Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder revealed the intense pressure the band faced after ‘Hotel California’ in a recent interview with Glide Magazine.
Felder discussed the recording process of The Eagles’ album ‘The Long Run.’ He provided insight into the challenging studio environment and creative pressure the band experienced.
“That was the most uncomfortable album I think I ever made,” Felder said. “There was a lot of pressure coming off of ‘Hotel California’ to produce another ‘Hotel California.'”
The pressure severely impacted the band’s creative process and personal dynamics.
“Glenn got so stressed out once because he only had one song on the record that he left the studio in Miami and flew back to LA,” Felder revealed. “We had to get Bob Seger to help write a song. Bob was really good friends with Glenn and had worked with him in the past. He collaborated with JD Souther and Don Henley.”
This collaboration produced their hit song “Heartache Tonight.” However, the stress continued to mount during the album’s production.
“We had this pressure over us and there were a lot of long days,” Felder explained. “We had a day that we had to leave to go on the road, so we had a definite amount of time.” He concluded with Glenn Frey’s memorable characterization: “We created a monster with ‘Hotel California’ and it ate us.”
The challenges during ‘The Long Run’ reflected the band’s previous experiences with recording ‘Hotel California.’
Loudwire reported that the recording process of ‘Hotel California’ presented its own unique challenges. In one notable incident, Felder needed his housekeeper to play the original demo tape over the phone. This allowed him to recreate the iconic guitar riff he had composed nearly a year earlier.
External factors complicated the recording sessions further. WMGK documented that the Eagles recorded simultaneously with Black Sabbath in an adjacent studio. The heavy metal band’s volume often disrupted the Eagles’ sessions. This interference forced them to re-record several tracks due to sound leakage.
The earlier recording challenges and the overwhelming success of ‘Hotel California’ created intense pressure. These factors later emerged during the creation of ‘The Long Run.’ They ultimately contributed to the strained atmosphere Felder described.
