Product 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 DonFelder 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-21
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

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.

About the Author
DON FELDER is widely considered one of the greatest guitar players in the music industry, and he continues to tour and play as a solo artist. He lives in Los Angeles.

WENDY HOLDEN is a seasoned journalist and bestselling author. She lives in Suffolk, England.

Customer Reviews

Essential Reading For Music Fan
This book came to my attention just before Memorial Day while I was staying in the Sierras at a lodge close to the Strawberry Festival. Went out for a walk and was stopped by a guy wearing an "Event Staff" outfit and reading this very book with its most unique license plate cove while he was guarding access to the grounds. The Strawberry Festival is an annual music festival held in the Sierras and it spans a wide spectrum - from folk and bluegrass to roots and more. Anyway, I asked about the book and was given a brief summary. When I got home, I bought the book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I have a much better understanding of the history of the Eagles, the music business and music politics. The book can be further enjoyed by watching YouTube videos of the author and the band, the Eagles.

An Inside Look at the Eagles
We always new that Glen Frey and Don Henley were a couple of insecure jerks didn't we? Well Don Felder confirms it with lots of details in this book. There are a couple of things that I like about this book. First of all, it feels honest. Felder speaks about how he, Joe Walsh, and the other members of the group (with the exception of Bernie Leadon who didn't take any of Frey's crap) more or less cowered before the two people they called "The Gods" in order to preserve the music. I also enjoyed Felder's story of growing up in Gainesville, Florida, and his interaction with his family and other future rock and roll musicians (such as a young Tom Petty). I'm usually disappointed in these type of books (such as the Clapton biography), but this one is worth reading!!!!

The "Other" Side To Hell Freezing Over
Don Felder spends the majority of the first half of the book telling the story of his life as a poor, Gainesville, Florida boy who married young and rode his guitar-playing expertise to the top of the music world.

Felder's friendship with original-Eagle Bernie Leadon and his lean years with fledgling bands make his unlikely membership in the Eagles an enjoyable success story. His energetic, rock-edged guitar playing helped re-invent the Eagles sound, and launched them to greater heights.

While a number of previous reviewers dismiss Felder as being bitter for suing the band to maintain his just and contracted equal share of the Eagles' profits, I think he does a fair job of stating the facts in a non-whiny manner. Message to all: Save all paperwork related to business!

It is evident that manager Irving Azoff's desire to divide and conquer was successful in dividing the Eagles. I had hoped to see Don Felder return someday to the Eagles; it may eventually happen, now that his lawsuit has been settled out of court.