Stevie and Don "Hotel California"

[PenguinHead]

A good song is a good song. I could care less about senseless tabloid-like speculation about who or what inspired the songs. Spare me the forced indulgent drama.

But on another note: from what I've seen of the concert footage, Stevie was certainly inspired by having Don Henley by her side at those shows. I feel that his presence made her performances stronger, and her mood more lively. She looked and sounded great.

She was overtly enjoying the moment and clearly smitten with him. Don is kind of like her Lindsey sans the baggage. They share very similar careers -- both are members of hugely established bands, and both emerged as hugely established solo artists, maintaining a balance act with both camps.

I regret not making the effort to see a show on this aborted tour. How many shows did they do? Did Don leave the tour because Eagles swooped him up?

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by Erin

But Lindsey and Stevie didn't break up until '76 right? Anyone? Anyone? I thought Don had a bio or maybe it was just an interview in a magazine because Stevie got mad at him for spilling the beans about her abortion. I literally just finished watching the classic albums Rumours doc (it's stormy here in Chitown today) and my impression was the official breakup occurred in '76, and for some reason I thought Stevie met Don on the Rumours tour. The old story of John and Mick pretending to send something to Stevie from Don because they knew she had a crush on him, but she hadn't actually met him at that point. Then she got to meet him right after that, or something. I don't think that would have happened on the White Album tour because she was with Lindsey. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

"Here's one thing that Don did that freaked my band out so much. We're all in Miami, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. They're recording at this gorgeous house they'd rented on the water. It's totally romantic. It's pink. It's like Mar-a-Lago.

Anyway, he sends a limousine driver over to our hotel with a box of presents for me, and they're delivered right into the breakfast room where everyone's eating. There's a stereo, a bunch of fabulous records. There's incredible flowers and fruits, beautiful.. The limousine driver is taking all this out onto the table and I'm going, Oh, please, please, this is not going to go down well. And they want to know who it's from. And Lindsey is not happy. So I started going out with him. And this is not popular. Sure, Lindsey and I are totally broken up, I have every right in the world to go out with people, but...I spend most of my time with the band, and it's not real conducive to having a relationship. So, I went out with Don for awhile. I went out with [Eagles songwriter] J.D. Souther for awhile. We had an incredible time. "

[StreetAngel86]

Originally Posted by Black_Moon

While I respect your point of view, unless there is a direct quote from one of the Eagles saying 'none of our songs are about any members of Fleetwood Mac', I'll always think that there's a chance. Especially as Stevie slept with most of them.

she slept with 1/2 of Fleetwood Mac too...literally

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I regret not making the effort to see a show on this aborted tour.

ZING!

(following comment self-redacted as not to offend our collective virgin ears)

(translation: Don Henley WAS and IS a MAJOR LEAGUE DOUCHEBAG)

[Erin]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

"Here's one thing that Don did that freaked my band out so much. We're all in Miami, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. They're recording at this gorgeous house they'd rented on the water. It's totally romantic. It's pink. It's like Mar-a-Lago.

Anyway, he sends a limousine driver over to our hotel with a box of presents for me, and they're delivered right into the breakfast room where everyone's eating. There's a stereo, a bunch of fabulous records. There's incredible flowers and fruits, beautiful.. The limousine driver is taking all this out onto the table and I'm going, Oh, please, please, this is not going to go down well. And they want to know who it's from. And Lindsey is not happy. So I started going out with him. And this is not popular. Sure, Lindsey and I are totally broken up, I have every right in the world to go out with people, but...I spend most of my time with the band, and it's not real conducive to having a relationship. So, I went out with Don for awhile. I went out with [Eagles songwriter] J.D. Souther for awhile. We had an incredible time. "

Thanks! Any date from her on this? I wonder what albums he sent her.

[seekerj]

Originally Posted by starshine

Yeah, but isn't the 'demo' for Leather & Lace from 1975....when Stevie stated her & Don recorded L & L....since it was for Waylon & Jess.....they were going together than....of course we all know how Stevie is with dates etc.....but .....I am an Eagles fan......mostly they base there songs as a whole.....not saying that there isn't some infulence etc.....I myself haven't read any articles stated something is or isn't specificly about Stevie etc. I guess we'll not ever know really......I think they try to make things about all people......so the song isn't pegged for meaning just one thing.....go to Songfacts.com......its a great website for info.....whether its all 'true' or not who knows but its an interesting read.......

