This could be heaven, or this could be hell....

books:


	• Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) Don Felder Wiley, 2008 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 52 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Eagles dirty laundry

Great book, everybody mentioned in this book are geniuses in their own right, ego's are always a huge factor in any group, and without a defined leader, people naturally push to get things done the way they feel is best, the Eagles were no different. Entertaining to see how their music and personal lives evolved over the years, Felder writes from the heart, and his personal experience in the band sheds a light on how power and money changed the environment that was once totally music driven, to one that tried to maintain the music standard, and add the big business aspect.Great reading, enjoyed it all.

for more information click here

This could be heaven, or this could be hell....

It is an interesting read, but towards the end it just seems that Felder is whining about how unfair he was treated - yes, he probably was, but I don't think he minds spending all that money that he made. His continually referring to Henley and Frey as "the Gods" got a little old. I don't doubt the truth of this book, but Henley and Frey were the most talented songwriters, proven by their solo careers. The background of Felder's life only proved that he should have been grateful for the opportunity he got to be in such a successful band, even as talented as he was, he had not succeeded to that level before the Eagles. He seemed to want the audience to believe that he really didn't like doing drugs or women, but he still did it. His honesty about why his marriage fell apart was refreshing, and Susan was definitely the best thing that ever happened to him - too bad it was too late when he really realized it. I do believe that he was treated unfairly, as was Meisner and Leadon before him. At least they were all inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - something they can always be proud of.

for more information click here

Much better than expected...

I tend to assume that celebrity bios are ghost-written, and this one at least credits the co-author. Given that, it's a much better read than I expected, well put together and coherent. Don Felder makes a good "unsung hero", and for an unsung hero getting his chance to speak, he does a good job of taking the high road. He makes a noticeable effort to be fair to all the members of the Eagles with whom he played, and as a result he doesn't come off as petty or whining. I have always enjoyed and admired his guitar playing, and now have a sense that he may also be a pretty decent person. Worth reading.

for more information click here

The Money Was Heaven; Henley and Frey Were Hell

I always figured Don Henley and Glenn Frey were egomaniacs...Don Felder's tell-all book called Heaven and Hell not only confirmed my assumption but provided loads of details to back it up. Wow. I know the money was great and all but I still can't understand how Felder survived all those years with these guys.

When I first opened this book I assumed I would skip whatever pre-Eagles coverage Felder offered and jump right in to the Hotel California era. I also thought I'd cut it short and not bother reading much beyond the band's first breakup. Much to my surprise, I started reading about Felder's childhood on page one and was immediately hooked. The guy has led a fascinating life and it's remarkable how many other well-known musicians he's stumbled across over the years. Growing up in Gainesville gave him access to bands like The Allman Brothers and he was even Tom Petty's first guitar teacher.

While the early years of Felder's life were more interesting than I originally figured, the book really shines when he hooks up with The Eagles after they've had a taste of success in 1974. Hotel California is one of my favorite albums and probably the only one I care much about from The Eagles. The story of how that album was made, and how that song was written, is riveting. Felder takes you behind the scenes of tours, studio sessions and traveling with the band. You get the impression you're right there in the same room with these guys. The book is exceptionally well-written.

I finished reading it last night and I'm still marvelling at how Henley, Frey and the band's manager (Irving Azoff) railroaded Felder into a much smaller cut of the proceeds towards the end. And yes, I realize Henley and Frey were the two "faces" of the band and they had much more successful solo careers than Felder, but still...I'll bet Paul and John never hosed George and Ringo like that. When you see these mega-bands from the '70's reuniting for "one final farewell tour" and ticket prices are well north of $100 it's hard to look at it as anything other than greed. Heaven and Hell will reinforce that notion, particularly when it comes to Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Irving Azoff. No matter how much you liked (or even disliked) The Eagles, Heaven and Hell is a very worthwhile read and sheds much light on the '70's music scene.

for more information click here

Sympathy for the Doormat

This is basically another tale of domestic abuse--this time with a '70s country-rock soundtrack. Oh, and not one but TWO abusive husbands: Henley and Frey. I do understand how Felder's situation put him in a tough position within the band, but I really do think someone should have shaken him really hard at some point, maybe by the early '80s, and shown him how the sacrifices he was making with his marriage, family, health, and musical talent were in no way worth the cash and any financial security he ended up with.

reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

Great Collection - Adversarial Relationships
Scotti's Recommendations 5-05-08
Great Books for the Summer

search for books
heaven and hell, 1974, 1974-2001, 2001, eagles, heaven, hell, life

Impressum / about us