Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)
by Don Felder
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Book Summary Information
Author: Don FelderContributor: Wendy Holden
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-04-27
ISBN: 0470450428
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Wiley
Book Reviews of Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)
Book Review: Great Content, could have been a little bit better written, but that adds to authenticity
Summary: 4 Stars
I jumped around a little as I thought of things while writing.
This was a peaceful easy reading. I finished it in 2 sittings. I loved the back story in Gainsville and the relationship Don had growing up and with his celeb neighbors in Malibu. I think he is a lucky dog to have made that much cash and live in anonymity.
Glenn Frey comes off as a scumbag. I was surprise how much of a creative force Glenn was. Personally, I never cared for his voice and think his 80's music was awful. Smuggler's Blues and you belong to the city - come on! crap
Don Henley came off as someone who is a good lyricist, strong talent, and a perfectonist. So what. Plus I enjoyed his music post eagles. I saw him in the 80's. I remember hearing him play Desperado and then hearing Joe Walsh play it also a few weeks later with Ringo Starr and his all star band - a point of contention.
After reading, I though Azoff came off as a giant Azoff (pun intended) and that he exacerbated friction with Don Felder. PS, now he is head of ticketmaster. What a joke. the 90's tour was all about money and greed, and so is ticketmaster. Unfortunately I think that is the direction of the music industry has headed - cds dont sell so the money cmes from touring. Maybe having an Azoff running the show is right.
Don was a bit of a whiner, but he has a point in that he was due more money. Personally I think he should have been offered something more than Joe Walsh and Timothy Smith, but less than Henley and Frey. That could have reduced the friction. Probably not thought, since Frey and henley started creating separate companies to distribute box sets trying to cut others out. Don felder brings up some good points when he mentions that they played a ton of benefits concerts but not one for the roadies and crew, and one of the touring pianists' piece was cut out of a box set so as not to give him royalties. A-holey to say the least.
Don mentioned that his complaining should have benefited the rights of others in the band, but as far as i can tell, he never won an argument and nothing they talked about ever helped the others in the band. He probably settled too cheaply - something we may never know. Perhaps Susan Felder will write a book. She probably is not subject to keeping the settlement undisclosed, and she sure has insight to the amount received, since she got half up front and continues to see 50%.
I think Don tried to minimize his womanizing. You didn't get concrete evidence until he was caught red-handed. I like the way he tried to justify it - NOT. I wish he detailed a little more how that groupie rocked his world as explained in the letter - what could she have done??? I think he probabaly regrets asking for a divorce.
Some things I would have liked to see explored more is a little more on Azoff and why he was not sued. Why did he keep him as his manager? Why was he not part of the suit?
I also wonder why Don didn't leverage his stake in the band to prevent a reunion from touring under the eagles for more money (although since they probably handed him a bag of cash to the tune of $20MM after 2.5 years of touring in the 90's, I can't say I blame him for taking the money). I guess he was just one solo record in the 80's away from being able to leverage a more lucrative deal. too bad he got a real estate license - probably a result of his lack of confidence in his musc ability.
All in all I would say he was one lucky guitarist to get that gig with the Eagles to begin with and a nice slice of the pie. Joe and Tim were not as lucky, and Bernie and Randy f'd up and quit. The best thing Don did was never quitting, and it made him extremely wealthy. He can't really complain (but he can, seems that he had some greed - or what he called fairness - like Glenn and Don, but without the control issues)
A 5 year party followed by a life long stream of solid income. Things could have been worse.
I would like to see a new album - and perhaps hear fif he won some songs in the judgment.
All in all, it was a great story. I love the music (I couldnt help listing to old clips on youtube while listening), think the whole is much better than the sum of his parts, and I guess I like hearing some of the friction and the dirt (thanks Jerry springer and Maurie Povich). I wouldn't call it a survivor story, and the whole BS around comparing his to an abusive relationship is a little over the top. I think it is a good story about someone who is talented and was rewarded for it, although he had to fight a bit for it.
PS. I think he would play with the eagles today if asked. He might even pay to do it.
Summary of Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)
The Eagles are the bestselling, and arguably the tightest-lipped, American group ever. Now band member and guitarist Don Felder finally breaks the Eagles? years of public silence to take fans behind the scenes. He shares every part of the band?s wild ride, from the pressure-packed recording studios and trashed hotel rooms to the tension-filled courtrooms, and from the joy of writing powerful new songs to the magic of performing in huge arenas packed with roaring fans.Music Books
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