History of the Eagles (2013) User Reviews

It's good enough to make The Dude change his mind about The Eagles

[Twins65 · 8/10 · 25 February 2013]

Remember in THE BIG LEBOWSKI, when Jeff Bridges as "The Dude" complained so much to his cabbie about turning off "Peaceful Easy Feeling" because "he hates the F-ing Eagles, Man"! That rant got him evicted from his cab and earned him a long walk home from Malibu to his crappy apartment. Was it worth it? Well, The Dude just might change his tune if he checks out the new documentary HISTORY OF THE EAGLES currently running on Showtime.

I recently watched both parts over two days, and it was well worth the time spent. Even though I never really was a big fan, I can most assuredly say that these guys were truly the biggest American band of the 1970's. Pretty much every album from their 1st through Hotel California was a part of the soundtrack of my teenage years. And as Don Henley mentioned in the beginning of Part 2, with the advent of classic rock radio in the early 80's, they've been constantly with us all the way through 2013. The songs were so good that we just never get tired of them.

As far as the movie goes, much like the recent Scorcese long film about George Harrison and P. Bogdanovich's nearly 4-hour marathon on Tom Petty, it's all good. I'm convinced cable TV is the best way to show a rock doc., as you really get to tell and see it all with numerous interviews of those who lived it, without having movie theater time constraints and/or box office totals to worry about. And wow, did the Eagles have a whole bunch of video which I'd never seen. Some of it's great, much of it is "disposable", but almost all of it fascinating for fans.

I read some of the comments on the IMDb board bashing Henley and Glenn Frey for coming off as "pompous a-holes". And while they did seem a bit overly protective of their cut of the band's fame and fortune, they have the right to. THEY STARTED THE BAND!

Watch this film if you've ever yelled along while driving with the woo-hoo-hoos on "Already Gone", as it will flash you back nicely to the fun of the mid-70's.

P.S.-And Dude, I know you once did your wacky dance to The First Edition's "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", but you may want to skip over the part in the film where Kenny Rogers discusses helping Henley's pre-Eagles band Shiloh try to get started in LA. You will not recognize Kenny and may be a bit frightened with the condition his face's condition is in these days!

A Band Apart

[gregwetherall · 8/10 · 28 April 2013]

One might think that should there ever be a Mount Rushmore of country rock, they may well etch the faces of the Eagles into the cliff side. However, they might need some time, for there have been quite a few comings and goings and line-up changes in camp Eagles over the years. This documentary ventures into the first chapter of the band's existence and provides evidence of the rifts, drifts, differences and fallouts that have occurred. It is probably fair to say that the Eagles are one of the most notoriously disharmonious of bands, who inexplicably and ironically orchestrate some of the most harmonious musical harmonies of any group since CSN. It is still a struggle today to meet a band that matches up vocally.

Although they may not straddle the earth with an omnipresence that marked their original inception and 1970s heyday, the reformed country rockers are still synonymous with classic radio and the rock album format.

Running at 2 hours, there is a lot of ground to cover. For a casual viewer, there is a mercifully breezy skip through respective childhoods and the pace is pushed with momentum towards the inspiring and prolific late-60s underground music scene of LA that homed residencies of Poco, Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt et al. There is acknowledgment as to the creatively incestuous backdrop of the times, of the area and of the era. The sort that enabled artists to shift, move and collaborate seemingly at will. As the late 60s moved into the early 70s and success increased for the bulk of the aforementioned artists, it is clear that all look back with giddy rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia. The creativity was clearly as intoxicating as the drugs that they were recreationally self-medicating.

The Eagles were always a band that stood apart from their peers. They did so for a few reasons. One, is that they were massively successful in a way that the others could only dream of, another is that they had a steely core that made them efficiently consummate and business-like. Both of these aspects are highlighted by the documentary. The band reflect openly upon their motivations and inclinations, with a mix of new interviews and footage that dates back to the period. To see how much and how little they've changed is part of the joy of the feature. Around the mid-point, Joe Walsh arrives into the frame and is spotlighted in both the past and the present as an impassioned guitarist who is part-talent, part-court jester. His phrasing exudes a humorous hybrid of Keith Richards and Stephen Stills along with a healthy dose of his own breezy personality. For a music film, the tone is more or less consistently serious throughout, so his appearance offers some light hearted respite.

On the downside, there is not as much insight into the studio processes as a fan may want, but the band members are all given a fair hearing from both time periods and talk candidly about being in the epicentre of the Eagles whirlwind.

