In the late ’70s and early ’80s, The Eagles members couldn’t figure out the problems they had with each other even though the band was one of the world’s most influential and commercially successful rock acts. The issues arose during the band’s concert on July 31, 1980, in Long Beach, California, after Glenn Frey and Don Felder had threatened one another without thinking about the audience’s presence, which almost ended up in a physical fight.
Fortunately, Felder and Frey had only a verbal fight, but it caused the worst situation for The Eagles’ members and their longtime dedicated fans due to their breakup. Then, it turned out to be a 14-year vacation until Frey, Henley, Walsh, Felder, and Schmit reunited in 1994 with their Hell Freezes Over Tour and the album of the same name, but the others’ problems with Felder didn’t change; and he had to leave the band in 2001.
According To Don Felder, What Was Don Henley And Glenn Frey’s Rule?
Don Felder was fired from The Eagles because they disagreed about getting equal shares from the tours and concerts in 2001. Thus, the guitarist decided to file a lawsuit against the band members, claiming their alleged wrongful termination, breach of implied-in-fact contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.
Then, the musician wrote his remarkable autobiographical book entitled ‘Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001),’ released in 2007. Felder told the exclusive details about his relationship with Frey, Henley, and Walsh, which resulted in a countersuit from them. The main reason behind their lawsuit against Felder was another breach after he shared the autobiography despite the strict rule on the contract.
In one of the previous interviews that the guitarist joined, Felder shared details about this strict rule in the contract they signed for the tour. The musician unveiled that Frey and Henley made the other band members agree that they wouldn’t speak to the press or release any statements or books about that without their written consent. They had no other choice but to ask permission from them to reflect on their ideas about The Eagles.
In Felder’s words, he said:
“The last couple of contracts we signed for every tour we did, they put in this that said ‘Nobody can do press, radio, or newsprint, write a book or anything without the written consent of Henley and Frey.’ In other words, you couldn’t open your mouth unless they said it was okay, but the term of those agreements was only for the tour.”
However, Frey and Henley couldn’t win the case against Felder because the agreement was valid for the tour, and the musician wrote it after the tour and his departure from The Eagles. Consequently, the former bandmates probably realized that this was only disappointing their fans, and they settled out with an unknown amount. The Eagles continued their concerts and other projects without Felder as their member.
You can check out the interview below.
