Henley Takes Flight with the Eagles
Author: Dean Johnson
Publication: Boston Herald
Date: August 7, 1994
Abstract: Henley talks about the Hell Freezes Over reunion, and defends ticket prices.
The Eagles reunited this spring for their first tour in more than a dozen years for three reasons, according to the pundits bucks, bucks and more bucks.
Don Henley has heard it all before. (The band opened the first of five shows at Great Woods Friday night.)
'This is the way we make our living,' he said with typical quiet force, 'and money is certainly a part of it. Those who pretend rock is not part of the corporate commerce are living in a dream world or simply lying.
'We don't have a corporate sponsor on this tour,' he pointed out. 'We decided not to sell beer or a soft drink. We were certainly approached. Two of the major brewing companies threw figures at us like $3 million. We went around and around with them, and they just wanted too much flesh.
'All the major record companies belong to international conglomerates, so let's not kid ourselves about 'the peoples' music,' ' he continued. 'It's been big business for a long, long time now.
'The fact is,' he said, 'we're playing and singing better than we were when we broke up because everyone is healthier. We're getting along fine, and there's real chemistry. It took about three to four weeks of shows to get the machine well oiled and comfortable again and to find our roles on stage.' The band had no trouble choosing material to perform on the reunion tour.
'We decided to do the things we do best,' he said simply. 'Some of the songs we recorded we have never been able to do well live for one reason or another.
'Like 'Best of My Love.' People like that song and it was our first No. 1 hit. But live, it always sucked. I don't even like the record anymore. I think it's whiney. If we rearrange it and do an r & b version, maybe we'll try it again someday. But we do songs we didn't try much before, like 'Pretty Maids All in a Row' and 'The Last Resort.' '
-- Henley said a new Eagles album consisting of portions of the group's recent MTV concert with a few new studio tracks will be released in the fall. The first single, 'Get Over It,' may be out before the end of the month.
'Get Over It' skewers the '90s' 'it's not my fault mentality' the way 'Hotel California' did in the '70s' 'me first' lifestyle, Henley said.
'It's our anti-politically correct song,' Henley said. 'It's funny and fast and deals with the cult of victimhood that has sprung up in the '80s and '90s, where everybody is a victim and people seem completely unwilling to take responsibility for their actions and lives.
'It also deals with new age psychobabble and the people, like certain attorneys, who feed off all that,' Henley added. 'The last line goes, 'You bitch about the present and blame it on the past-I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little ass.' ' This tour runs through December and includes visits to Japan and Australia. Henley said there's talk of a Europe tour next spring, and another all-studio album in the future. The Eagles perform at Great Woods tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday.