Understandably, Part One ends on a decisively sour note; their downfall and break-up. Although the pressures of topping the totemic Hotel California engulfed them all to a certain extent, it is clear that decisive fractures of the intragroup relationships had crippled the band. It is also evident that the distractions around the process was a demon that gobbled them up. Power may corrupt and absolute power may corrupt absolutely, but I am sure there is a pithy equivalent for success. Life in the fast lane had brought this group crashing into a ditch.

This is a tale that has enough acrimony to give Pink Floyd a run for their money. They may have been back together since 1994, as they will happily testify, but in case you're wondering, they only speak to Don Felder through lawyers. Some things don't change and won't be taken easy.

Similar to Hotel California this is a story of innocence being corrupted by experience.

[Wtiberon2004 · 9/10 · 23 June 2015]

History of the Eagles is about how Glenn and Don arrive to southern California from humble beginnings, build a monster called the Eagles and are subsequently swallowed up by it. It is done entirely from a first person perspective of a wide range of interviewees who were critical to the Eagles success and then edited together into a single narrative. The editing was seamless and the sound mix did an outstanding job of creating emotional cues and adding context (i.e. Wasted Time during the breakup, Heartache Tonight during the Felder- Frye showdown). It was interesting to get the perspective from the Eagles as they were on top of the mountain (through archival footage and interviews) and then see how that perspective changed or didn't change forty odd years later.

The honesty of the documentary was refreshing. There didn't seem to be any kind of censorship of interviewees when they described a feud they had with the Eagles but most discussed the events cordially… well except David Geffen. Even though this was a film commissioned by Glenn and Don it did not paint them entirely in a rose colored light. Glenn especially came off as a ruthless dictator that ruled through fear and intimidation. His was a name I kept hearing throughout the documentary as someone who would get into feuds with other band members, producers, execs, etc. Don Henley at times still seemed bitter, entitled, and full of resentment, often using "Mister" in a derisive way.

Part of the narrative, it seemed, was to air some dirty laundry and settle old scores. While some was directed at older members the lion share was directed at Don Felder. There was an obvious attempt to downplay his contributions to the band, in particular Hotel California. From what I understand Don Felder wrote the entire song except the ending guitar solos at the end prior to giving it to the Don and Glenn. Don, JD and Glenn then wrote the lyrics and arranged the vocals. On the original album Don Felder's name is first next to the song indicating that they acknowledged, at the time, he wrote most of the song. In subsequent albums their names were added first. I found it interesting that when they described their own songwriting with each other or outside songwriters they were collaborating with little mention of who wrote the majority of what.

Overall this was a really well made documentary and I recommend it even if you aren't an Eagles fan as I wasn't. It really gives you a new perspective, not just on the eagles, but on the music industry as a whole. We often think they are shrewd and calculating when in fact everyone runs around faking it until they make it. For instance I had always been told the Eagles were a commercial band created by a label. I learned from the documentary that in part that was true since Linda Ronstandt and her manager basically created the Eagles as a backup band. However, I think most of us had envisioned label execs sitting around a board room with head shots and files on local musicians.

Unmitigated honesty yields integrity

[stephenrtod · 10/10 · 6 March 2013]

I loved The Eagles back in the 70's, especially after I finished my military service. Now, watching this special, "The History of the Eagles," and downloading lyrics, I can see that, even without the music, the words are pure poetry. Having taught poetry for nearly 5 decades, that is my ultimate test of whether the lyrics are real, authentic, if you can divest them of the music and they're still poetry. Only the best artists can maintain that precious risk; take away the musical safety net, which might even support a simple three chord progression, and if what you have is still addressing key tenets of the Human Condition, then you aren't merely experiencing entertainers, money makers, or businessmen, you and dovetailing delightfully with poets.

Joe Walsh utters one of the most honest speeches I've ever heard a public figure deliver, and he struggles manfully, painfully, as if ripping heartfelt wisdom from deep within his being, about how in the final analysis, our lives are like fine-spun, intricately-woven novels; however, along the way, what we sense and experience is like running into a sudden comet or meteor, delectable or horrifying.

Don Henley, who always seems to know just what to say in the moment or afterwards, described his immediate ambiguous feelings directly following the cessation in 1980 of the band's efforts: "Horrible relief." I have to wonder how much of a gifted artist's time, effort, soul, life and genius they must invest. Henley comments that he often wondered why he was successful when equally-talented artists did not reach the apex of Henley's success. Glen Frey sends out a desperate, impassioned plea to his wife and children to support him and hope that their "second act" did not change him too drastically.