The actual master reel-to-reel tape (which I own) has recordings of "Leather And Lace" with Don, and it's dated August 31, 1976. There are a number of false starts, a full recording with Stevie alone, followed by a full recording with Stevie and Don.

(This tape also has the Planets Of The Universe and Goodbye Baby piano demos on it, and they are listed with those titles, not listed as "No Light" and "The Tower", so I've always wondered where those false titles came from.)

[David]

Originally Posted by Erin

But Lindsey and Stevie didn't break up until '76 right? Anyone? Anyone?

Mick's book says that the band convened in Sausalito very early in 1976 -- January or February -- & that Stevie was already single at that point.

my impression was the official breakup occurred in '76, and for some reason I thought Stevie met Don on the Rumours tour.

1976 tour. The Rumours tour didn't start until end of Feb. 1977. It was the 1976 tour, besides, where Fleetwood & the Eagles shared a bunch of bills at all those outdoor shows.

[dnightshade]

Just because there seems to be so much useless debate: For the record ~ it doesn't matter when Stevie & Don hooked up. The song is not about her. Or Lindsey. Trust me! If you want to anlayze a song about a possible link, look at "Forgiveness." That's all I'm saying. And one more thing: don't believe everything you read or hear. I'm not calling anyone a liar but someone could sit down with a reporter/interviewer and tell them point blank right there this is about this or that and in actuality, it's not. Unless you know the artist, you don't know. And sometimes they'll say one thing and realize maybe they shouldn't have said something or someone will ask them to retract a statement and they will. It happens all the time. There, I've probably said too much myself. Again.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by David

Mick's book says that the band convened in Sausalito very early in 1976 -- January or February -- & that Stevie was already single at that point.

1976 tour. The Rumours tour didn't start until end of Feb. 1977. It was the 1976 tour, besides, where Fleetwood & the Eagles shared a bunch of bills at all those outdoor shows.

Thank you, mystery solved! It proves the point about Hotel California not being about Stevie, I think (songs on the album having been written in '75 or earlier). Of course it's a trivial matter, but hey it's been slow here at work.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by David

Mick's book says that the band convened in Sausalito very early in 1976 -- January or February -- & that Stevie was already single at that point.

But Stevie said Lindsey would still come around and sleep over at her place even after that, which caused them to have another gigantic fight.

Michele

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by michelej1

But Stevie said Lindsey would still come around and sleep over at her place even after that, which caused them to have another gigantic fight.

Michele

You'd think it would have caused rifts between Stevie and Don as well, but we never seem to hear about any of the other men in her life being jealous of Lindsey.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

You'd think it would have caused rifts between Stevie and Don as well, but we never seem to hear about any of the other men in her life being jealous of Lindsey.

But I don't think people like Don and Mick wanted anything monogamous with Stevie, so they didn't much care what she did, even if she was jealous of their relationships.

But Egan sounded like he was a little jealous. At least he got tired of her saying he reminded her of Lindsey.

Michele

[gypsy4life]

Wow, I never realized me asking for this video would cause such debate!!...lol..

[Black_Moon]

I think a lot of the men post-Lindsey in Stevie's life have a tendency to feel (a lot, in some cases i.e. Joe Walsh) less about her than she does about them. Hence why they wouldn't care what she got up to, but probably used other women as bait to piss her off just for the hell of it.

[brysondt]

Originally Posted by Black_Moon

I think a lot of the men post-Lindsey in Stevie's life have a tendency to feel (a lot, in some cases i.e. Joe Walsh) less about her than she does about them. Hence why they wouldn't care what she got up to, but probably used other women as bait to piss her off just for the hell of it.

Aw, this makes me feel sad.

So many interviews I hear and read, it really does sound like Stevie's relationships with men, in her mind anyway, are always much more serious than what the men think. Which makes me pissed because Stevie is damn hot and who are they to just dismiss the relationship so casually?

It's like--it's Stevie Nicks, you seriously don't want a serious/hardcore relationship with this woman?