How Glenn Frey Made Don Henley a Better Songwriter (2015)

Don Henley gives credit to Glenn Frey for making him a better songwriter and tells Howard how the Eagles frontman helped him write “Desperado.”
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[@rocketeerPM2500]

Through their musical mastery, Don Henley and Glenn Frey brought so much listening pleasure to so many millions of us. The 1970's .... what a helluva time it was to be around. "Desperado" is my theme song of life.

[@lamax8155]

Saw the Eagles live in Nashville.. absolutely amazing.

[@jeanetteschock4744]

Love Don Henley and Glenn Frye ❤

[@bobthebear1246]

*Frey

[@vincentsica442]

My favorite group, the greatest American rock and roll group...best concerts ever attended....see them if you can, well worth it..

[@toddmusic]

Howard is so rad toward musicians. Massive respect.

[@GTTg-kr2xh]

Don is super super smart and confident. Binge watching. Love The Eagles.

[@billlozier5551]

What a foxy doll Linda Ronstadt was. Her incredible voice to Desperado was beautiful. Don Henley's voice made Desperado legendary.

[@MD-wk3gj]

I’d really enjoy an in-depth autobiography by Don. Yes, he has a huge musical career but there’s a lot more to learn that makes up the man he became and I believe he has the ability to be reflective and, if he dared, share that within a book.

[@lyleorr9832]

The History of the Eagles covers him pretty well - but has some biases, etc.

[@tod3msn]

Too big an ego to be self reflective. I do agree his story would be amazing if he could lay it on the line.

[@SimonDelaney1974]

Probably leave out the hanging out with 16 year olds and getting busted.

[@NoOne-kr4jc]

He has a fascinating mind. Great part of the Eagles and great solo career. Great musician.

[@twoblacklabs904]

I just watched the Linda Ronstadt bio movie. She magnanimously gave Don Henley & Glen Frey the ability to leave her backup band and start their own group...and even put Desperado on the map.

[@kennethlatham3133]

Plus, she recommended Bernie Leadon to them.

[@19TAURUSGIRL91]

What’s the movie called please?

[@1Hyrex]

She's a real one for that

[@bobthebear1246]

I've always preferred the Eagles' version. I love Don Henley's voice. It is so light and effortless.

[@jengable4888]

The Eagles are a good band, and I do enjoy their music, in addition to, the solo projects.

[@LindseyObrooke]

Holy shit. The second he hit that first note my heart swelled. What a damn voice. Love this song, even in April❤

[@realasscracka]

Hwy 166 midnight top down for the Cali coast

[@jacksonstorm2416]

More Don please. This makes me so happy.

[@WalkerStalker]

I believe his first song he ever written as an Eagle was Witchy Woman. I do know the first two songs Glenn and Don wrote together was Desperado and Tequila Sunrise!

[@lyleorr9832]

Interesting on Witchy. Don envisioned it differently than Glenn. They recorded Glenn's version. ON his last solo tour he explained this, he changed it and now on the Hotel California tour, he is also doing his version and I completely love it! They get stripped down from YT but if you search, you might find it from the Hotel California tour out here somewhere.

[@stormbringercoming8105]

It’s “witch-chay”. Don’t believe me, ask Seinfeld.

[@AdyStark]

"You say that after you write every song." - I love the humility there.

[@ingfig1]

Without Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, there’d be no Eagles. Without Don Felder , there’d be no Hotel California

[@kennethlatham3133]

Absolutely correct. Group effort, group reward(s).

[@5misamigos786]

So true!!

[@jasonatkins6926]

Without Glenn Frey and Don Henley there would not be Eagles.

[@johnmoreno7664]

What about Don Henley's, " Dirty Laundry "...

[@daveg4236]

⁠that wasn't an Eagles song

[@marierosemary3768]

Glenn Frye and I are second cousin! My grandfather and he's grandmother are siblings... Or were... Of course there both passed!!

[@ProjectPhenix]

Love that dude, sorry for your loss :(

[@timhorpo]

So cool

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

You spelled your second cousin’s name wrong, LOL 😂 It’s Frey, not Frye.🙄

[@joefriedman9843]

@@ProjectPhenix We all do. He was amazing and this interview was too.

[@johnringoo756]

Cool.. Glenn was a great guy

[@HELPINGTHEBLINDSEE]

Nothing beats The Eagles version though. Not even close. Perfectly written and sang.

[@kylec2761]

Sung

[@HELPINGTHEBLINDSEE]

@@kylec2761 nah it’s gonna be sang

[@jimmy5634]

@@HELPINGTHEBLINDSEE of course it is.

[@TheBent139]

@@jimmy5634 See more of this interview. Henley doesn't think it is perfect at all and tries to do a perfect version. And of course the original recording is still better. The insanity of perfectionism.

[@georgesotiroff5080]

Dear Think Tank, Or is it Think Tank Thunk?