I admired the coloratura guitar riffs of Don Felder, and I was deeply saddened, when I learned that he had been replaced in one furious collision of egos and cat fights, some borderline, behind the scenes; others, embarrassedly right on stage in front of cheering but partly bewildered audiences. Frey conjures up the perfect analogy between a good band and a baseball team. You are all aligned in teamwork, energy, synergy; however, you don't have the ball in your own hand all of the time. Felder craved more opportunities to sing. Frey himself admitted that the longer The Eagles were together, the less and less he sang lead. Why? Because they had Don Henley. Henley himself mused that Felder's insistence he sing lead on one song was tantamount to Henley's demanding to play lead guitar on "Hotel California." I've watched this special now three times. It is so completely honest that no one individual emerges unscathed, yet most of them proceeded, like "Hotel California" not only from innocence to experience; but, moreover from some degree of benightedness toward a larger sense of awareness, maturity, good judgment and enlightenment as human beings, as artists, entertainers, writers, and people who realized how their creations behind the scenes and before jubilant audiences, mattered far more than they ever dreamed or feared or ever imagined could be realized.

The deep lessons I derived focused upon Henley's efforts to save Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" from commercial vandalism and decimation; Joe Walsh's gratitude at being driven to rehab so that he, too, could experience "A Second Act" with his band mates.

I think that "The History of the Eagles" should be required viewing of any budding producers, agents, or artists. It is one slice of life, one sobering view of fame, celebrity, success and failure, of Phoenixes emerging from their own self-induced immolation, of a group of young men growing up as their country and citizens in it also evolved painfully, sometimes jubilantly, with a lot of luck and some daunting disappointments.

Watching the movie is almost like watching and listening to a magician explain patiently how the trick worked as well as disclosing those times when it didn't work.

Great documentary on a great band

[grantss · 10/10 · 5 February 2016]

Great documentary on a great band.

Made in 2013, a documentary on the Eagles, from the early days of Glenn Frey and Don Henley to the (then) present day.

Includes interviews with the band members at different times in their lives, including in the mid-1970s. No narration, the movie is effectively narrated by the interviews.

Not your simple chronological telling of their story either, there is an examination of the impact of their music. Quite emotional at times.

Also quite bluntly told too. The frictions within the band are often examined and the truth is not sugar-coated.

A wonderful musical and emotional journey.

The Eagle- illumination of spirit & a knowledge of magic

[steve-flaunty-770-898945 · 9/10 · 20 August 2013]

The reviewers before me have pretty much summed this film up. I would put my money on 80% of the viewing demographic will have grown up with the Eagles and many of them, like myself, would know them first and foremost for their music. All of us have heard snippets of stories and probably read differing opinions as to how they imploded and reassembled and then generally just came and went again at random. Many of us would have been to a concert, possibly more than one and seen them in the flesh, marveling again at their magical ability to blend voices and instruments into some of the best music produced in modern times. This documentary knits it all together. There will be millions of words written online over the coming months and perhaps years critiquing this film for better or for worse.

I have adopted the stance that this is a group of musicians that are just as human as all the rest of us, extraordinarily gifted in their chosen fields and were at the intersection of preparation and opportunity just at the right time.

The addition of a copious amount of personal home movie footage, some never aired before adds the essential layer to the production and wraps the package up like a tightly constructed wine. I'm sure there are many who will be watching this who will see themselves in the background of some of the footage, even at the third encores and will will be gasping in their living rooms grateful for the fact that the passage of time is the best camouflage for human recognition. Could you just imagine..." OMG Mom, I don't believe you did that ! How am I going to explain this to my friends !! "

After some reflection

[patalbright2 · 8/10 · 3 April 2013]

After watching this again I still feel this was a monetary project from start to finish. It is nice to sit back and enjoy some of the music that you remember so well from the 70's decade. It is a pity that today's kids have nothing in the form of music or an identity that I had as a teenager in the seventies period. They have their phones and social internet and nothing else. There is not a single musician today that can even come close to entering the hero spaces musicians had in my teen years such as Dylan, Lennon, Roger Waters, down home southern poets like R.VanZant, and yes, Henley and Frey. For this reason I can relax some of my initial reaction to their egomania which is still painfully obvious. Don Henley's reaction to his very successful solo career which led to some masterful music in my opinion he just blows off with "I won some awards and had some hits" and finishes with his usual bombardment of everyone else and their unwillingness or inability to reach his own genius level-mainly producers, agents, songwriters and other musicians. He comes across as a total a$$ and seems to know it and not care the least-so be it.

