Eagles Fly Through a Storm and Emerge Mature

  

Originally Published on: 3/05/95

Story By PRENTISS FINDLAY

Eagles lead guitarist Don Felder sounds like a happy man, almost too happy to have been a long-term member of a group that weathered some of rock's most public and contentious storms.

He punctuates his remarks with chuckles, phrasing his answers in carefully measured statements. He seems to catch himself in mid-sentence when asked about the strife that tore the Eagles apart.

``It wasn't so much personality as it was... Well, I don't want to go into depth on that whole issue,'' he says by phone Wednesday afternoon.

``It's just such a delightful experience. It's all the fun and warmth and friendliness that we had before, but without the pressure. A few years of maturity have really helped tone the timbre of the stress,'' Felder says.

The Eagles achieved astonishing success before dissolving in 1980 - 90 million albums sold worldwide, four Grammy Awards in five years and five No. 1 hit singles. The price of that success was squabbles that have become rock 'n' roll legend, filled with harsh words, public backbiting and the breakup of a group at the top of its game.

Two years after the breakup, the rawness of the feelings was still apparent when Glenn Frey sneered in response to a reporter's question: ``There will never be a `Greed and Lost Youth Tour.''' The title of the band's new album, ``Hell Freezes Over,'' is taken from Don Henley's response to a question about when the band would get back together.

By all accounts, the Eagles, who played last night at North Charleston Coliseum, are more mature. Everyone shows up on time, in a good mood and sober. Of course, creative tensions still exist, but what has changed is the way the band deals with the problems. In some ways, their new single, ``Get Over It,'' which mocks '90s victimization psychology, is a theme song for the tour.

Felder, who joined the band in 1974 and was present for the breakup, says the press exaggerated whatever tensions existed in the band back then. The friction was the product of the band constantly pushing for perfection in its work, he says.

``It was never so much personalities as it was disagreements about what was the best product. It got to a point where dealing with that became so intense - that was the pressure cooker - trying to make it better every time. And that's when we said, `OK, it's time to push the hold button.'''

Felder says his only reservation about an Eagles reunion was whether he was stepping back into the pressure cooker that tore the band apart. The original Eagles in 1970 included Henley, Frey, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon. In 1974, Felder joined the group and by 1976 Joe Walsh was on board. Two years later, the band's current lineup was in place. Meisner and Leadon left the group in the '70s.

If there was a silver lining to the cloud of the Eagles' breakup, it was extra time for Felder to raise his three kids. He describes himself as pretty much an absentee parent for five or six years of their lives.

The time off for Felder, known for his role in crafting one of the Eagles' greatest hits, ``Hotel California,'' allowed him time to fix pancakes and drive carpools.

``I was given the opportunity to really invest some time into my family. As a matter of fact, we're about to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary - to the same woman, I might add,'' he says, laughing.

Felder says the release of Giant Records/Nashville's ``Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles'' in 1993 was a catalyst for the band getting back together. The album, an Eagles tribute performed by an all-star country cast, sold 3 million copies.

Still, the Eagles could have lived comfortably on what they had already achieved. The band was selling 1.5 million albums annually despite the breakup.

The Eagles got together to appear in a video for Travis Tritt's version of their ``Take It Easy.'' They wound up playing an impromptu jam of Walsh's ``Rocky Mountain Way'' and actually enjoyed themselves.

``It was just fun. We were playing and having a good time. And, you know, it sounded pretty good. And when everybody realized we could get together, play, have a good time, and have it sound pretty good, yeah, I think it came another step closer,'' he says.

The Eagles hit the road again last May for a coast-to-coast North American tour. They are promoting their latest Geffen Records release, ``Hell Freezes Over,'' which includes four new studio songs and 11 songs culled from their live MTV performance last April, the first time the band had played together since the breakup. The new record, released last November, remains in the Top 5 on the Billboard charts and has sold 3 million copies.

So far, an estimated 2.5 million fans have flocked to see the band, with ticket sales of more than $80 million. Frey's health problems last fall - he underwent gastrointestinal surgery - interrupted the tour and the band got an unexpected 3-1/2 months off. Felder says Frey's illness, although unfortunate, provided a welcome break because the initial hectic pace of the reunion - MTV special, studio work for the new record, putting together a new tour show - was starting to wear thin.

``When we started up again in January, everyone was refreshed, ready to go at it again. Glenn's just in wonderful spirits now that his medical problems are out of the way.''

Felder says the future of the Eagles may include a studio album of 10 or 12 new songs. ``You know, I don't think we've ruled anything out. But yeah, that idea has been hovering around here for a while.''

The band is approaching its future in relatively small chunks of time - three to six months - to make certain that everyone's attitude and spirit remains fresh, he says.

``What we're going to try to do is pace ourselves to where it still remains fun and exciting and everyone's enthralled with it.''

For now, the Eagles have made plans at a pretty reasonable pace through the end of the year. Decisions will be made later in the year once the band sizes up how much tread it has lost.

``If we're running down near the cord, then I think we'll take some time off. And that I think is really the key to this project maintaining a momentum - that everyone stays fresh.''

Solo careers for Henley, Frey and Walsh may also enter into the picture of the Eagles reunion. The band wants time allocated in its planning so members can pursue a solo project without destroying the Eagles reunion, he says.

Felder is in his mid-40s, but laughingly declines to state his exact age, saying that whatever it is he is going to remain that age forever. He grew up in Gainesville, Fla., where he taught guitar at Lipham Music. One of his students was young Tom Petty.

``Yeah, we both grew up there in town. And Tommy used to come in and he was kind of a really self-inspired player. I used to teach guitar there and sell instruments and that's how I managed to be able to afford guitars.''