Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
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.
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
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.Originally Posted by chaim
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
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.
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
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.
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
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.
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
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.
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
I have to say that I actually kind of like Don's voice. The actual voice. But it gets a bit tiring after a while. But I'm sure some would say the same about Joe's voice. 😂
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
I'm definitely not in the touring business but in my experience playing cover/tribute gigs outside or in a club or something like that, you would probably try to do that for your last song to get a standing O or at least a big sendoff. I mean most bar bands aren't throwing out picks or leaving the stage for an encore. So I can't comment on that. But yes a big ending is something you might try to do. But for Don Felder he can throw out picks but probably can't do a big encore unless he is playing as the only act, and if it's a private paid thing, trying to pull off an encore would be very cringy and at a casino or something, I just don't think people would go for it. I mean it's the Don Felder band. lol
See Don is usually the opener, often times the first of three acts, the first opener. You can't really walk offstage before Hotel Cali and then come back for a roaring encore. There just isn't time and the headliner wouldn't like you getting that attention, lol. I have no doubt Don misses that aspect of the Eagles. Going offstage and coming back to a roar.
I think Don would love to be in a band that could do an encore. There is no doubt he is wanting that final hoorah and maybe by getting so excited after a song is over he is trying to have an encore like response. It just makes him look silly for calling Glenn arrogant or narcissistic when I think Glenn wasn't near as much, and Don was projecting.
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
I think when he tries to do Henley material is when it is peak-cringe. lol. The voice of him singing at the Met doing a bit of Hotel California without autotune was a little painful to listen to.
Joe would not get any accolades for a perfect voice, but it sounds "right" when he sings and it just has a character to it that makes up for it's imperfections. It doesn't have that 'rub', almost akin to playing a note that isn't exactly in tune that you can tell is the right note but is just off enough to grate at you like DF's voice does.
His speaking voice is just fine if not a little sedate. But when he tries to sing high, it just doesn't work for me.
Re: Discussion about Felder's contributions in the Eagles
Well, a lot to quote and such, making for a reeeeaaaal long post, and agree with a lot Walshfan says...but if I must say....obviously I’m a Joe fan duh. His voice isn’t perfect but that’s what I love and is unique and couldn’t imagine anyone else singing his songs. I love his playing because there is so much feeling and I too lean towards a bluesy player. As a guitarist myself, he is a GIANT to me. Another fave of mine is Frehley.
I do feel that Felder is jealous of Joe. In his book he made it known that he knew jazz and looked down at straight ahead rock at one point. His book was full of put downs, some so petty, of all band members and he seemed oddly obsessed with everyone’s hair and even had to comment that Joes iconic bandana was donned because he didn’t wash his hair. :eye roll:
all that preamble before the concerts and whatnot is cringy. I watched again with the up down up down hands, ya it’s a bit over done. Lol. As it’s been said before He is insecure. Always has been. Such a shame because he has such a talent that he tarnished with his behavior. I am not a fan of his voice. But he isn’t too bad for a song or two, and stop the damn auto tune.
I haven’t seen Don live, (besides YouTube) but with him playing so many Eagles tunes I wonder how many in the crowd think he actually had a part in writing many of them? Just wondering.
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