The total highlights of the entire program belong to Joe Walsh for his honesty and in an indirect way to Linda Ronstadt and her blossoming sexually and "voice as big as a house" that I remember so, so well from that period. Again, there is nothing or no one today in terms of young female singers, that could match her talent or her effect on young men that I also remember so well- Henley's admission that she was "one of the boys" also reflects as an identical feeling I had about her at that time.

The star of the show is Joe Walsh as he seems so separated from the narcissistic love Henley and Frye have for themselves. His honest approach comes off as realist and sincere especially his reflections on how he remembers that era, as if it were a fiction novel, and using it for an example-brilliant! Perhaps some young people will take to heart what he has to say and use it to improve their own lives.

All the partying and some senseless nudity come across as flush material and the catfights between the former and current members of the group are nothing new to even casual fans of the band. I saw the Eagles live once during the Hotel California tour and their abilities as a live band, along with inspiring melodies and well rehearsed harmonies, were the impression I remember even today. Lynda Ronstadt was also touring with Jackson Browne about the same time and, of course, her show was unforgettable to say the least.

All in all this is a good production and I think people can use the ole saw "take what you want and leave the rest" and find this an enjoyable program to watch.

pa

How can you write a spoiler for a music program about 40year old songs?

Is it really all about the Eagles or Henley and Frey.

[glaterre · 10/10 · 25 March 2013]

Eagles - History of the Eagles (2013) All songwriters and musicians should see this Eagles documentary. Seem like they tell the truth however it does feel like Don Henley and Glenn Frey decided what goes in the film. They barley talk about Henley feeling that songwriter should get their monetary share if they are not in the Eagles, but does not apply to Eagles members. The whole time Don Henley sounds like William Shatner with his expressions and flowery words. Don Felder is the outcast that Glenn Frey cannot stand. Bernie Leadon just wants to play country music and like Don Felder cannot expand their talents. This is one of the best documentaries out there. (2013) 10-Stars.

a must for eagles fans

[BoomerDT · 9/10 · 5 March 2018]

I saw the Eagles in concert back in the summer of 77 (Linda Ronstadt opened!) at KC's Arrowhead Stadium, when the Eagles were at their peak, shortly after "Hotel California" had been released. Fast forward about 4 years, early fall 1981, I was hung-over in the afternoon after having celebrated my bachelor party the previous evening. I would be getting married in about 5 hours and was scared shitless. So I popped a beer, lit up a joint, threw a steak on the grill and listened to the HC album as it was the perfect background music for my brain as I tried to get a perspective on where I had been and where I was going. (BTW, still married to my love) The Eagles and their music were the perfect soundtrack for my life during the 70's when my priorities were girls, booze, recreational drugs, girls, bars, music, cars and girls.

So I was and remain a huge fan, although not interested in paying $200 plus for decent tickets to see them in concert (I might have paid $10 in 1977) and I've viewed the SHO doc about 4 times, recently for the first time since Frey's passing. I assume virtually everyone reading this page has also viewed it, so all can do is offer a few thoughts on a solid documentary about a what was a truly great band.

As is with most of these type of documentary's, the most interesting part are the early years, when the Eagles formed a group after being sidemen for various bands in the LA music scene of the late 60's and early 70's. Henley made an excellent observation about making it big but realizing that there were other musicians and writers, just as talented, but for one reason or another didn't get the big career break. Sometimes it's just being in the right place at the right time and for the Eagles, the wave broke just perfectly. After hitting the band hit superstardom with HC, Henley and Frey would align to take creative control of the group, which would ultimately cause the departure of two of the other originals, guitarist Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner. Lead guitarist Don Felder joined the band on album #3 "On the Border" (my personal favorite) and kicked the band up a notch with his blistering work, plus wrote the music for tune "Hotel California" (Henley & Frey try to minimize his contribution.) And it seems after HC everything pretty much went into the shitter as far as their relationships with one another as greed, arrogance and drugs devoured the band.

Some nice reflections by Joe Walsh, who was already a big name in rock when he joined the group for HC, replacing Leadon. Walsh almost killed himself through years of drug and alcohol abuse. He was able to clean himself up when the group reunited in 94 after 13 years and was able to tolerate the arrogance of Henley and Frey. Felder wasn't willing and ultimately would be fired by Henley, Frey and their manager Irving Azoff, the consigliere of the band. In retrospect Felder may have made the mistake that many make, overvaluing their contribution and importance to their organization. He did file a lawsuit for breach of contract that was settled by both parties and wrote a book about his experience that ultimately left him persona non grata to Henley and Frey and not in consideration for any further work with the band.

