The Eagles defined the sound of 1970s California rock with their perfect harmonies and country-tinged hits. Initially, they started as a backing group for another famous singer before becoming superstars in their own right. Furthermore, their journey involved intense rivalries, massive commercial success, and one of the most famous breakups in music history. Consequently, their story remains as compelling as their timeless songs. Explore these fascinating details about the band behind "Hotel California."
Eagles (band)
They started as a backing band for Linda Ronstadt. Before they became famous, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner played together in her touring group. Eventually, they clicked so well that they asked for her blessing to start their own band.
The band’s name is technically just “Eagles.” Although almost everyone adds “The” to the front, Glenn Frey insisted the name was simply “Eagles.” He wanted it to sound like a gang name, similar to “Jets” or “Sharks” from West Side Story.
“Hotel California” began as a reggae demo. Guitarist Don Felder recorded the original instrumental track on a cassette tape at his home. Interestingly, he nicknamed the demo “Mexican Reggae” because of its unique rhythm before Don Henley wrote the lyrics.
A drug dealer inspired the song “Life in the Fast Lane.” Glenn Frey was riding in a car with a dealer known as “The Count” who was driving recklessly. When Frey asked him to slow down, the dealer replied, “It’s life in the fast lane,” and Frey immediately knew it was a hit song title.
They broke up after threatening each other on stage. During a 1980 concert in Long Beach, Glenn Frey and Don Felder spent the entire show whispering threats between songs. Consequently, the band dissolved immediately after what fans now call the “Long Night at Wrong Beach.”
Country singer Travis Tritt accidentally caused their reunion. In 1993, he asked the former members to appear in his music video for “Take It Easy.” Surprisingly, the group enjoyed hanging out together on set, which led to their famous “Hell Freezes Over” tour.
Their Greatest Hits album is one of the best-selling records in history. In fact, it was the first album ever to be certified Platinum by the RIAA. For many years, it traded the top spot for the best-selling album of all time in the U.S. with Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Joe Walsh used to carry a chainsaw to hotels. The eccentric guitarist was famous for trashing hotel rooms during tours. He once joked that he brought a chainsaw specifically to modify the furniture if he did not like the room layout.
Founding member Bernie Leadon poured a beer over Glenn Frey’s head. As tensions rose over the band’s musical direction, Leadon became frustrated that they were moving away from country music. He dramatically dumped the drink on Frey before quitting the group in 1975.
The Eagles refused to attend the Grammys to accept their first award. They did not believe in the concept of a contest for music. Therefore, when they won for “Lyin’ Eyes,” they stayed home and watched the ceremony on television instead.
The Desperado album cover features a fake dead body. The band dressed up as the Dalton Gang for a photoshoot that reenacted a famous Wild West capture. Interestingly, the “dead” bodies on the ground included the band members and their songwriter friends like Jackson Browne.
Don Henley sings lead vocals while playing the drums. This is a notoriously difficult skill that very few rock musicians can master perfectly. He provided the lead voice for major hits like “Hotel California” and “The Long Run” from behind the drum kit.
Joe Walsh ran a mock campaign for President of the United States. In 1980, he ran a comedic campaign with the slogan “Free Gas for Everyone.” Although he was joking, he actually received enough write-in votes to catch the media’s attention.
The Dude from The Big Lebowski hates the Eagles. The main character in the cult classic movie famously gets kicked out of a cab for complaining about the band. Ironically, this line made the band even more culturally relevant to a new generation of fans.
Finally, the guitar solo in “Hotel California” was almost lost forever. When it was time to record the final version, Don Henley demanded that Don Felder play the solo exactly like the demo tape. Felder had to call his housekeeper to find the original cassette so he could relearn what he had improvised a year earlier.
