Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles, 1974-2001 (Hardcover)



Don Felder was just a poor boy from Florida, but when he joined the Eagles he soared into the stratosphere. Alongside former bandmates Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Felder's childhood friend Bernie Leadon, he sold tens of millions of records (Eagles: Their Greatest Hits: 1971-1975 is the bestselling album of all time), performed before countless adoring fans, and co-wrote the renowned hit 'Hotel California'. His guitar-playing ability lifted the band from mere popularity to iconic status. And now Don Felder finally breaks the Eagles' decades of public silence to take fans behind the scenes - where drugs, greed and endless acrimony threatened to tear the band apart almost daily. "Maybe there was too much talent. Maybe the personalities clashed with the egos. Whatever the reason, there were always these explosive arguments going on while I sat silently in a corner. I never expected it to survive. Never once did I feel, 'Hey, I got it made. This thing's gonna last for years.'" Felder was wrong about that, but he was also right: the band split up in 1980, only to reunite for 1994's mega-selling 'Hell Freezes Over' album and tour. But tempers continued to flare, and in 2001, Lawsuits and counter-suits followed. In 'Heaven and Hell', Felder takes us inside the pressurised recording studios, the trashed hotel rooms and the tension-filled courtrooms, where he, Frey, and Henley had their ultimate confrontation.

Have to order directly from Amazon UK to get this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0297844628/?tag=imwan-21

(Edit ~ see further down the thread for the American publication date.)

Jimbo gave the details about this book over on our New Releases board ...

a few years ago Henley also tried to squash publication of the book "To the Limit" after initally OKing the project. After that failed, he tried strongarming stores, and radio stations into cancelling the authors appearances.
So I'm not at all surprised he and Frey tried stopping this as well...

Jeff

Love the Eagles' music, but I can't say I "like" Henley or Frey. Just based on things he's said and his hypocrisy. I am interested in reading the Felder book - he got pushed aside for greed. How much money does Don Henley need??

It almost makes me not want to get the new Eagles album, though I'll let the music determine whether or not I'll add it to my collection.

Heck, I'll take any bird shit they throw at me.

I love reading these kind of "insider" books, even though I take most of the accusations with less than a grain of salt.

I'll be on the lookout for this one as well.

Felder's book is currently on supersale at Amazon UK for £10.00 (50% off):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0297844628/?tag=imwan-21

_________________


And it's suddenly reappeared on the American release schedule, due May 8th, although I don't yet trust that it will actually come out here ...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0470289066/?tag=imwan-20

If it does Linda, I wonder if it will be edited in some way?...

Jeff

It will just omit any and all references to Don Henley and Glenn Frey, that's all.

I read the book - very interesting read - though I'm kicking myself for not waiting now that it's 50% off.
It was very expensive.

It's back down to "only" 40% off at Amazon UK now. But the listing for an American publication of this book at Amazon USA now shows April 28th. I think it might actually come out here after all!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0470289066/?tag=imwan-20

Book Description
The inside story can finally be revealed.

The Eagles are the bestselling, and arguably the tightest-lipped, American group ever, and Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975 is the bestselling album of all time in the United States. Through breakup and comeback, arguments and lawsuits, their popularity has continued to soar for more than three decades. Now band member and guitarist Don Felder finally breaks the Eagles' years of public silence to take fans behind the scenes—where drugs, greed, and endless acrimony threatened to break up the band almost daily.

In Heaven and Hell, Felder shares every part of the band's wild ride, from the pressure-packed recording studios and trashed hotel rooms to the tension-filled courtrooms where he, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley had their ultimate confrontation. Yet, beyond the mayhem and clashing egos that have become standard-issue in rock-and-roll memoirs, Felder also remembers the joy of writing powerful new songs with his bandmates; the magic of performing in huge arenas packed with roaring fans; and the hard work, dedication, and creativity that each band member brought to the music, even in the worst of times.

Offering even-handed and perceptive portraits of every member of the Eagles, Heaven and Hell is a thrilling and thoughtful, raucous and bittersweet tale about the love of music and the price of fame.