To this day the Eagles are still touring, with only Henley left from the original lineup. More power to them,but maybe we would be best left with just our memories of perhaps the most outstanding band of the greatest era in rock.

Soaring

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 31 May 2014]

I remember the Eagles as a kid when they had a few hits in the British charts but it was not the music I grew up with. By the time I was a teenager they had already broken up.

They were a band I got to know retrospectively through their hit songs and then later their new songs after they reformed in the 1990s.

So I arrived to this two part documentary rather fresh knowing little about the band apart from band members Don Henley and Glenn Frey had pop hits as solo artists in the 1980s.

Part one focuses on the formative years of the musician from being kids onwards, the early days of the band until they hit the big time and their creative tensions leading to their breakup. Its a fascinating and informative story for me. I had no idea that such a Californian sounding rock/country/blues band recorded their early work in London and how much they were in awe of the music of The Who, Beatles, The Rolling Stones.

The band has gone through lineup changes with disputes among band members. Joe Walsh with his past demons comes across as the most honest in the documentary, Frey and Henley as the victors and the defacto leaders of the Eagles get to write their version of the history.

He that writes owns ego or not

[andrew-r-atwill · 8/10 · 18 December 2013]

There was a lot of speculation on the "Why the Eagles split up" and without giving too much away this does answer a lot.

Some people have said in musical fields that Glen Frey is an ego- maniacal, glory-seeking, talentless musician. The reality is between Glen Frey, Don Henley, Timothy Schmitt, Randy Meisner, J.D. Souther and Jackson Browne, the Eagles possibly have more hits than most bands could hope for since the Beatles.

There is a feeling of an arrogant man in the way Glen Frey presents himself and as the movie clearly states it was not until Frey decided he was ready that The Eagles could reform and play again. The different ventures each went on and the use of musicians in Henley's solo career such as Pino Palladino certainly give Henley more musical kudos in some circles than Frey will ever get, but the reality is together they wrote great songs. The same was said of Lennon and McCartney in other ways.

Simply as the title of this summary says, he that writes owns. Any musician ever involved with any label or record company as it used to be known, knew that "He that pays owns". This is no different. So basically,they can do whatever they like. The glue that holds them together is the songs and if I was to pick the most likable person and peacemaking soul that holds the band together, where humanly possible, it would be Timothy B Schmitt who Frey could take some humility lessons from because he comes across as what his critics say in paragraph #2.

All that said and done, it is one of the better historical and pedagogical films made and worth watching if you liked the Eagles music which I did. There are sad moments and one cannot help but feel sadness at youthful ignorance and the pitfalls of the industry, but it is a great eye opener and worth the money to buy the DVD. :)

Eagles

[crossluke21 · 7/10 · 8 February 2022]

The first half of this documentary, documenting the beginning of the band up to their breakup after the recording of The Long Run, is great: one of the best, most engaging and unflinching rock documentaries on an iconic band. But it unfortunately continues for another hour and a half into their victory lap years.

The band has every right to celebrate their enduring success, but the ultra professional, corporate, and cynical way they ran the band in these years begins to wear on the viewer. At one point Glen Frey compares the band to a football team: we all need each other, but not everyone gets to touch the ball (this is how he justifies kicking out Don Felder after he refused to agree to a revised contract). Bands have every right to play their songs as long as people want to hear them, but there is something a little mortifying about seeing the same people play the same songs in the exact same way for decades. This is music as pure product. It's sad to see the Eagles go from young, hungry, vibrant stars to musical businessmen.

The whole thing suffers from a lack of perspective

[Mr-Fusion · 5/10 · 18 May 2014]

Don't walk into "History of the Eagles" expecting an actual history of the band. This is a story steeped in revisionism, told from the perspectives of Glenn Frey and Don Henley. And you don't get far into the film before you start to wonder what's been left out. This is a band with an almost legendary period of drug use, infighting and unchecked egos, and only a fraction of the bad stuff is paid any lip service; just a formality so they go back to self-praise.

Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon don't receive any attention once they've left (no insight or commentary). Two integral founding members are but a memory. But the film's biggest disappointment is the short shrift given to Don Felder. We don't get much in the way of input from him as Frey and Henley continue telling the story. He had legitimate issues with the way the band was being handled (power being taken away from himself, Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh, getting screwed out of song credit and royalties), but they're summed up with "Felder was unhappy".

