The Eagles were not only the most successful band to hit Country Rock, but they have also been one of the biggest bands in American rock history. They tastefully brought the essence of late-’60s roots rock to the charts, placing Hotel California (1976) and their compilation Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) among the top ten best-selling albums of all time. Keep reading and discover their 10 Of The Most Insane Career Stories From Eagles’ Prime Years:
Their Debut Album Cover Was Inspired During A Trip In A Desert
Eagles debuted in 1971, rescuing the southern sound, mixing it with an exquisite guitar touch and some soft rock, as well as references to country and western style. According to drummer/vocalist Don Henley, a photographer, and award-winning art director Gary Burden gone out to visit the Joshua Tree National Park and took Peyote for a photoshoot in 1971. While the group was high, they saw an eagle soaring above, and, as Henley said, they “took it as a sign.”
The Aftershow Parties Called “The Third Encore”
Unfortunately, the decadence of the Hotel California was being enacted by the band in their everyday lives. The “third encore” parties after shows became infamous carnivals of sex, drugs, and alcohol. A terrible episode in the biography of the Eagles. Substance abuse didn’t make the tensions in the studio and on the road go away; somehow, it exacerbated them. The egos that had always been at odds were now headed to a Battle Royal. Meisner left at the end of the tour, not wanting to deal with it anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVYdsucRUpA
The Eagles Partied Harder Than Black Sabbath When They Shared A Studio
According to Geezer Butler, Black Sabbath’s bass played noted that when every time they arrived at the studio after Don and Glenn, they had to brush off cocaine out of the mixing board before they could start recording. Butler roughly calculated that “they’d left about a pound of cocaine in the board.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrWUlc46dQ0
Bernie Leadon Poured Beer On Frey’s Head
One Of These Nights (1975) won them their first Grammy for the song Lyin’ Eyes and the title track was their next number one hit. Take It to the Limit from the album was his first gold record. Songwriting, especially in the cases of Frey and Henley, was growing in sophistication. However, Leadon had become disenchanted with the Eagles’ lifestyle, dissatisfied with the direction they were taking, and disgusted with the treatment from his bandmates, before leaving while Glenn Frey was discussing the changes they will take, Leadon walked towards Frey, and said “You need to chill out, man,” and poured a whole beer on Frey’s head. Leadon left and was replaced by famed former James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5zB4ARUBtg
Joe Walsh Received A Chainsaw As A Birthday Gift
Joe Walsh received an unusual gift from their manager Irving Azoff: a chainsaw.
Walsh explains the rest in an interview:
One night we checked into a Holiday Inn and he [Azoff] and I were supposed to have connecting rooms. But we didn’t. So I started up the chainsaw and made my own door. And I walked through it and said, ‘Hey, we have connecting rooms now!’
Joe Walsh Had A Wild Time With John Belushi And Called It Terrifying Experience
Walsh recounted that partying with Belushi was “scary” and “terrifying,” but had some good memories with the experience.
“I went to Benihana once with John Belushi,” Walsh said, “and he decided he was going to be the cook.”
On this specific occasion, Belushi channeled his beloved character from SNL, Samurai Futaba.
“He went full-on samurai,” Walsh said, adding, “It was messy. Messy.”
They Caused $28,000 Of Damages To A Hotel Room
It was the Gold Coast Hotel. Glenn Frey revealed that he and John Belushi went about the business with “great glee.” However, the place came with a great price tag. Belushi and Walsh managed to cause $28,000 of damages.
They Did A Lot Of Cocaine
Henley explained that cocaine was their “writing tool.” It was the fuel that keeps them in the recording sessions, but “at the end it brought out the worst in everyone.”
“Life In The Fast Lane” Is The Story Of Frey Doing 90 MPH Along With His Drug Dealer
Henley shares the story in the 2013 documentary The History of the Eagles:
I was riding shotgun in a Corvette with a drug dealer on the way to a poker game. The next thing I know we’re doing 90. Holding! Big time! I say, ‘Hey man!’ He grins and goes, ‘Life in the fast lane!’ I thought, ‘Now there’s a song title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUIO4QTB2VM&t=16s
Don Henley Got Arrested When A 16-Year-Old Prostitute Overdosed At His House
As The Telegraph reported, “The craziness included the arrest of drummer, songwriter and vocalist Henley in November 1979 after a naked 16-year-old prostitute suffered a drug overdose during a party at his home in LA.”
When the authorities arrived, they managed to confiscate plenty of weed, coke, and quaaludes. Henley was charged with ‘contributing to the delinquency of a minor but was sentenced to two-year probation. He later insisted that he took the blame for roadies who provided the drugs.