Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) Paperback – April 1, 2009

Don Felder is one talented Guitar Player. One of the main reasons the Eagles were so successful in their transition from their easy listening music to their more Rock oriented Sounds. As the sole writer of the music for Hotel California, the Eagles biggest hit ever, Don's talent shines through!!!I believe him completely when he said that the Eagles were a corporation, and that all members were to get an equal share of the profits. He won his lawsuit against the Eagles, ( Glenn Frey, Don Henley), so enough said about who was right. I was in 3 different bands. Only one did we all get alone. Whenever anyone got unreasonable, it was so hard and made it difficult to have fun. That's what music should be fun and rewarding. Frey and Henley, on their own merit, decided because they were the main song writers, that they should get the lions share of the profits. Wrong!!!! An agreement to equal shares is an agreement, period. All of a sudden when success comes big, greed takes over. Don Felder had every right to question the spending and request his share of the profits in an equal partnership. It was a double edge sword. If he spoke up much sooner, he would have been kicked out sooner, and been denied the pleasure of all the great Eagle hits he contributed with his fantastic guitar playing. All he wanted was his fair share of the profits, and to play music. How they got away with kicking him out, I don't know the legalities of, but it's a darn good thing he had a contract as an equal owner of The Eagles, Inc. So at least money will keep rolling in for years to come. Check out his music in the Animated movie 'Heavy Metal' on YouTube!! Fantastic composition. As a guitar player myself, Don Felder's lesson on YouTube on Hotel California, is amazing. He is a laid-back, easy going, soft spoken man who enjoys music. Like Linda Ronstadt said about the Eagles when they used to back her up, before they were the Eagles. "You can tell a real guitar player because you can't pry it from their hands. They never put it down." That's Don Felder!! To me the Eagles were less of a Band without Don Felder.!! Relying on their established hits to keep there signature Eagles sound. Don Felder was a major part of that. I look up to him for fighting for what was due him. I just wish Don Henley and Glenn Frey would have tried to work it out with him. Maybe if their Greed and Egos weren't so large. I also wish Glenn and Felder could have worked things out before Frey's passing. A sad shame. The YouTube video of Don Felder expressing his regrets about not being able to work things out with Frey are sincere and very sad. But we will always have their music to listen to, which is pure and without regret.

I found the book to a fast and enjoyable read. Had no idea all the rock greats that Felder encountered in Florida. In general, this is one member's account of what was no doubt a crazy ride to the top of the rock and roll world. I've seen the documentaries/interviews and Felder's account seems to align closely with what was previously released. This is not the tell all book that people may have wanted - he could have been really brutal with Fry and Henley - but I think it's a bit of therapy for a guy that lived the rock life of excess and I don't think he was looking to make waves. There are times he seems naive/overly innocent but maybe that's just his way of not selling the others out and Felder not wanting to admit the real depths of how absent he was from his family's life. Now that Fry has passed, I wish Henley would find it in himself to make amends with Felder - the guy transformed the Eagles sound and deserves his due. Although I'm sure he's paid handsomely via the settlement with Henley, Fry and Azoff - I'm surprise Azoff wasn't sued, he was no Peter Grant. In the end this was a band with a lot of drama that was caused by cocaine, greed and a lot of funny stories captured by Felder.

"Clash of the Megalomania Titans!" could also have been the name for this book. It's really not surprising, I suppose, that after years of adoring fans telling you how great you are (and in many cases, using their bodies to do it), that you would develop a highly disjointed view of the world BENEATH you.In many instances, I found myself saying "Really, Felder? You actually THOUGHT that!?" Example; When he describes the final straw that led to his decision to divorce his wife. The incident is so trite and trivial, that his consequent action comes off as the world's worse excuse to divorce someone! Either that, or it comes off as a man (who's own ego and sense of entitlement to non-stop attention) who has suddenly caught one of his wide-eyed minions blinking for a split second. "Off with their heads then!!" seems to be the preposterous answer;He is mad at his wife for half blowing-off their dinner and movie plans (which he pressured her in to doing, last minute), so instead of talking to her and expressing how he feels, he tells her that he's just going to head home and he never says a word...and this is the unforgivable incident that leads to divorce?? Yikes! I guess Celebrities really DO lead sheltered lives! If this is the final straw to ending a 25+year marriage, I'd be afraid to ever say one word to the guy if I was his friend, band-mate, etc. God knows he could decide to quit you on a whim...like he did Walsh, when he called him to talk to him about the group's decision to let him go. He said he and Walsh were "old buddies". Yet, he gave up on him too, simply because he didn't like his attitude during the call..."I haven't spoken to him since" says Felder. And he wonders why his friends are disappearing! He didn't express how he was really feeling (hurt by his response) and he's made no effort since to rectify what could be, in all honesty, a case of mistaken impressions (just like the movie/dinner incident).These scenes in the book are telling, in that Felder appears as someone who doesn't communicate very well with others, ESPECIALLY at critical moments in his life. He sucks it in when Henley & Frey tell him that he's going to be paid less (instead of having it out when it counts, at the meeting, not down the road, after the tour is over). And when he describes how this ultimately becomes the issue that leads to his getting kicked out of the band, he points out how he himself never really talks directly to anyone about the problem, until it is all blown out of proportion and it's too late...a familiar theme throughout his life, apparently (read the book and you'll see what I mean).But, all the above being said, this book is as addicting as the groupies and blow Felder speaks of indulging in! :-) I read it twice within a couple of days of getting it. It's not overly eloquent in it's prose, but the simple, straight-forward way of telling his side of the story, seems heartfelt and true (to his point of view, anyway).In Felder's defense, it's also not hard to imagine that there is truth to some of the accusations he makes. I have no doubt, with all of the other egos at play in the band, surely there were times when the term "*-hole" applied to both Frey and Henley.And contrary to some of the other reviews here, I DO think that even junior members of a band count! Each artist brings that special little sound that is all his own to a group. And without all of the right ingredients in the pie, it may look like apple pie, and it may smell like apple pie, but it won't TASTE like THAT apple pie, the one you love from your favorite, special bakery on the corner. Felder's contributions to the Eagles sound (and to their biggest single of all time, their signature song, "Hotel California"), MUST be appreciated and recognized.I think that this is Felder's point at the end of the day, and I agree. I hate to see any one or two band members think that THEY are the band (even if they did write most of the songs, over-all). Roger Waters thought (and still does think) that he's Pink Floyd. I love Waters, but without Gilmore on the Guitar, and Mason on the drums, to me, he's just "Roger Waters"...and Pink Floyd under Gilmore is a shell of what it should be. Point being, without each other, they both suck on their own (for the most part), and are nothing compared to what they were when they were in "Their Band", together, performing as a group.Henley and Frey should do themselves, and the fans, a favor; Bring Felder back in to the fold. I don't like seeing them all on stage without him. It bugs me when any band does this. Like the way Led Zeppelin is supposed to be going on tour soon, without Robert Plant. Excuse ME!?!? You've GOT to be kidding! It's an insult to fans when these great acts from back then get together with partial (or in some arrogant cases, NONE) of the original band members. The Eagles are no exception.Bottom line; Buy the book. It will get you thinking...and it's entertaining and interesting from a historical perspective. It made me wish I could have been Don Felder, with all of his drug-induced, rock & roll fame, fortune and hot little groupies! Why do some people just get all of the "COOL" problems in life? :-(

Don Felder is the reason I am an Eagles fan. His guitar mastery got my attention the first time I heard Hotel California. Reading this autobiography, convinced me that Don is also a great writer. I have seen him play live recently and was completely blown away by his incredible ability on guitar. If he comes to your town, buy a ticket!