But I was surprised to hear the audio between Frey and Felder as they were figuratively at each other's throats in 1980. Equally surprised that David Geffen flat-out stated that Don Henley is a malcontent (not that anyone else was lining up to say anything less than flattering about the man).

The Eagles are the quintessential American band, and their story deserves to be documented in full. This is little more than a puff piece. Which is hilarious because Glenn Frey still comes off as a dick.

5/10

History of the Eagles was a nice tribute to the band especially the late Glenn Frey

[tavm · 9/10 · 26 March 2016]

It wasn't until Glenn Frey died that I discovered that he and the rest of the band members-past and present-did this documentary in two parts a few years ago. So I ordered both discs from Netflix. The first part covered the Eagles' heyday in the '70s with many of their hits accounted for like their first one-"Take It Easy" which is always my favorite of theirs-or "Take It to the Limit" which Frey mistakenly ID's as the group's first No. 1 single. (It was actually "Best of My Love" which, strangely, was one of the few hits not showcased in the film. "TITTL" actually went to No. 4.) In both parts, the emphasis is on Frey and Don Henley since they wrote most of the songs, were in the band for both runs, and had successful solo careers in between. Other current members Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit also frequently comment alongside former members Bernie Leadon who recently returned to the fold, Randy Meisner, and Don Felder. While I'll always admire Frey as a songwriter and artist, I can't help but think that he's the main reason some members left. I'd like to think they've all made peace with him before he passed. Certainly, I was very glad when Don H., Bernie, Joe, and Tim appeared on the Grammys several weeks ago in tribute to Glenn and performed "Take It Easy" with Jackson Browne-who co-wrote the song some 44 years ago-singing lead even though Browne forgot some of the lyrics. Anyway, I highly enjoyed History of the Eagles so that's a high recommendation.

Long, exhaustive and interesting

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 14 February 2016]

Aside from a few moments that made we want to cringe (such as Glenn Frey's comments about Don Felder being fired during their reunion of the 1990s), this is a very enjoyable and thorough documentary about the Eagles. Not surprisingly, it focuses mostly on Frey and Don Henley-- the pair that wrote most of the songs, sang most of the songs and created the group. It follows the pair from their early pre-band days and ends around 2000. Through the course of the film, there are tons of interviews, lots of odd tidbits and a very comprehensive history of the group. For practically everyone except someone hating The Eagles (who would that be?!), a very well made and as complete a picture of the group as you can find.

Loved the movie, but I now really dislike The Eagles after watching this

[music_man_fan · 9/10 · 7 April 2020]

And this was an authorized bio. Wow.

Though I've loved The Eagles music, there was something I never liked about the band. So I decided to learn and find out more about the guys now that I have time. I always wanted to watch their documentary, and started to like them at the beginning of the movie. But boy did that change about halfway through. Now I think I had good intuition. Henley and Frey were total unlikable a-ho___s. My gosh.

Eagles soaring high here!

[meeza · 10/10 · 2 January 2015]

Despunrado! Why I don't come to my senses and stop the pun plethora in my reviews! I can't tell you why! Wait!! Take it Easy! Don't leave! Because I can tell you is that "History of the Eagles" is the best rockumentary I have ever seen with my lying eyes; I mean staring eyes. Director Alison Ellwood's documentary focused on the entire Eagles history; and Ellwood effectively took it to the limit on chronicling the full cycle of the Eagles story. Don Henley and Glenn Frey are the hybrids that created the genesis of the Eagles; and they provide their experiences on being Eagles; from the band's formation in the early 70's, to the band's bitter breakup in 1980, to their Eagle reunion in the 90's, to how they function as Eagles today; pretty much their life as Eagles recording artists and their lives in the fast lane and sporadically the slow lane. But the documentary also showed the perspectives of other new kids & old kids in Eagles town with interviews with other present & past Eagles including: Timothy B. Schmit, Don Felder, Joe Walsh, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner. Even if you are not an Eagles fan, I would still highly recommend "A History of the Eagles" because of its expert depiction of life in a rock & roll band; which sure has its highs but at the same time those peaceful & easy feelings were far & few in between because of all the interpersonal friction between the band members. OK, I am about to be already gone. Now its for you to view this perfect piece of documentary filmmaking one of these nights; or days for that matter. Such a lovely place..... ***** Excellent

Very interesting telling of how the Eagles came to be, how they broke up, and then reunited 14 years later in 1994.

[TxMike · 18 October 2014]

I found this on Netflix streaming movies. I am roughly the same age as most of the member of the Eagles group, I have some recollection of hearing their songs back in the 1970s but nothing more. I knew absolutely nothing about them. I had no idea who Glen Frey and Don Henley were in the 1970s.

