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Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) | 
 enlarge | Author: Don Felder
Creator: Wendy Holden
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $14.41
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Avg. Customer Rating:  74 reviews
Sales Rank: 1432
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.4
ISBN: 0470289066
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.42166092
EAN: 9780470289068
ASIN: 0470289066
Publication Date: April 21, 2008
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Shipping: International shipping available
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Eagles are the bestselling, and arguably the tightest-lipped, American group ever. Now band member and guitarist Don Felder finally breaks the Eagles’ years of public silence to take fans behind the scenes. He shares every part of the band’s wild ride, from the pressure-packed recording studios and trashed hotel rooms to the tension-filled courtrooms, and from the joy of writing powerful new songs to the magic of performing in huge arenas packed with roaring fans.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 69 more reviews...
 "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do." October 7, 2008
Yeah, I know it's a Joe Walsh line, but it fits this book perfectly.
After joining the Eagles, it doesn't take long for Felder to start realizing (real or imagined) that he's getting the shaft from Messrs. Frey and Henley. Apparently the royalties from "Hotel California" and other tunes are enough to pacify him for a while, however.
Finally, when he stands up to them, they do the expected and fire him. It's interesting how the other two "sidemen" (Walsh and Schmidt) don't back him up at all (lest they put their own positions in peril) and implore him to just enjoy the ride, but it's too late by then.
Along the way there are some interesting stories but not really enough to keep this book afloat. If you're not a hardcore Eagles fan, I'd skip it.
 Very revealing read, and very fair October 6, 2008
Don Felder's story is revealing yet fair. One can detect joy, sadness, chagrin in his look back at his life with the Eagles, but almost no animosity at all. It is an effort in a meditative manner, telling things the way he saw it, with no attempt at excuses - even for his own mistakes.
Being a non-confrontative and meek person, you can easily say that it was his own fault for allowing the abuse by the Gods (*snigger*, sorry; can never refer to that silly title without sniggering). Yet, isn't that a common trait in a lot of people? But he woke up after being unfairly fired. Timothy Schmit's last remarks to Felder, that some contract made in the 70s was history, aren't entirely correct. That contract was not voided before they embark on the new regulation of profit division among the band members. It was only ignored and THAT is why the hostility against Felder mounted. He was pointing out to a fact that still stands and this grated, but for Felder's lack of courage to be more direct.
The very fact that Henley and Frey (The Gods...? *cringe*) eventually settled this out of court is very telling! Wake up, those who berate Felder for telling this story! They settled because they would never win! And they didn't want more than what is already evident to see further light! DUH!! The stories in this book have been watered down even, in order to save these lousy dogs some face! What a pity such massively talented individuals are also very destructive in their nature. It is sad that his old friends, Timothy Schmit and especially, Joe Walsh, chose to save their own hides from the wrath of The Gods (there, said it again). But I can see their fears and understand why they cease contact with Felder. They have that same trait of non-confrontative way! But they were never promised an equal share, and signed contracts that are already clear on their own positions: an Eagle, but not really a member. Hired musicians with a fancy tag.
All in all, a very fair point of view from Don Felder. No finger-pointing and maintains his respect for these guys, no matter what had happened between them. The irony being that Henley's and Frey's greed in hoping to swallow Felder's share ended up in them paying back his overdues and more, now that Felder is also entitle to future profits. Talk about coming full circle........
Heaven and Hell:My Life in the Eagles(1974-2001) October 6, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great book.A must read for every Eagles fan.The inside "dope" on
America's number one band.
Hotel Paranoia September 27, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Don Henley once said there are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the cold hard truth. What Don Felder provides in this book is the "yours." The book is at times a touching rags-to-riches story of a small town boy who makes it big. It's also a poison pen dagger aimed directly at Don Henley and Glenn Frey, who he holds responsible for seemingly everything that went wrong in his life.
Felder, by his own account, seems to live a miserable existence no matter how much success he achieves. He is miserable in the recording studio, miserable on tour, and miserable at home with his wife and four children. At some point, one really starts to wonder how someone can exist going through life so miserable. He overreacts to seemingly minor situations, such as his youngest son trying pot as a teenager. When Felder discovers this, he is practically ready to drive him to rehab instead of just chalking it up to typical teenage behavior.
Felder is also careful in touching on his relationship with the members in the band. However, he fails to realize that what goes around comes around. When his good buddy Bernie Leadon is forced out (mainly due to Felder's arrival), followed shortly thereafter by bassist Randy Meisner, Felder stands idly by, unwilling to support his friends. Yet when the ax falls on Felder in 2001, he is incredulous that band mates Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit refuse to battle for him. It is Schmit who actually sets Felder straight by telling him what happened in the 1970s is no longer relevant, but a suddenly headstrong Felder refuses to see it that way.
The final straw appears to come with the impending release of an Eagles greatest hits compilation in 2000. Once again, Felder is unhappy that Henley and Frey (whom he refers to as "The Gods") make more money. It's at this point when you really wish Felder would grow a spine and just make the decision to just leave the band. Henley and Frey may never win any humanitarian awards, but for Felder to lay all his problems at their feet is simplistic at best and vengeful at worst. After all, they were the ones to give him his big break and they did provide most of the inspiration for this book.
The book is at times funny, and Eagles fans will revel in Felder's accounts of life on the road and writing classic hits such as "Hotel California." In the end, you can't help but feel for Felder a bit. But at the same time, you can't help but also think that he could have prevented so much of what went wrong by simply standing up for himself. When he was finally able to do so, it was too late.
Great writing with a fun lookback story September 26, 2008
This is a great well-written book. I am a writer and I find it rare to read a book this engaging and entertaining. Felder adds enormous feeling to the story so you get to experience the joy and pains of his emotions and the heady triumphs of life in one of America's top groups of all time.
If you were around in the 70's you will treasure reading how he created Hotel California and performed it for countless adoring fans.
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