[@alainvincent1309]

Solid Artist

[@teresaclark1508]

Desperado is the best Eagles album. I learned to sing by singing along with Don on the song Desperado. Then I learned to sing it with Linda Ronstadt and thought "damn, i sing loud!"

[@buckchile614]

I agree. I love Jersey Joe Walsh, but for me, the song , 'Bitter Creek' is the essence of the Eagles--with Bernie Leadon on lead vocal...

[@d.s.6251]

RIP Glenn Frey ...

[@KeizerHedorah]

despacito may be my fav eagles song

[@stephenfricke9298]

Desperato first song, where do you go from there. Wow, INCREDIBLE

[@ultrakool]

DH getting by with a lil help from his friend and former band leader (Ronstadt), later on

[@woodrowsmith3400]

Mention made of Desperado. I first heard the Eagles version...then Linda's. Each haunting in their own way. I could not pick one version over the other.

[@furmanodell]

Greatest American song writer.

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

I walked down the hall of The Waldorf Astoria with my arm around Don Henley and everyone was aghast wondering how that happened/. Simple I told Don I think he is the SECOND Greatest living American songwriter. Henley said one word in reply "MAYBE")

[@chrisliles1668]

awesome

[@mark11967AD]

The Eagles were just a great band to listen too in the mid to late 7Os when more modern electric guitar sounds were being mixed with blues and country but speeded up to make harder rock. Boston and Kansas we’re too other such bands along with Peter Frampton. You also get a classical music feel from some of the riffs and progressions too. Sort of a crossover from the 60s rock sounds which were more distorted and melancholy. Also the piano made a great final appearance before synthesized music took over. Elton John and Billy Joel not withstanding.

[@maxcalifornia94]

Damn, the 70’s was the era to be alive in.

[@Enid2Sacramento]

Howard's philosophy: Have a guest on and finish every sentence for him/her.

[@erichinton5774]

Exactly

[@janethardy3208]

I actually thought he was rude to Don at times.

[@Look_Tybo]

Howard.... Shhhhhhhhhh !

[@kitrichardson2165]

Don Henley‘s original lyric for desperado was "Leo, my God, why don't you come to your senses...” definitely he had a thing or two to learn about songwriting in those days, but God bless him. He learned it and then some.

[@adamgoodman5887]

A month before Glenn Frey died.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Such class!

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

Actually, most of his answers are half-truths and recreations of the band's real history.

[@ThexBorg]

All she wants to do is Dance! 💃 And make romance.

[@fitter70]

Every time I hear that song I think of the Seinfeld episode.

[@kevinronske9894]

Judy Collins also did a great version of Desperado.

[@HHH-vi1wn]

Don Henley is the John Fogerty of the Eagles, both egoists but good musicians

[@jameshudson169]

i didn't know desperado wasn't a hit for the eagles. they included it on their greatest hits though. i'm gonna have to think 'bout THAT for a minute.

[@stevenpiquette6055]

I always wondered what hotel California would be if Glenn Frey sang lead!!!

[@dinasalazar5838]

He interrupts after he asks a question- doesn't let his guests answer!

[@mackan3143]

I cant remember what groups they were into!

[@chrisbrimhall6323]

Just like Lennon/ McCartney

[@markallen2984]

Eh......not really

[@jamesball5743]

lmao

[@paulbrown7374]

Frey Henley Leadon Meisner Felder

[@gregdahlen4375]

his shirt is different on the inside than the outside

[@stacey3763]

Wow I've always heard the eagles sing that and thought they made it a hit.

[@patrickfennell6372]

Desperado is the best song ever written of sung. Don Henley sings it best, and Linda Ronstad does it justice.

[@travisinthetrunk]

The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt’s versions are really good, but I think Johnny Cash’s rendition is the best. His voice adds a hauntingly beautiful feeling to it.

[@jamesball5743]

Johnny Cash version is so corny

[@atravelerofbothtimespace4172]

I know what you did to those underage girls Don.

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

Frey was a far better musician than Henley but Henley was a better singer in my opinion.

[@Imintune...]

Glenn and Don treated Felder terrible.

[@coinraker6497]

Well that's Felder's side of the story....

[@4747robo]

give it a rest, that is ancient history.

[@gturcott1]

Joe Walsh

[@davidpearlactorteacherbizman]

Glenn later went into a coma in 2015 and died start of 2016---

[@mikebutler7605]

Howard is rude.

[@likearollingstone007]

Oh stop the bullcrap

[@chrisbrimhall6323]

Howard....stop talking

[@littlewing6231]

I was waiting for Don to ask if Howard wanted to tell the stories since he seems to think he can answer them better then Don. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@Matchhead79]

If not for Felder, they'd be headlining at applebees

[@kawasakiwhiptwo5821]

Love Donald Felder.

[@justinkeller9691]

Don Henley has a unique voice though.

[@patrickwilder6492]

Really??? Felder helped advance the band as well as Joe Walsh, but they had a solid catalogue to learn before they joined the band. Although, to Don Felder’s credit, he did give Tom Petty guitar lessons early on in Florida.