The Eagles
Have Landed By Kirk Baird Las Vegas Sun December 28, 1999 “We've survived.” It was one of the first things out of Eagles guitarist Don Felder's mouth when he called to do a phone interview from his home in Malibu, California. Felder was referring to the grass fires that had been roaring out of control through Southern California but were now in check. He could've just as easily been talking about the band. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between the Eagles—who perform at the Mandalay Bay Events Center tonight and Wednesday night—and the fires. Both started in the same place, both started small but quickly spread, and both consumed everything in their path, causing problems in their wake. For the Eagles, a band that revolutionized the music scene in the `70s with its pioneering and mega0successful country-rock sound, those problems began even as the group was singing about “taking it easy” and “peaceful feelings.” There were the personnel changes in lineup and management, not to mention the increasingly frequent infighting. Then there was the reputation the Eagles developed as truly enjoying the freewheeling excesses of the `70s, to the extent that it probably should have left someone in the group dead. “We got to the point we could do anything we wanted to, so we did,” said the Eagles' other guitarist, Joe Walsh who also called from California for a phone interview. “The thing that amazes me is that we're all still alive and, to some degree, sane.” The band, however, not only lived to tell the tales, but became a whole lot richer in the process. From countrified songs such as “Doolin-Daltin,” “Desperado” and “Tequila Sunrise” (a product of influences from such bands as the Byrds and flying Burrito Brothers) to their later, more rock-oriented sounds such as “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Heartache Tonight,” the Eagles enjoyed hits no matter what style of music they were playing. As evidence, the group's “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)” was recently certified as the No. 1 selling album of all time by the Recording Industry Association of America, with sales of 26 million. But writing hit songs was never anything the Eagles were concerned with, Felder said. Rather, the band was simply “doing the absolute best we could do.” Walsh added: “The highest anyone can hope for is to go down in history as a valid creative spokesman for the generation you represent. I would hope that's the way we go down.” But the Eagles aren't through yet. First, the band is poised to ring in the millennium together, beginning with the two Las Vegas shows. Then the band members head back to California for a New Year's Eve concert in Los Angeles. Of course, these end-of-the-decade performances are from a band that had a bitter breakup in late 1980, which prompted members to refer to any future reunions as “when hell freezes over.” In 1994, however, Satan suddenly found himself in a down-filled parka when the Eagles returned from their “14-year vacation” and released an album. Titled “Hell Freezes Over,” the record featured four new studio tracks as well as live recordings of many of their classic songs. The band then embarked on a highly successful tour; so successful, in fact, that the Eagles were named top Forbes magazine's list of top-grossing entertainers of 1996, at No. 6 with an estimated total take of $32 million. “This band has been through about every trip a band can go through,” Walsh said. “About the only thing left to do is stand next to each other and play our music.” Which is not something the band really considered nearly 20 years ago, he said. “I tell you, though, in retrospect, it makes sense. I kinda had a hunch we weren't done yet. I still have that feeling.” No doubt, Walsh was alluding to the possibility of a new Eagles album. And although there have been no definite plans, Felder said “The prospects are good,” adding that the band is writing some new material and exchanging demos, and will meet mid-year to discuss the project. “I'd like to finish a new studio album,” he said, “but this time do it right. Last time (with `Hell Freezes Over') we were in such a rush, we really didn't want to spend a year making an album” Added Walsh, who said he's taking a “we'll see” attitude to the project: “You never know with these guys; there's an update every 20 minutes.” As of now, Felder said the band is focused on its upcoming performances, and playing and sounding better than ever. The concerts, he said, will consist of Eagles songs never played live, as well as some dusted off for these shows. To Walsh, however, everything the band plays on stage may be new to him, the result of recently found sobriety after years of developing a reputation as a poster boy for the party lifestyle. “I had seriously not planned on living here this long, and much to my amazement I am,” said “Walsh, a notorious joker whose conversation suddenly turned serious. “For a while that's what we rock stars did...” Then one by one, Walsh said he found that his circle of party-going friends was getting smaller and smaller. He said he repeatedly tried to stop drinking and doing drugs, but was unable to. “It was terrifying. I was trying to stop, but I had become so dependent I couldn't.” Finally, Walsh said, he turned to a higher authority for help. And although he is quick to say he's not religious, he now talks like a man enlightened by a higher purpose; some who has “had a profound spiritual awakening.” And like the tent preacher at a revival, Brother Walsh is ready to share his good news. “Anybody who is as scared as I was about substance abuse, (should) do something about it,” he said. “There is life after vodka, and it's good. There is life after cocaine, and it's a good life...I'm here to tell you it'll be OK.” First the Eagles get back together, and then Walsh is on the spiritual mend and preaching about the virtues of a sober way of life. Indeed, after this turn of events, hell may never thaw out. |