In one of Caspar's favorite movies, called the Big Lebowski, the dude asks a cab driver to put on another channel because he had a rough night and he 'fucking hates the Eagles, man'. That line always puzzled me. To Caspar, the Eagles were nothing more than a solid, maybe a little middle of the road, country-rock band, with one of those international mega hits to their name. No need to hate them though, or is there?
With this thought in mind I sat down to have a look at the documentary on the Eagles called To the Limit. From the early start it is obvious that the back bone of the band was formed when guitarist Glenn Frey and drummer Don Henley met in legendary club Troubadour, became friends, and were invited to play in Linda Ronstadt's band. They found out that the best way to learn to play, and really get to know your instrument was by playing live. Another big influence was Jackson Browne. When he lived in the apartment below Glenn Frey's, he showed the way to learning to write songs: every day, almost on office hours, he sat down to play his piano, the same song over and over again until he got it right.
In the documentary on David Geffen casparcritique-david-geffen-always-wins.html, we saw that it was Geffen who advised Frey and Henley to start their own band. To the Limit shows how they were invited to stay on with Ronstadt, but decided to do what Geffen had advised: they formed their own band. They got a guitar/banjo player and a bass player, called Bernie Leadon and Randy Meissner, and that was the beginning of the Eagles.
As I called the band middle of the road, maybe that is what is wrong with the band, and with the documentary for that matter. It just doesn't get any more interesting than the average struggles of guys in a band. Yep, there were the rock 'n roll parties, fights and stuff, but nothing too spectacular. Yes, there were quarrels between the band members, but nothing too much. I mean, in any group there are leaders, and there are followers. And the followers would like to be leaders one day. So, other band members want to contribute to writing of songs, they want to be lead singer. But if their songs are not so great, their voices average (compared to Henley's anyway), these kind of problems can only be solved when they are discussed. And that is what is probably the most difficult thing to do, when at the same time you make the best selling record in the USA ever (Greatest Hits), and a gigantic, world-wide evergreen (Hotel California). I mean, you do what you love to do, and extremely successful doing it, then what is the problem?
Again, the documentary seems to be just a little boring. Eagles make a few good albums, and a collection of great songs, but there is just not much to tell. One band member quits, another joins in. There is just one thing really interesting that made me sit up straight. The actual split of the band is recorded. The fight between Glenn Frey and guitarist Don Felder on stage comes after Felder disrespects an American politician for who the Eagles play at a fundraising event. At the end one promises to kill the other after the show is over. Pictures were taken of Frey throwing things at Felder's limo. For sure the Eagles were over and done with.
To get back at where we started, the only plausible reason I can think of the Dude to hate the Eagles is their middle of the roadness. And yes, I'll prefer the Creedence Clearwater Revival as much as the Dude does, but I get the feeling there should be more to it then just that. Unfortunately, The Eagles: To the Limit does a good job at telling a chapter in rock history, but doesn't get anywhere near to unravel such perceptions people have of the band. Three stars, out of five!
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