Discussion of Eagles Documentary "History of the Eagles"

[VAisForEagleLovers]

Who was it that said that the money was split into sevenths for the 1994 contracts, with Don Henley and Glenn Frey each getting 2/7 apiece and the rest getting 1/7 apiece? I thought this had been established as fact and was not speculation.

That's a good question. It's the first I've seen that! I'll be the first to admit, though, that the discussion of the $$ is not something I pay a lot of attention to. I've always felt it wasn't really my business, and I have limited storage space for facts in this head of mine.

[OutlawManNJ]

As far as I can tell, it wasn't 'immediate'. They finished On The Border and then did One of These Nights before Bernie left. I think Bernie wasn't happy with the reason Felder was brought in, to add a harder edge that Bernie didn't want. When it did take them in a direction he didn't agree with, he left.

Thats a thing that has always perplexed me. The Eagles always taking about being more rock and roll....but even in Hotel California album when they were "finally" with their Rock and roll lineup...there are 2 Rock classics on it and then soft mellow songs like Wasted Time and even the ole country flavour they didnt want anymore with New Kid in Town. Where was all the R&R they so desired?

Also found it strange that after desperado they started more and more talking about leaving the country image but yet releasean album called "On the Border" with country-western type artwork and name.

[Houston Debutante]

That's a good question. It's the first I've seen that! I'll be the first to admit, though, that the discussion of the $$ is not something I pay a lot of attention to. I've always felt it wasn't really my business, and I have limited storage space for facts in this head of mine.

I looked it up. the two/seventh - one/seventh breakdown of the HFO money is in Felder's book, so I guess it depends on whether you believe him or not.

[sodascouts]

well, I just so happen to have Heaven and Hell on my Kindle. Here is what Felder wrote:

(Note: I don't have page numbers on the Kindle, but this passage is when he is talking about "revisiting" the HFO contract once the tour had gotten underway towards the end of Chapter 16.)

---------------------------------
from Heaven and Hell:

My concern over the sharing of profits had still not, in my opinion, been properly addressed, and every time I spoke to Irving about it, he tried to deflect me. "When are we going to revisit this one seventh/two seventh deal as you promised?" I'd ask him.

"I know, I know," he'd say, busying himself with something else. "Well, Don's happy to talk about it, but Glenn still has some issues. I'll get back to you."

Nothing more was ever said or done until I finally dropped in on Irving in his hotel suite halfway through one leg of the tour. Angry at being blown off with excuses, bitter at the unfairness of the deal, and sick and tired of endlessly waiting for answers, I walked in, bristling, and said "Hey, Irv, when are we gonna address this?"

Irving sat behind his desk and glared at me through his oversized spectacles. With a deep sigh, he said, in words delivered with slow deliberation, "Don Henley will never give you a dime more than a seventh."

-----------------------------

So there you go... and it wasn't just Frey making this decision, apparently.

[VAisForEagleLovers]

Thats a thing that has always perplexed me. The Eagles always taking about being more rock and roll....but even in Hotel California album when they were "finally" with their Rock and roll lineup...there are 2 Rock classics on it and then soft mellow songs like Wasted Time and even the ole country flavour they didnt want anymore with New Kid in Town. Where was all the R&R they so desired?

Also found it strange that after desperado they started more and more talking about leaving the country image but yet releasean album called "On the Border" with country-western type artwork and name.

I know they have said they left Johns because they wanted a more rock sound and he wasn't supporting them on it, but I don't necessarily think that they wanted their sound to be all rock and roll. I think they deliberately set out to be rock and roll sometimes, country at other times, R&B at other times, and a very careful combination of genres within a song. Both Glenn and Don have been very outspoken that when they heard Felder's demo tape, they heard Mexican Reggae and it was one reason it interested them. We call it rock and roll, but it definitely has other influences compared to mainstream rock and roll. I think a lot of their songs are like that and I think it was intentional. That's my take on it.

[Houston Debutante]

well, I just so happen to have Heaven and Hell on my Kindle. Here is what Felder wrote:

(Note: I don't have page numbers on the Kindle, but this passage is when he is talking about "revisiting" the HFO contract once the tour had gotten underway towards the end of Chapter 16.)

