Just Read DON Felders Eale TELL ALL. pls read

David A · #1 02-03-2011, 08:39 PM

Hello

I just finished reading Don Felders book, and man, what a book. I tell you if even HALF of the book is accurate, I Cant stand Frey and Henley and Schmidt and Walsh are wimps. I will admit, its been known that Henley and Frey arent exactly the best people on earth, but man, the way they treated Felder and the roadies, im happy and or HOPE that FM were never like that
regardless of the accuracy, I will say that I respect Felder for standing up for what he beleived in and demanded what he was worth. I dont think he should have received the same as Henley and Frey, but the sounds of it appear he was paid rather cheap and for a guy that was there some what at the start , etc., he has every right to ask for same or near equal pay

I will admit, that I dont feel sorry for him, he is wealthier than I ever will be, but I respect that he stood up to the Gods , and at least was willing to ask for a piece of the pie. That is respectful, I really loved the Eagles before reading this and ever since I havent watched a dvd or listened to any Eagles CD, for some reason, it just has a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, take it with a grain of salt, and you are arguing with millionaires , so who cares, but the way this got fired and treated was unfair. I dont know all the deatils, etc. and I know Felders body of work isnt what Henley or Freys is, but man, talk about a bunch of ego minded jerks. Sad, that many of their fans dont know it or turn the blind eye

but, a very good book indeed.

Any thoughts or can anyone tell me any more details about that whole situation

David

bluefox4000 · #2 02-03-2011, 08:43 PM

Yes Henley and Frey are egotistical maniacs. However that won't stop me from listening. I love their music.

Mick

HomerMcvie · #3 02-03-2011, 10:19 PM

I love this book, and have read it several times. An excellent read. Henley comes off looking okay, but Frey an assh*le.

starshine · #4 02-05-2011, 03:27 PM

I'm an Eagles fan and a Henley fan too. It did kinda leave a bad taste in my mouth so to speak after I read Felders book . I think he's telling the truth but it is his truth so its hard to say. Since I doubt we'll 'ever' hear from Henley or Frey in any of this or 'get there side of the story'. Personally, I've heard things about them for yrs too so I can't say none of it surprises me one bit but if they did do that really its sad. Felder did write music to some of there most popular songs esp Hotel California. He does deserve his $$ for that come on. I'd be pissed off too if I didn't get what I was suppose to. So I also think he derserves something , maybe credit for trying to go up against Henley & Frey. At least he wasn't wimpy like Walsh and Schmidt. I would love to hear what Meisner's take is and Leadon too. They were also in the early Eagles group. They probably make some $$ but probably NOT as much as they should. I do wonder though. I agree with one other poster that said Frey is probably more of a **sh*le than Henley. They should be apperiate what they have esp these days. Its sad. I still listen to there music buts it has been awhile (other than the radio). I also haven't went to any of there concerts since what 95 so. Too expensive same for FMac. Won't see Stevie solo either anymore cause the concert tickets are just too much esp for what your getting these days (same repeated song set lists etc). So I just don't want to support that anymore. Anyway, just wanted to say I agree that Felders book was interesting to read and I do recommed it to anyone interested in it. Better than any other books I'd ever read on the Eagles prior to it too.

HomerMcvie · #5 02-05-2011, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starshine

At least he wasn't wimpy like Walsh and Schmidt. I would love to hear what Meisner's take is and Leadon too. They were also in the early Eagles group. They probably make some $$ but probably NOT as much as they should. I do wonder though.

Okay, if memory serves, Leadon, Meisner, and Felder, were EQUAL partners of The Eagles. Once Leadon left, no one else was brought into the partnership. Walsh or Schmidt(sp) were never partners, even though touring revenues were still split evenly.
SOOOO, Felder owned 33.3% of the Eagles BUSINESS, once Leadon and Meisner left. He wanted the share to which he was legally entitled.....HOWEVER, he should have had the sense to realize, that he wasn't a star in the band, and probably renegotiated, for a lesser percentage. And it bit him in the *ss. Even though he was entitled to that share, his constant demands to see the books, pushed him out of the band.

starshine · #6 02-06-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Okay, if memory serves, Leadon, Meisner, and Felder, were EQUAL partners of The Eagles. Once Leadon left, no one else was brought into the partnership. Walsh or Schmidt(sp) were never partners, even though touring revenues were still split evenly.
SOOOO, Felder owned 33.3% of the Eagles BUSINESS, once Leadon and Meisner left. He wanted the share to which he was legally entitled.....HOWEVER, he should have had the sense to realize, that he wasn't a star in the band, and probably renegotiated, for a lesser percentage. And it bit him in the *ss. Even though he was entitled to that share, his constant demands to see the books, pushed him out of the band.

