Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Glenn Frey experienced years of high-flying success with the quintessential ’70s band the Eagles, but tranquil song titles like “Take It Easy” belied the unrest bubbling just beneath the surface of the band’s public image. Perhaps “Lyin’ Eyes” might be more representative?
It was an open secret in the music industry that Glenn and Don Henley ran the Eagles as a sort of co-dictatorship and demanded total obedience, and were never shy about being confrontational.
Guitarist Don Felder, who joined the Eagles in 1974, clashed with co-founders Glenn and Don Henley over financial issues, and was fired from the band in 2001. Felder filed a wrongful termination suit that was settled years later. Felder also wrote a damning tell-all book, but remained stunned by the bad blood that remained between him and Glenn.
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Original member Bernie Leadon quit in 1975 by pouring a beer over Glenn’s head because he was unhappy with the band’s newfound mainstream success and slide toward rock over country.
Glenn also infamously clashed with Randy Meisner, who had been having trouble hitting the high notes in “Take It to the Limit” — and Glenn “went off” on Randy, who abruptly quit right after the “Hotel California” album.
Glenn was lured by the siren song of acting, and appeared as Jimmy Cole, “a guitar-playing, free-thinking pilot,” on an episode of “Miami Vice” based on Glenn’s song “Smuggler’s Blues.” Several of the songs lyrics are repeated or paraphrased as dialogue in the episode.
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The show’s producers had intended for Glenn to return as Jimmy in the sequel episode “Trust Fund Pirates,” but he was unavailable at the time. His character was said to be retired.
Glenn wrote “You Belong to the City” specifically for the second season premiere of “Miami Vice.”
Glenn held a grudge against actor Jeff Bridges because of a line in the movie “The Big Lebowski,” when Jeff’s character, The Dude, said, “I hate the f*cking Eagles, man.” Apparently, Glenn didn’t see it as a laugh line.
