Don Felder Recalls Infamous Fight with Glenn Frey that Brought Down the Eagles
A recent interview with Don Felder, the former guitarist of the Eagles, has shed light on the tumultuous relationship between him and bandmate Glenn Frey, which ultimately led to the demise of the band’s original lineup. As Felder releases his career-spanning collection of tunes, The Vault, it’s worth remembering the incident that sparked the chain of events that brought an end to the Eagles’ first era.
According to an interview with Guitar Player, Felder revealed that the tension between him and Frey had been building up over time, and it finally came to a head during a concert on July 31, 1980, at Long Beach Arena. The show was performed as a benefit for then California senator Alan Cranston, and Felder had expressed his reservations about performing for politicians. As Felder recalled, “Honestly, I had never cared or paid attention very much to politics at all. My brother, who was a lawyer for 30 years, says the law is made by lawyers for lawyers to transfer wealth to lawyers. And there are so many of those guys sitting in Washington.”
Felder’s comments did not go unnoticed by Frey, who overheard him and took umbrage with his remarks. The situation escalated, with Frey confronting Felder in the dressing room, and the two exchanging heated words. Felder writes in his 2007 memoir, Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001), that Frey came over to him during the performance of “The Best of My Love” and said, “Fuck you. I’m gonna kick your ass when we get off the stage.”
The tension between the two musicians continued to build, and during the encore break, Felder had a crew member place his Takamine acoustic guitar near the backstage door. When the show was over, Felder smashed the guitar, an act that would prove to be the final straw for the Eagles. As Felder explained, “That was the only time I ever did that… Joe used to do that all the time when he got really upset. When you break a guitar, it’s an expensive mistake, for one thing. The other thing is, you could hurt yourself with splinters and stuff, or hurt somebody around you.”
The incident was witnessed by Cranston and his wife, Norma Weintraub, who were on their way out of the arena. Felder’s actions were seen as a warning shot to Frey, but it ultimately led to the Eagles’ dissolution. The band would go on to finish their 1980 Eagles Live album separately, and the band’s formal dissolution was acknowledged during May 1982.
In the years that followed, Felder and the Eagles would attempt to reunite, but it wasn’t until 1994 that they would finally come together again for the Hell Freezes Over special. Felder was eventually fired from the band during February 2001, and he would go on to settle lawsuits against the band and its organization for undisclosed terms.
Today, Felder is part of the Brotherhood of Rock Tour with Styx and the Kevin Cronin Band, which runs through August 24 in Milwaukee. As he looks back on his time with the Eagles, Felder’s comments offer a glimpse into the complex and often tumultuous relationship he shared with Glenn Frey. As Felder noted, “We were just fried by then, man. We needed a break in the worst way. What happened was about more than just what happened that night.”
The story of the Eagles’ demise serves as a cautionary tale about the pressures of fame and the importance of communication in maintaining healthy relationships. As Felder’s comments make clear, the tensions between him and Frey were long-standing, and it ultimately took a toll on the band. With the release of The Vault, fans can gain a deeper understanding of Felder’s creative process and the events that shaped his career.
The legacy of the Eagles continues to endure, with their music remaining popular to this day. However, the story of Don Felder and Glenn Frey’s tumultuous relationship serves as a reminder that even the most iconic bands can be brought down by internal conflicts. As Felder reflected, “I didn’t have a Martin; it was all Takamine… Glenn had a deal with Takamine, so everyone had to play Takamines onstage.” The incident may have seemed minor at the time, but it ultimately proved to be the catalyst for the Eagles’ downfall.
Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/don-felder-recalls-fight-glenn-172506143.html
Guitar Player
The Vault
Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001)
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