From the Inside Flap
When guitarist Don "Fingers" Felder was invited to join the already platinum-selling Eagles in 1974, he had no idea what sort of rock-and-roll heaven and show-business hell he was about to enter— -or how hard it would become to tell one from the other. For the next twenty-seven years, Felder found himself deeply involved in a musical career that was musically thrilling, emotionally exhausting, and surprisingly dangerous.

In Heaven and Hell, Felder shares this remarkable journey with a firsthand look at his tempestuous years with the Eagles. Even as he, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon, and, later, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit became America's most popular and successful rock band, selling tens of millions of records, Felder reveals that greed, jealousy, and creative differences constantly threatened to tear the Eagles apart.

From one sold-out arena to the next, some members of the Eagles blazed a trail of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll that became as legendary as their music. Felder explains how the famous E3 (third encore) parties, which began as spontaneous, raucous backstage binges, evolved into highly organized orgies, with roadies recruiting gorgeous women from the audience to be chauffeured to lavish hotel suites, where nothing was off limits.

Even further behind the scenes, he reveals the grim test of wills between Leadon, Felder's friend since his impoverished boyhood in Gainesville, Florida, and the duo of Frey and Henley. Despite Felder's attempts to mediate this conflict, it would not be resolved until a tense meeting that very nearly came to blows, which ended when Leadon stormed out of the room, never to return to the band.

Felder also offers a rare glimpse into the creative melting pot that produced such great Eagles hits as "Life in the Fast Lane," "Hotel California," "Victim of Love," and many others. The writing of these songs often involved the entire band, as well as non-band members, such as well-known Eagles collaborator J. D. Souther, Bob Seger, and others. Frequently beginning as a simple guitar lick or a vague idea, these songs took shape through a fascinating process of free association and collaboration, yet, says Felder, even these exciting moments led to friction and bickering.

Filled with hilarious true stories of rock stars on the road, including Felder's first meeting with Keith Richards, who was passed out on a bathroom floor at the time, and Joe Walsh's genius for practical jokes, Heaven and Hell is the book Eagles fans have been waiting for.

Yeah, we all know Glenn Frey is a badass. After all, he singlehandedly invented gangsta rap with "Smugger's Blues" and "The Heat Is On"--two gritty, street-level tales of outlaw exploits, rough justice and urban survival.

Well, it actually did get published here in the USA. The release date was brought forward by one week and Amazon has it in stock now:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0470289066/?tag=imwan-20

Had I only waited a few months, I'd have saved some money.

i just finished reading this "heaven and hell", and i must that it was much grittier and revealing than joe vitale's book.

"the gods", as felder has dubbed henley and frey, were pretty darn ruthless if felder is telling the truth. and he really seems to be telling the truth as he not only lays out the dirt on the eagles, but on his own personal life as well.

a nice read if you are an eagles fan or just a rock and roll fan.

"the gods" are a greedy pair, i must say.

I agree - totally enjoyed that book, and Felder's concert at the M Resort last April.

Yeah, I've never been able to enjoy the music the same way since reading the book. I'm usually able to distance the personalities from the art, but in this case, the personalities are so ugly that I'm having a hard time getting past them. Makes me sad, really.

I have to find time to read this - I picked it up a while ago, but I've been squeezing in other books ahead of it. The more I've heard from Henley and Frey, especially around the reunion stuff, the more I think Stanley and Simmons. Not necessarily in that order.

Alan

Yeah, Felder got screwed by Stanley and Simmons, especially when they had Tommy Thayer get a "Don Felder" facelift so he could perform in his stead on the recent KISS tours.

the 2/7 for "hell freezes over" would have pissed me off too.

I finally got a chance to read this. It was interesting, but it didn't leave me with a lot of sympathy for Felder. Henley and Frey are dicks, that's no secret. And it seems they did screw him out of a lot of money. At the same time, he gives the impression that he never really enjoyed being in the band, aside from hanging out with Joe Walsh. You have to wonder why he didn't quit, rather than waiting to be fired, if he was so unhappy.

$$$.

It's not like his solo career was on fire.