Jump to the 2000s, maybe 10 or 12 years ago, a friend gave me the DVD of the Eagles returning to performing as a group in 1994, "Hell Freezes Over", because they once had said hell would have to freeze over before they reunited.

The DVD itself is great, it gives a bit of the preparation they went through to get a few new songs and get concert ready. They coined the inside phrase "are you puking?" because that is the feeling they were to get as they were nervous about performing again in front of a big audience.

So I only knew them as 40-something men, clean-cut and business- like. But this documentary "History of the Eagles" shows them starting out as kids, in their early 20s, scruffy with long hair and a few beards. And then there was Joe Walsh, by his later admission always on drugs and/or alcohol during his waking hours, a talented musician who loved to trash hotel rooms just for the fun. I believe he said his record was $28,000 damage to one room. As Henley says, many hotels banned them from ever returning.

But they obviously had talent and they pooled their talent to become one of the most successful groups of the 1970s. Their "Hotel California" will likely live forever. The film also traces their issues with managers, producers, and recording companies. And how strong personalities caused them to quit in 1980.

Now late in life the biggest revelation is Joe Walsh, he was forced by Henley and Frey to enter rehab before they would try to reunite. Walsh now says they saved his life and in fact he is a much nicer person in old age.

Now I am an even bigger fan of the Eagles. This film documents what they went through, but I suppose it isn't greatly different from what many similar bands went through during that period. Or perhaps any period!

The Best RockDoc Ever!

[luiet · 10/10 · 27 November 2013]

**CONTAINS SPOILERS** This is not watching the "Eagles" & their history? This, is living it! It's an extremely well done story of the band! It's "Ups & Downs", personal relationships & absolutely the best music from days gone by! The only complain I'd have? Is the show at the Capital Center, being too short! Amazing performances, when young & wild, all 2 weeks before the "Hotel California" album came out & seeing that song played in 1977 is worth the price of the entire package! I saw that tour & the memories rush back to that time! If you're an "Eagles" fan? This is a must get! Brutally honest, no sugar, yet nothing but a great story, told candidly & very well produced! The production should have been nominated & The Music? Not nominated? It's so sad there's no category for "Classic Rock"? Parents? Will never buy more music than kids, of all ages!

G.O.A.T

[gantzjoey · 10/10 · 28 March 2021]

Simply the greatest music documentary of all time without a doubt.

Opinions are like...

[rdanielgodoy · 10/10 · 14 May 2018]

I see a lot of criticism on their reviews, it seems people got their feelings hurt or offended bye the perspective that was given predominantly by the two founding members besides establishing the band, they also wrote most of the music... if you liked the album Hotel California it's because they created the theme and the story that the songs would tell-that's in the documentary in case you missed all this). Felder was not kicked out of the band because he had opposing political views, he had a growing dissension that culminated that night in 1980 at a benefit concert. Oh, and also in the documentary, they all stated that after the hotel California album Danny we're pretty much on the way to breaking up and they were burned out and worn out. I thought it was very honest and very revealing since none of them claimed to be the Risen examples of perfection. Put it in perspective kids. They were young, mostly single horny and partying Young Musicians making more money than they ever thought they would make in their lives. All the criticisms seem very personal, as if sensibilities and feelings got bruised. Let's not forget that from 1971 through 1977 they created and released music and songs that have become part of many many peoples soundtrack of their lives. If you are surprised that they are not perfect and they are flawed human beings who happen to have incredible Talent, that you missed the entire point of the documentary. Period.

This commercial for the Eagles paid for by Azoff, Frey, and Henley

[shanphil · 5/10 · 28 April 2019]

The History of the Eagles was not independent either.

The Eagles' manager Irving Azoff came up with the idea for an official history in 2011 when the Eagles would be celebrating their 40th anniversary. Frey chose Alex Gibney after viewing works by those who had been nominated for the Academy Award for best documentary, and Gibney then brought in Ellwood to direct and co-edit. According to Frey, the band had made some suggestions to the production team, but overall the director and producer were left to make their film the way they chose.

Make the film the way they chose? When you're paying them? Sure! And I've got some ocean front property in Arizona I'll sell you.

Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey was arrested by Columbus, Ohio cops in May 1973 on drug possession and public intoxication charges. Where was that?

Don Henley called paramedics to his home on November 21, 1980, where a 16-year-old girl was found naked and claiming she had overdosed on quaaludes and cocaine. She was arrested for prostitution, while a 15-year-old girl found in the house was arrested for being under the influence of drugs. Was this in the documentary? I don't remember seeing it.

