What Was It Like Being in the Eagles? - Bernie Leadon Interview Part 2

The Great Interviews, Former Eagles Guitarist Bernie Leadon, Part 2
#TheEagles #BernieLeadon #TheOriginalEagles
Check out the entire Joey Molland interview here
• The Badfinger Intervie...
Here is the Podcast of the Joey Molland Interview
www.buzzsprout.com/1741489/99...
Rockers with hidden talents. • Classic Rock LEGENDS w...
The Great Interviews, Former Eagles Guitarist Bernie Leadon, Part 1
• The Great Interviews, ...
Five Rockstars With Very Famous Fathers
• Five Rockstars With Ve...
80's Bands That Completely Disappeared, Whatever Happened?
• 80's Bands That Comple...
What Ever Happened To Ace of Base? "Rock History Book"
• What Ever Happened To ...
5 Big Lead Singers Who Died Without Much Fanfare - Rock History Book - Part 5 • 5 Big Lead Singers Who...
5 Huge Musicians Who Died In Plane Crashes. • 5 Huge Musicians Who D...

[@marksc1929]

I got " Eagled out " for a bit ...then I began digging into Bernie and Meisner ...those two dudes were a HUGE part , if not the best part of the Eagles ....great interview "

[@zakvillers9433]

Totally agree.

[@georgemoore8832]

Hotel California exposed the eagles as just another top 40 band. Big $$$$ and big Egos castrated the eagles.

[@skoricdarko4147]

Many band loss themself after Success. How many Bands are there slepp 10 jears or more. The Musikans are free spirits not Business People. And the Eagles left after 10 jears. But they say you can come back. And not only for the old Songs. Because he cann make mony

[@conservative6759]

Frey used to dick slap them like little bi*ches

[@rogerwilliams5366]

True.

[@cherylb2008]

Bernie is GREAT to listen to. He’s honest, no ego, and very articulate. Great musician

[@softshoes]

IMO this is the Eagles. Randy and Bernie.

[@charleigh195]

What an honest and wonderful guy I wish Randy was on this interview.

[@charlesnolan7602]

I liked Randy Miesner's " Take it to the limit," the best out of all of those early Eagles songs. I have been more of a POCO fan over the decades. I still like the Eagles . "Long road out of Eden," great album! Bernie- cool guy, talented, and may have missed the big time with later Eagles activity, but he also dodged that nasty vitriolic period too!

[@jerryadkins5418]

I thought Don Felder added class. His guitar playing was tiers higher.

[@TowGunner]

When mentioning Felder, I sense Leadon, after all these years is still pissed that Felder took his spot.

[@Johnnyjackringo]

Absolutely 👍 Not even debatable

[@teodelfuego]

@@TowGunner it didn’t go that way at all. Don and Bernie were tight and still are. Bernie didn’t like the direction the music was taking and left.

[@spuds6423]

I agree.... Felder came up with what would become Hotel California. The music business is a funny one.

[@subhashxrecord3131]

Don and Sammy Hagar just did a duet on Hotel California just the two of them it's cool stuff

[@stormbringercoming8105]

Bernie’s honesty is refreshing. No carping about the past. Who screwed who.

[@michaeldavis1666]

On the Border is the only (Eagles) album where you get full-on enthusiastic, accepted (by other members) contributions from each member. Randy was still really involved & not yet so ready to leave... Bernie was still contributing as much as he usually did... Bottom line is that for those of us who really love Felder, Leadon and Meissner bc of how amazing the band sounded with those voices and their instruments, OTB was their most amazing, jam-packed with everyone's "sound contributions" piece of work. It's still got that great country/country-rock thing happening but it's also where they really started to ROCK bc they had Felder come in last-minute & add his touch to a lot of the material. By the time OneOTN was in preproduction 2 of the original members were leaving (Leadon) and about to leave (Meissner). I'm just thankful we got one last album with Meisner's vocals (Hotel California) because their harmonies NEVEF sounded as full and rich again after Randy left. Hotel C. wouldn't have sounded NEARLY as good with Timothy. Sorry, Tim but you're really just a FALSE-etto Tenor. Randy didn't have to use his girly voice to reach the notes.

[@wanderingrenegade771]

Voice talent is raw and you work the instrument so there is just so much natural range the falsetto,as a singer I stretch for the first tenor range and yet better my bro has worked and has 5 octave range.

[@Johnny-lr5jt]

The first two Eagle albums. All anybody needs.

[@plasticweapon]

speak for yourself. seriously.

[@no59do56]

Yes. I agree the EARLY EAGLES ARE THE BEST. 1ST 4 LPS

[@johnrudek]

You can see them at rwebmusic full set performance PopGala 1973

[@bighands69]

All the eras are fantastic.

