What were your early rock dreams?

Don Henley: The real thing that any artist wants, I think, is to be understood and accepted. Those are the primary motivations for anyone going into rock 'n' roll . . . because where I come from the sports figures were always the popular people in high school. The musicians were always relegated to the back of the bus.

Glenn spoke about each step for the band being a new dream . . . playing the Troubadour for the first time, getting a record contract. Same with you?

Sure, each step is a dream, including getting to meet people you idolize . . . to be accepted in that musical club or fraternity, which is something that is ironic about the whole concept of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We, in rock 'n' roll, are supposed to be outsiders. We are not supposed to join clubs. . . .Besides, the Hall of Fame has sort of become a popularity contest, hasn't it? Will great artists like Randy Newman or Leonard Cohen [who aren't massive record sellers] be in the Hall of Fame? Probably not.

Why are you attending the ceremonies? Is it mostly for the others in the group?

Yes, I don't want to spoil the evening for them or for our fans who may enjoy it. I also certainly don't want to exhibit any disrespect for all of the people already in the Hall of Fame, many of whom are my heroes.

When you look back at the Eagles' history, are there some particularly sweet memories? The first hit? The first show?

Sure . . . each of the things you mention were sweet, and the older I get the more I remember them. It makes me sad to realize those are probably gone forever. Because of the amount of water that has gone under the bridge and because of the inevitable growing apart, we can never. . [pause] We wrote a few prophetic lines and one of the most prophetic was in the song I Can't Tell You Why and it's the line, We make it harder than it has to be. And that has certainly been the case for the last 2 ½ years. I wish it could be a joyous brotherhood of music, but I have come to realize that it's just not.

When with the Eagles did you start getting the sense that you were doing more than making hit records . . . that you were becoming a world-class band?

From the beginning, we tried to do quality work. We were accused of being perfectionists and being control freaks, called all kinds of things, but we simply wanted to do the work and we wanted to get better. Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn't. I think all our albums are pretty much a mixed bag . . .there are some good things, some mediocre things and some rotten things on all of them. I suppose Hotel California is the best album as far as consistency.

Was that part of the problem in recording The Long Run The pressure of trying to top Hotel California?

I think we could have done it, but we had some drug problems and some other personal problems . . . ego problems, some stress problems. When success comes in rock 'n' roll, people are generally too young to deal with it. In hindsight, it's easy to see now what should have been done

to keep the group together. But no one wants to rock the boat. We were all surrounded at one time or another by yes men who would rather keep picking up a check than tell you what you need to hear. I'm just grateful that we're all alive and healthy.

Was it hard for all seven of you to agree to get together for this occasion?

We've decided to forgive and forget . . . at least for the one evening.

Were you hurt by some of the charges that the only reason you got back together was for the money?

Well, part of the reason was money. That's what we do for a living. . . . And, I'll grant you our ticket prices were too high, but that was a decision by committee. . . . Rolling Stone took the opportunity to take a couple of shots at us. They said our tour was about middle-aged men and money. Coming from Rolling Stone-once the nation's best and only alternative paper, and now a bloated tabloid with cigarette and liquor ads on every other page-I think it is really hypocritical.

How would you describe the status of the Eagles at this point?

It changes every week. I tell you this: I would be willing to do it again in the future if it could be done with joy and enthusiasm and integrity . . . a tour and an album. I'd never tour again and play the same old songs, without a new album. I think everybody agrees on that. But if we can't do an album with those three things and can't do a tour with the same, I'm out.

So, how do you think you'll feel at the induction? Sentimental? Anxious?

I don't believe that there will be a great deal of sentimentality, at least I hope not. I appreciate the past and the older I get, the more humbled and grateful I am for the career that I've had, both inside and outside the Eagles, but I don't want to dwell on it. I want to stay creative. I don't want to rest on laurels. It's not enough.