It glorified (Don) Henley and (Glenn) Frey's work, giving very little credit to all the other people who had worked so hard on the recordings -- including Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner, Don Felder, the other things people brought to the table like Producer Bill Szymczyk.

In other words, it was made as if the so-called "independent" director knew who was paying his salary.

The funny thing is that Frey and Henley were so egotistical they don't even realize how much their own overly-long documentary made them look like narcissistic jerks. Maybe the next album the Eagles record should be of other artists' popular songs. They can kick off the record with "You're So Vain," "Under My Thumb," "I Want You To Want Me," "Oh, Lord It's Hard to Be Humble,"

Nice and Scripted

[mick987g · 9/10 · 25 July 2013]

I have watched this at least six times. And what I noticed is that Don Henley and Glenn Frey's speech's seem well scripted. "Henley And it was tearing the band apart!" Joe Walsh is just Joe Walsh .

Poor Timothy Schmitt stuck in the middle.

Is it me or does Glenn Frey like to think he is the DeFacto leader of the group? I used to think that maybe Don Felder etc all should get a little more of the pie. But after reading that he is worth $25 million . I am like stop your crying . YOu are still getting paid for Hotel California and etc.

Good movie though if you are an Eagles fan or not!

A great documentary. But I no longer like those guys.

[levybob · 10/10 · 10 January 2023]

'History of the Eagles' held my attention for three hours. It's in two parts, and covers a lot of ground. But if you are or were a fan of the group, you're sure to learn a great deal. More than anything I developed a real appreciation of how hard it is - impossible it turns out - to keep a music group (or any artistic group) together.

For me Glenn Frye is the 'heavy' (if you like, the villain) of the film. There is something so very self-important about him that I don't think I'll ever think about him the same way again. His voiced opinions about those who departed The Eagles were tough to take (particularly concerning guitarist Don Felder who twice was 'fired'). The film was made in 2013, many years since the last former member had departed but to Frye, it could have been yesterday. I credit him with not being camera shy, with being up-front about his dislikes. Even so, that doesn't mean I have to like him. And, though he's since passed away, I don't.

If there's a 'hero' in the film, it's Joe Walsh. By 2013 he'd sobered up, and his looking back on his drinking and drugging days reveals a man with honesty in his veins and great talent in his hands. Don Henley has always been a favorite of mine and in the film he comes across as highly talented and self-assured (like Frye) but without Fry's authoritarian bent. I truly appreciated learning about the group's transitions from country to country-rock to rocker, and how those transitions impacted the group's makeup. I'd had no idea how committed band members were to a certain genre, and their unwillingness to stray into other territories. To their being unwilling to remain with the 'money machine' The Eagles had become. So, hats off to The Stones. Fifty five years and, despite clashes and fallings-out, still 'together'. It can't be easy and I bet it hasn't been.

Bottom line is this. I enjoyed The Eagles' music and still do, and enjoyed seeing it performed on film. I liked getting to know the individual players and seeing where and when and how they fit in. I enjoyed the stories of conflict; on-stage and off. Overall, I truly enjoyed the film.

As for the guys, themselves? Not so much.

Must see for music fans

[dunsuls-1 · 10/10 · 31 March 2013]

Maybe the best "American"band in history.They started in the late 60's broke up in the 80's reunited in the 90's and are still around today.Only the Rolling Stones are around longer and they are not American. Showtime has put together a great 2 part documentary totaling 3 hours of the story of this bands history and turmoil and the music.There are now 4 members and 3 ex members.Not bad for this super group that still counts its 2 songwriters as there through it all.Glenn Frey, Don Henley.Their personnel life and relationships are not delved into,but the story doesn't shy away from drugs and booze. They may not have be as edge as other bands but their music was unique in the harmony and melodies unlike the harder edgy songs of the times.As someone said in the film,what the country also needed was someone saying"Take it Easy"which had a great lyrics and romantic overtones that everyone needed and that song provided.The solo artist and close friend of Frey contributed to the song with the lyric,

"Well, I'm a standing on a corner In Winslow, Arizona "and Frey added "And such a fine sight to see It's a girl, my lord In a flatbed Ford Slowin' down to take a look at me "

and thats also when I became a fan back in the day.Nostalgic ? Yes. Important,hell yes. If you like the music from the are 60's and 70's you'll flash back to as someone else said in the film,the 70's as you remember them even if thats not the way they really were.