Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)

Great book.A must read for every Eagles fan.The inside "dope" on
America's number one band.

Don Henley once said there are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the cold hard truth. What Don Felder provides in this book is the "yours." The book is at times a touching rags-to-riches story of a small town boy who makes it big. It's also a poison pen dagger aimed directly at Don Henley and Glenn Frey, who he holds responsible for seemingly everything that went wrong in his life.

Felder, by his own account, seems to live a miserable existence no matter how much success he achieves. He is miserable in the recording studio, miserable on tour, and miserable at home with his wife and four children. At some point, one really starts to wonder how someone can exist going through life so miserable. He overreacts to seemingly minor situations, such as his youngest son trying pot as a teenager. When Felder discovers this, he is practically ready to drive him to rehab instead of just chalking it up to typical teenage behavior.

Felder is also careful in touching on his relationship with the members in the band. However, he fails to realize that what goes around comes around. When his good buddy Bernie Leadon is forced out (mainly due to Felder's arrival), followed shortly thereafter by bassist Randy Meisner, Felder stands idly by, unwilling to support his friends. Yet when the ax falls on Felder in 2001, he is incredulous that band mates Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit refuse to battle for him. It is Schmit who actually sets Felder straight by telling him what happened in the 1970s is no longer relevant, but a suddenly headstrong Felder refuses to see it that way.

The final straw appears to come with the impending release of an Eagles greatest hits compilation in 2000. Once again, Felder is unhappy that Henley and Frey (whom he refers to as "The Gods") make more money. It's at this point when you really wish Felder would grow a spine and just make the decision to just leave the band. Henley and Frey may never win any humanitarian awards, but for Felder to lay all his problems at their feet is simplistic at best and vengeful at worst. After all, they were the ones to give him his big break and they did provide most of the inspiration for this book.

The book is at times funny, and Eagles fans will revel in Felder's accounts of life on the road and writing classic hits such as "Hotel California." In the end, you can't help but feel for Felder a bit. But at the same time, you can't help but also think that he could have prevented so much of what went wrong by simply standing up for himself. When he was finally able to do so, it was too late.

Oh, and someone should remind Mr. Felder that the Eagles weren't together from 1980-1993, so to imply he was in the group for 27 years is off by about 13 years.

This is a great well-written book. I am a writer and I find it rare to read a book this engaging and entertaining. Felder adds enormous feeling to the story so you get to experience the joy and pains of his emotions and the heady triumphs of life in one of America's top groups of all time.
If you were around in the 70's you will treasure reading how he created Hotel California and performed it for countless adoring fans.

One can only shake one's head reading this one sided look at the Eagles. From Mr. Felder's perspective, Glenn Frey and Don Henley were tyrants who treated him like dirt. It seems Mr. Felder is a master at playing the blame-game. It's as if someone else has been responsible for every bad thing that has ever happened to him. :The Eagles ruined his life (although they make him a star, millionaire, etc.) His wife withdrew from him when he finally had nothing better to do than stay at home. He even had the gall to partially blame others for his infidelites on the road (his wife wouldn't let him make decisions when he came home which "Threw him into the arms of other women",the Eagles had a nonstop party, so it was also their fault that he was a drug abuser and womanizer.)
The incessant whining about not gettng enough millions from his time with the Eagles becomes almost laughable.
It seems everyone played a part in ruining Mr. Felder's life.(his dad, his brother, the Eagles, his wife, etc.) About half way through the book my reading stance turned from being excited about reading about one of my favorite bands to amusement and curiosity about this sad man who was writing this one sided history of the group.
At somepoint one has to take responsibility for one's own actions. Unfortunately, some never do. Mr. Felder solidly fits into the later category.

Great Read for Eagles Lovers!!!!!!!!!!!still like Henley BUT What an Eye opener to an already questioned charachter!!!!!!!!!!!