prefer seeing a little of Glenn's personality and perspective!! It made for a much more interesting documentary.

Over in the Felder Interview thread this discussion came up, about Glenn's body language and verbal language when discussing Felder not signing the contract on a timely basis before the HFO tour, and the eventual firing. I've already mentioned that I think a lot of Glenn's attitude regarding the signing of the contract had to do with a closing window of time. They'd been rehearsing and getting ready and it was down to the wire. While I don't agree with Felder's stance on the contract, I totally totally get why he was upset and fighting it and pushing back. Glenn's phone call and language to Barry served two purposes, IMO. To let Barry know that it was final decision time and that the terms were non-negotiable. I have no doubts it wasn't the first time Barry or Felder had been told it wasn't negotiable, and it was time for Felder to decide to accept the terms or walk away. I do wonder if Glenn was hoping he'd walk away.

As for the firing, and Glenn's attitude throughout the whole issue in the documentary, his tone was terse and I've stated my opinion several times (as have others) that he didn't try and 'spin' what happened, or try to rewrite history. It was what it was. On the other hand, he wasn't jumping for joy or looking pleased with himself or the situation. I don't think at the time or in retrospect Glenn is very happy that it had gotten to the point of needing to "no longer work with Felder". Plenty have said Glenn was arrogant about it and a few other things I'll not repeat. To me, this is not the face of a man who's arrogant or pleased at having to let Felder go.

http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7db09fff.jpg

On the Blu-ray I was able to get it to pause a split second later where the regret in his eyes was easier to see, but I couldn't get the computer to pause at that same place.

On to more shallow things. I can't stop staring at that neck.

I don't know. I can't help thinking that if he could do it all again, he would not have re-employed Felder in the first place, but as you say, the fact that he did, and made such an effort, shows that he was prepared to try, until he had finally had enough.

The documentary made it seem like Felder was the last person to be approached for the reunion and then it was mostly because they weren't confident that Joe Walsh would clean up.

However, I'm wondering if Don Felder could have blocked the reunion or at least the use of the name "Eagles" as that was owed by Eagles Ltd. In his book, he describes the "Almost the Eagles" attempted reunion in 1990 and says that after his no-show, Glenn threatened to file a lawsuit if they went ahead without him.

Yes, but realistically Glenn :heart: doing that would have pulled a lot more punches than Felder doing it. Glenn :heart: was and would be always part of the band. Felder wouldn't. And I'm not just saying that coz Glenn :heart: is my favourite. I'd say the same about Don Henley. These two are in a class apart.

I do not think Felder would have had enough influence as a band member to block any reunion or use of the name Eagles in the same way that either Glenn:heart: or DH. Remember too, they were there when the band and its name were first conceived. That would in effect give them more 'ownership' of it than Felder ever would have had.

Also I don't think the creative synergy that existed and continues to exist between Glenn :heart: and Don H would ever have existed between say Henley and Felder.

Oh, and VA! Just to be just as shallow, I LOVE the eyebrows. Thanks for posting!