[@rogerwilliams5366]

💯

[@btsdancestudio5691]

This guy is such a legend! Low key and very talented musician.!

[@LucasSpeer2023]

Bernie is one of my favorite Eagles!

[@oldermusiclover]

if you have never done it, you should interview Felder

[@patrickb5783]

"Bitter Creek", I think, is Bernie's best song, and one of the best acoustic Eagles song.

[@stephentravis6127]

I love "My Man", very heartfelt song and done well by Bernie

[@christopherlees1134]

Great interview. Bernie is down to earth

[@wassupdoc2780]

My man is definitely one of my favorites. Learned a lot of their songs on guitar. My man reminds me of a great friend of mine who's not here anymore.

[@tylerkessler4021]

Bernie wrote that song for Gram Parsons

[@garyballard723]

Definitely they were Best with Bernie.

[@JamesWilliams-en3os]

This is a great interview. As a young musician in the early 70’s, and having a mix of folk, country and R&B in my background, I naturally loved the Eagles. Bernie’s guitar tones were as important to me on the first 3 albums as were the iconic vocal harmonies of the band. I recognized Bernie as a genius on their first record. He and later Don Felder were well-educated musicians, understanding a lot more than three-chords-and-a-5th… it tickles me to hear hi. Talk about some of the musical theory behind their hits. There was more of that in the first half of this interview, of course. As a bass player and guitar teacher/coach I would tell guitar players to listen to Leadon’s solo on Take It Easy as an example of how a solo should be constructed, with every note and phrase rising to a peak that flows from the vocal melody into the last verse or chorus of a song. Some listened and learned, most didn’t have the ear to hear it. Oh, well. 🤷‍♂️ I think his best instrumental work was on that album, and on On The Border. It’s very cool to know he and I are both friends of Bill W. It’s great to know he has done well with his life. Thank you for publishing this interview.

[@kdawgaz]

Love these Bernie Leadon interviews. Thank you.

[@oldschooloats]

Before I even knew their names and who wrote what song, the first four albums were my favs, and BY FAR, all of Bernie's compositions were and still are my favorite Eagles songs. I think HE was the key songwriter and player. He is right, the vibe started changing, and it was great with Joe, but the original four were the coolest.

[@johnrudek]

Maybe you like to see Eagles 1973 full set live performance at PopGala’73 which you can see at rwebmusic

[@shannonfrench6893]

While I love all the Eagles record's from '71-'80 my favorite were the one's with you on them. I love Bitter Creek, Twenty One and have always been especially fond of My Man. It made me cry when I first heard it when I was 13 and still does now that he's been in that old Hickory Wind since 1981. He was a traveling musician like I turned out to be. Thank you for all the good songs, guitar, banjo and steel and the 'vibe' you helped give the band in the first place.

[@rodneylee4026]

Eagles were done when Randy Meisner left the band.

[@blakeh6250]

No one could sing take it to the limit like him..just amazing voice

[@bighands69]

Nonsense.

[@jackhays1194]

Sold a zillion more records but never better than with Bernie and randy

[@normatible9795]

Disagree. The Eagles is don henley and glenn frey

[@robertlyle3806]

Bitter Creek is my favorite Eagles tune. Well done Mr. Leading. Sounds like you've lived life well.

[@markbirchette8740]

The Eagles are a rare band that doesn't have a single song I don't like.

[@richardgrier8968]

Even Most of Us Are Sad?

[@mikeyoutubeaccount7120]

Same,first time I've been able to say that about any artist and most probably the last.

[@stuartmoore6310]

@@richardgrier8968 unless you like slow sad sappy songs. It just shows you their range of material and their brilliance.

[@Gratefulman1965]

To me when the Eagles parted ways with Randy and Bernie the music became less organic. The future music as good as it was to me just felt less fresh and of the moment. Needless to say I love the early Eagles the most.

[@johnrudek]

First Eagles full set you can see at rwebmusic

[@bighands69]

So you think Hotel California is not an organic song?

[@aracelymoran2504]

@@bighands69 AFTER Hotel California. last one Meisner was on after and first after bernie left. But compared to the Bernie Eagles, there was a difference. You have to be an Eagle fan to notice it. The Long Run was a great album but I prefer say One of those Nights.

[@boboneill5663]

Great interview, quite a talker! Another casualty of the ego brothers!

[@froogy25]

Fantastic interview. 👍🏻

[@4freki]

Don Felder was the best thing that ever happened to the Eagles, full stop.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Some of the best concert performances by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band were in 1989 when Bernie filled in for John Mceuen.

