The Eagles are a great band. Their songs are legendary, their members are as well. And their tiffs and tussles were epic too! There was lots of friction and eruptions of nastiness along the way for these incredibly talented guys. In fact, one ugly dust-up between Glenn Frey and Don Felder posed a threat to the band’s very existence.
Per Taste Of Country, “The ’70s superstars broke up in 1980 after two of the band members actually threatened each other with physical violence onstage in front of a concert audience.” What went on that caused their rift? We examine the incident more closely.
The Eagles’ Problems Were Escalating After ‘Hotel California’
Having a smash album is every band’s dream. But doing the next one and ensuring that it’s as good or better creates a ton of pressure. That was the Eagles’ untenable situation in the 1970s after the success of Hotel California. How do you follow such a blockbuster unless it’s with another one? Per the outlet, recording their next album, The Long Run, wasn’t going well. So the stage was set for the explosive confrontation between Glenn Frey and Don Felder.
The Issue That Created The Confrontation Between Don Felder And Glenn Frey
The Eagles did a concert on July 31, 1980, in Long Beach, California. Per the outlet, …”It was a fundraiser for Senator Alan Cranston….” Prior to the show, he told them he truly appreciated their generous efforts on his behalf. Frey claims that Felder said, “”You’re welcome, Senator … I guess.”
To Frey, that was totally unacceptable. He got very angry about it. Things became heated. “I felt Don Felder insulted Senator Cranston under his breath, and I confronted him with it. So now we’re onstage, and Felder looks back at me and says, ‘Only three more songs till I kick your [expletive], pal.’ And I’m saying, ‘Great. I can’t wait.’ We’re out there singing ‘Best of My Love,’ but inside both of us are thinking, ‘As soon as this is over, I’m gonna kill him.’ That was when I knew I had to get out.”
The Unpleasantness Was Not Quite Over For The Eagles
Don Felder was so upset that he bashed a guitar against a backstage wall, per the outlet. He left in a huff via a limousine. The band, well, disbanded. But they eventually appeared in the video for Travis Tritt’s version of their classic song, “Take It Easy.” They embarked on the Hell Freezes Over tour; Felder was given the boot in 2001.
Even all the bitterness did not break the Eagles up for good. Today, they still tour with Glenn Frey’s son, Deacon, and the amazing Vince Gill. Their legend lives on.