Thanks for the info Homer, I really didn't know what they did or didn't get and really I don't recall Felder saying anything about them either. So thanks for the info. although 33.3 % doesn't sound like much but maybe it is considering how much $$ they make. But I'm guessing he doesn't make anything off the current line up of the 'band' that is?? He's gotta still make $$ off the songs he wrote or helped write (musically thought right??). Sorry, its been awhile since I read his book so I don't recall now what he said or if he said anything about that? Thanks again for the info!! Even though he was pushed out of the 'band' I do think it was a better band with him in it though. He may not be a lead singer but I did think it was more the Eagles when he was there even if he wasn't a founding member. IMO anyway.

lovethemac1 · #7 03-08-2014, 07:40 PM

I just finished this book by Don Felder, "Heaven and Hell," and I was so impressed by it. It was such an interesting read, and Felder told such a great story. My husband and I watched the Eagles documentary a month ago, The History of the Eagles, and they painted Felder out to be a whiner and complainer. It seemed to me after watching it, that I needed some more information about Don Felder, who to tell you the truth, I didn't even recognize as an Eagle. He is very underpromoted. I happened to be in the library a week later and saw his book......weird. It was so interesting to hear both sides of the story. I can see how the egos of Don Henley and Glenn Fry were the biggest problem in the band. So sad to see what happened and how he was affected by their pettiness and egomania. The main thing that really bothered me was that Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh completely ditched him. So that either means that what we read was maybe not entirely correct, or they are complete a**holes. Either way, I think he got the short end of the stick from Henley/Fry. I feel bad for him as he seems like a great guy who put a lot of weight in his friendships with Schmidt and Walsh.
Overall, I'd say READ THIS BOOK. Loved seeing all the information about the different artists of the time, and he was very complimentary of Stevie Nicks.

HomerMcvie · #8 03-08-2014, 09:01 PM

Note that Stevie gets(according to what we believe is true) 40% of FM touring revenue. Lindsey gets 30%, and Mick and John 15% each.

When you look at it from that angle, now who's the a**hole?

If you're the star of the band

, you're gonna get more. It might not be fair, but life ain't fair...

WatchChain · #9 03-08-2014, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Note that Stevie gets(according to what we believe is true) 40% of FM touring revenue. Lindsey gets 30%, and Mick and John 15% each.

When you look at it from that angle, now who's the a**hole?

If you're the star of the band

, you're gonna get more. It might not be fair, but life ain't fair...

VERY INTERESTING! I wonder how those percentages will change with the return of Christine McVie. How will these numbers be redistributed? No doubt, Chris' return will cut into Stevie's pocket change. What are your thoughts ?

HomerMcvie · #10 03-09-2014, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WatchChain

VERY INTERESTING! I wonder how those percentages will change with the return of Christine McVie. How will these numbers be redistributed? No doubt, Chris' return will cut into Stevie's pocket change. What are your thoughts ?

I would hope that Stevie(and her management) would suck it up, and hopefully accept...
Hell, I dunno....
SN, LB, CM - 23.33333% each
MF and JM - 15% each

I'm sure her management wouldn't accept that, but that would seem like an acceptable split.
IF the 3 songwriters don't split evenly, I wouldn't do it, if I was Lindsey or Chris.

I'd HATE to knock MF and JM back to splitting 25% between them. THEY are the reason that they're all rich!

MikeInNV · #11 03-09-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Note that Stevie gets(according to what we believe is true) 40% of FM touring revenue. Lindsey gets 30%, and Mick and John 15% each.

When you look at it from that angle, now who's the a**hole?

If you're the star of the band

, you're gonna get more. It might not be fair, but life ain't fair...

I don't think it's so unfair. Even with their lower percentages, Lindsey, Mick, and John are still making far more $$ than they would if they toured without Stevie. I think that split (assuming it's accurate) benefits everyone.

HomerMcvie · #12 03-10-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeInNV

I don't think it's so unfair. Even with their lower percentages, Lindsey, Mick, and John are still making far more $$ than they would if they toured without Stevie. I think that split (assuming it's accurate) benefits everyone.

But my POINT was, that we hate Frey/Henley for taking more money, and Stevie does the same thing. Fair enough point?

lovethemac1 · #13 03-10-2014, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

But my POINT was, that we hate Frey/Henley for taking more money, and Stevie does the same thing. Fair enough point?

totally fair point.........I still really dislike Frey/Henley though because they seem like such jerks, who were only worried about keeping the band together because of the cash cow it became. Stevie strikes me as really loving the money, but also really loving "her band." And she seems to genuinely love the band members as well.

HomerMcvie · #14 03-10-2014, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovethemac1

totally fair point.........I still really dislike Frey/Henley though because they seem like such jerks, who were only worried about keeping the band together because of the cash cow it became. Stevie strikes me as really loving the money, but also really loving "her band." And she seems to genuinely love the band members as well.

I agree on all points.

"No one sucks the fun out of a room faster than Don Henley" - Glenn Frey

(although I think they're both jerks)

MikeInNV · #15 03-10-2014, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

But my POINT was, that we hate Frey/Henley for taking more money, and Stevie does the same thing. Fair enough point?

Yes, that's a very fair point for those who have a beef with Henley and Frey taking a larger cut. My dislike (not hate) for them has nothing to do with their paychecks.