[@christophercoughlin9493]

Yeah, really liked Bernie 's facility on numerous instruments, particularly banjo and mandolin. Nice, down to earth guy!

[@kb9788]

Eagles lost their soul once Bernie and Randy left. Too bad both of them didnt head back to Poco.

[@MrBluesmanJunior]

This must be the best interview by an Eagle I've heard so far. Bernie is incredibly well-spoken, and sounds like a much younger man than he is. Enjoying every minute of this, thanks for making it!

[@scotpeak2437]

Loved Leadons contributions to the band but Don Felder brought that grit the music needed on the rock stuff.

[@stormbringercoming8105]

Bernie is so at peace, levelheaded and honest, I’m not really sure he was in the Eagles, or the music business for that matter.

[@kc0lif]

great hearing from bernie. i love that song one these nights

[@dadduorp]

The Eagles musical and personnel transitions from 1972-1980 of course, was their peak of creativity and had a little something for everyone. For me personally, the 1976-era lineup (Henley, Frey, Meisner, Felder and Walsh), was their most kickass. I never really was much into their bluegrass/country vibe.

[@blazeeisner9620]

Awesome! Truly awesome, Brother John! Happy Friday! God bless.

[@marijorieholoway6783]

Great interview!

[@rickster1957]

Great band throughout the ages and changes!

[@patrickostrom2762]

A pressure cooker of being pulled in all directions! And trying to keep artistic/musician creativity in your mind! Reminds me of Mick Taylor leaving "Stone's" and being a Keith Richards under graduate, lolol!

[@bighands69]

But it creates different era of a band where they can have different signature sounds based on the line up and song writing. With Leadon you get that amazing country vibe and with Felder/Walsh you get that different rock sound. Wither out either set up we would have missed some amazing sounds.

[@gben2457]

The Take it Easy solo is the greatest.

[@walterberg8030]

I wish you peace

[@rszymanskiRSB]

Boy .... Bernie can really talk.

[@Stacey721]

He does have a gift for gab, and it's all very interesting!

[@pamr4040]

❤

[@123Goldhunter11]

Sounds like a solid guy. Already Gone is a favorite. One of those dump her before she dumps you songs like Feel a Whole Lot Better or Where Were you When I Needed you. Good for the soul.

[@tomgorman748]

First Eagles album I ever bought was Their Greatest Hits 71-75, probably around 1979. Then The Long Run and Eagles Live. Never really gave the first 4 albums a thought. Figured I had all of the good stuff with the greatest hits. I’ll have to go back and give them a good listen.

[@stuartmoore6310]

Absolutely! Those 1st 3 records were pure gold. Certain Kind of Fool, Outlaw Man, Try & Love Again. !!!

[@tomgorman748]

Ok so I gave them a good listen. I think I like On The Border the best, but they all have some good tracks on them.

[@babylemonade2868]

I need to listen to the first 3. I’ve only listened to one of these nights and hotel California for many years. I’ll listen to the first one tomorrow. I’m sure the first 3 are good too.

[@sheilamorgan3845]

Glenn is doing everything he can to not mention Randy Meisner name. Seems Glen had forgotten it was Randy's song that was their first record to sell a million copies. Randy help put Eagles up there. Glen didn't seem to understand you can't walk up and push someone and call them a pu**y and think they will just stand there and take it. Don and Glen were bullies. Randy didn't bow down and he shouldn't. Don and Glen mistreated the band members. They certainly mistreated Randy. And Don Felder wrote the music to Hotel California. And Victim of Love and other songs. Felder wanted to see the books to see if he was getting his fair share. The contract they signed said they were all equal partner's. Felder didn't let Frey walk all over him. They all Bernie, Randy and Feldsr said it turned out to be the Don and Glen show. The way they treated Randy was horrible. They wouldn't let him participate in the 1994 documentary.

[@alanlatimer1024]

Bernie knew that Glen and Don would take over the band eventually and left because he wanted to take a break for a but Don and Glen weren't ready for a break yet Don Felder just wanted to be treated fairly since he was a big part instramentally they didn't let him sing back then Don Felder still sounds good

[@andytucker6783]

Killer mustache 🤣

[@jimmaculate3802]

great to hear bernie. unfortunately, he answers questions we can't hear. oh, well. better than nothing.

[@scottfromsouthcarolina3185]

I liked the four piece version of the Eagles with Bernie. Glenn also played more leads and was more engaged. I wonder if a source of Glenn's frustration since he was getting less guitar parts and less singing over time as he and Henley flipped as lead vocalists.