---------------------------------
from Heaven and Hell:

My concern over the sharing of profits had still not, in my opinion, been properly addressed, and every time I spoke to Irving about it, he tried to deflect me. "When are we going to revisit this one seventh/two seventh deal as you promised?" I'd ask him.

"I know, I know," he'd say, busying himself with something else. "Well, Don's happy to talk about it, but Glenn still has some issues. I'll get back to you."

Nothing more was ever said or done until I finally dropped in on Irving in his hotel suite halfway through one leg of the tour. Angry at being blown off with excuses, bitter at the unfairness of the deal, and sick and tired of endlessly waiting for answers, I walked in, bristling, and said "Hey, Irv, when are we gonna address this?"

Irving sat behind his desk and glared at me through his oversized spectacles. With a deep sigh, he said, in words delivered with slow deliberation, "Don Henley will never give you a dime more than a seventh."

-----------------------------

So there you go... and it wasn't just Frey making this decision, apparently.

Thanks for typing that out. It's interesting that he specifically said "Don Henley will never give you a dime more than a seventh" instead of "Don Henley and Glenn Frey will never give you a dime more than a seventh." Perhaps he felt the Glenn part was unnecessary ~ but it still is strange to me. There's also nothing to indicate that Don thought Glenn was being unreasonable. I think Felder was wrong to believe that it was all Glenn. I think people sometimes forget that even though Glenn is 'boss' and it's 'Glenn's band' that Don Henley is an equal partner although I guess Glenn has the final say.

[VAisForEagleLovers]

(Note: I don't have page numbers on the Kindle, but this passage is when he is talking about "revisiting" the HFO contract once the tour had gotten underway towards the end of Chapter 16.)

Very odd. The Kindle App on my PC has location and page numbers. The Kindle App on my Droid has location and page numbers. My actual Kindle Fire only has location.

The apps say this starts on page 262, for those who might want to know.

[sodascouts]

Well, mine is technically a kindle app on an ipad. I'm not terribly concerned about it, though, lol. Thanks for providing the page number!

[Ive always been a dreamer]

Thanks. I'd forgotten that he specifically said "Don Henley will never give you a dime more than a seventh" instead of "Don Henley and Glenn Frey will never give you a dime more than a seventh." Perhaps he felt the Glenn part was unnecessary ~ but it still is strange to me. There's also nothing to indicate that Don thought Glenn was being unreasonable. I think Felder was wrong to believe that it was all Glenn. I think people sometimes forget that even though Glenn is 'boss' and it's 'Glenn's band' that Don Henley is an equal partner although I guess Glenn has the final say.

Yeah - IIRC the 2/7, 1/7 split was public knowledge even before Felder's book was published, but I honestly don't remember where I read it. My take on Felder's account is that Glenn never agreed to renegotiate. Maybe Felder was counting on Irving and Don to sway Glenn, but it turned out that Don decided that he wouldn't renegotiate either. I like what VA said earlier - all of the band members did the work, but Henley and Frey were the ones that ran the business side of things. In addition, besides their successful solo careers, they co-wrote most of the band's songs, and sang most of the hits. So, I don't see it as unreasonable that they asked for more money.

Another thing that I wanted to comment about was how some people commented that the relationship between Henley and Frey was kind of whitewashed in the documentary. They did talk about it, but they certainly didn't dwell on it. Maybe the reason is because when it came to the really major decisions about the band, Don and Glenn were sually on the same page.

[sodascouts]

In addition, besides their successful solo careers, they co-wrote most of the band's songs, and sang most of the hits. So, I don't see it as unreasonable that they asked for more money.

Yes, and Joe AND Felder both comment on this at the Rock'n'Roll HOF ceremony by thanking Glenn and Don H. specifically.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Bka8wbKwQ

Joe said, "Briefly, I would like to thank Don and Glenn for writing those songs. Thank you, guys. Makes my job real easy."

ETA: I realize they edited down Don Felder's speech in the above YouTube clip. Boo!!!! But he does thank Don H and Glenn.... or am I misremembering? I could've sworn....