[@artlover1477]

Scott, I love some of Glenn's leads especially on Certain Kind of Fool. But I think he was always aware of his limitations. One reason Felder and the eventually Walsh were recruited. Regarding singing, good question. Sure he and Don had friction with that. Just doesn't get brought up much.

[@drewscherping1515]

​@@artlover1477 Randy sang Certain Kind of Fool

[@artlover1477]

@Drew Scherping Hey Drew, I knew that. Just commenting on Glenn's guitar abilities.

[@billdesinger8604]

If Felder’s book is a true indication, Frey’s ego wouldn’t let him admit to any limitations. As Meisner, Felder, Leadon and Walsh noted, Eagles became the Don & Glenn show featuring a few other sidemen.

[@garyyarago2096]

Actually, the song they ripped off for "Hotel California " was the Rolling Stones "Angie"-you guitar players try it out - play one and sing the other , it will be apparent.

[@kb9788]

They also ripped off Jethro Tull.

[@rce59]

I wonder what the eagles would of been like if Gram Parsons would of been around and joined Bernie and Randy in the eagles.

[@MrPhilfridge]

Gram hated the Eagles , there's that often repeated quote of his where he referred to them as a 'plastic dry fuck' , so it wouldn't have worked at all !

[@joer1678]

Felder is what made the Eagles

[@MrOctober44]

I prefer the Walsh albums, but they did some great songs with Bernie. He's a very talented guy

[@no59do56]

The mid 70s Eagles are the best before they because corporate rock

[@rickmickelson2071]

Homestake goldmine was in Lead, South Dakota not North Dakota.

[@grainofsalt4934]

When was this interview recorded?

[@CBrolley]

Boy, that “Ken Burns” effect (zooming in and out on the photos) gets old really quick and is always best when used sparingly and at a slower speed than this. It’s practically vertigo inducing here. Use fewer photos and more dissolves. I mostly liked the content but I just had to look away and enjoy it as a radio interview.

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

Bernie hasn't heard of AC-DC Back in black album obviously.. Last I heard it was the 2nd highest selling album behind thriller.. Unless he's talking about USA sales only?

[@kb9788]

who cares

[@natestakely1478]

Lets be honest. A why guy like Leadon was never going to survive the ambition of not 1 but 2 prima-donnas . Walsh fit perfect as he didn't even question Felders split. Joe is a northern Ohio guy and as a fellow Buckeye from waaaaay back, men didn't EVER get drawn in or too excited on any one given subject. I now see the entire ebb & flow. The band easily could have been Henley Fry band but hippies pretended to not focus on self back then. Yeh right.

[@LinYouToo]

Don’t forget Joe was not a full partner in the Eagles enterprise. He was a paid employee under contract from project project and toured to tour. Unlike Don Felder who was a full partner. Joe essentially had no pull to drive a different outcome. Had he spoken up on behalf of Don Felder it’s likely Don Henley and Glenn Frey could have and would have retaliated against him so Joe kept quiet. He was really stuck between a rock and a hard place and had no other choice.

[@mikes3780]

I'm embarrassed that one of the Eagles is from Minnesota, thankfully no one really knows that....

[@twistoffate4791]

Why would being from Minnesota be an embarrassment?

[@superfly7948]

I thought leadon was a ok dude till listening to this part . Now I hear what Glenn and Don saw... And Randy Meisner was there with Don and Glenn before anyone was.

[@winnykooyman4851]

Don henley and Glenn wanted to take over the band, but that was the most stupid idea, finally they lost Randy, Bernie,Don F. BIG MISTAKE.

[@chris-yo8nj]

Bernie liked totinos and tight tight leather pants. Not a good combo imo. Totinos deserves respect on its name, and bernie just wanted to drive a tractor.

[@ronniek7748]

Wow an ego there! Critical of Felder, really? No comparison in talent.

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

Bernie, way more talented overall than felder, who nicked hotel California tune from Jethro Tull

[@stevenhollingsworth733]

@@jamesfitzgerald6636 you must be stoned or just stupid. Don Felder was Head and shoulders a better musician than anyone in the eagles.

[@blakeh6250]

Ur delusional.he wasnt, 5 piece cramps other musicians..much prefered original 4 members

[@kb9788]

Yea the original band had all the hits, and created the sound. Felder played fancy licks but so what

[@TwoMuleBlues]

Don Felder is an amazing guitar player, Leadon would be the first to say so. And Those songs are not that close.

[@winnykooyman4851]

Don H, and Glenn both had an awfull behavior. In fact they ruined the original Eagles. Very sad. Why did they made the wrong choice.

[@TKDunn-qq7kd]

Sturat is a fine guitarist, but he's no Bernie Leadon...

[@larbueno]

Bitter Creek. As good as any Eagles song, to me, at least.