The subtitle of that piece that you link to is such click-bait. I’m not even going there. I’m confident in saying “I hated the Eagles.” I’m old enough and respectful enough now to sincerely feel bad about anyone dying young, but honestly, when I heard the news that Frey died I thought, “Mmm, the biggest asshole in the biggest asshole band died. That’s a shame.” For the record, I was sincere in feeling bad over the man’s dying. I just don’t like the Eagles. Never did. Still don’t. I can enjoy “Take It Easy” enough and a couple other of their earlier country-rock songs, but I don’t like the vibe they give off once they tried “rocking.” A couple of those late-period songs that Timothy Schmit (sp?) sang are funny-good. So, that’s where I stand on the death of Glenn Frey. I’m too mature to “mock” his death, but I don’t have to pretend I cared about his life.*
*The views of Mr. Moderator do not necessarily reflect the views of Rock Town Hall. Continue for Rock Town Hall’s official stance on the life and works of Glenn Frey…
Hey, I’m with ya. I look at a couple of music forums and one had a link to an article about how The Eagles had outlived the people that hate them. I’ve stayed out of the mourner’s threads, because I fucking hate The Eagles (enough to call them THE Eagles because I know it bugs their fans), but who am I to be a dick about it? But when there’s a thread specifically about people like me, I’m stepping up and saying, “Not me. I’m still here and I still hate The Eagles.” Someone actually said, “You HATE them? Why did they do something to you? Why the hate and blah, blah, granola, blah.”
Hey, it’s MY hate and I’ll use it as I see fit. I fucking still hate the fucking Eagles. The only things they ever did that are any good are backing Linda Ronstadt and being Joe Walsh’s band on You Can’t Argue With a Sick Mind. Glenn Frey has serious underground garage rocker cred, but I don’t care. He turned into The Eagles.
I alwasy used to think the bumper sticker that said, “Corporate Rock Still Sucks” could have easily just said “The Eagles Still Suck,” and got the same point across. I feel bad that Glenn Frey died at what I consider an early age, but he wasn’t my friend and he only annoyed me his whole life. At least I left him alone.
In the spirit of ‘if you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything,’ let me say this about Glenn Frey:
My attitude towards the Eagles is the same I have towards Billy Joel – not a trace of fandom but no active hatred either. I never need to hear “Hotel California” or “Takin’ It Easy” ever again, but much of the time the Eagles made somewhat listenable radio fodder. But I regret the passing of David Bowie much more than I regret Glenn Frey’s exit, and I’d much rather listen to Bowie’s music.
David Bowie was one of rock music’s great artists. Glenn Frey was not. Beyond that, Bowie was mourned to an even greater degree because he seemed to be emerging into a creative renaissance. Glenn Frey had spent the last 20 years doing lucrative corporate gigs and cash-in tours. Ok, ok, Wikipedia says their 2007 album was 7x platinum, but can anyone even remember its name without looking it up? Glenn Frey was a pro — no less but in my opinion certainly no more.
I wish mwall was still here so he could argue how they perfectly embody ‘psychic oblivion,’ although I never could grasp what he was getting at with that concept.
I may have told this story before, but I was watching a TV variety show with my Dad — this was 1975 or so — and there was this big build up about an upcoming Eagles appearance. They were really hyping it up and toward the end of the show the band finally comes on — it was some sort of live satellite feed.
A few minutes into their song my dad says “What’s so great about these guys?”
“Dunno Dad”
I never liked them all that much — never bought an album, although I might have paid for a Henley solo record. In ’94, I did attend the “Hell Freezes Over Tour” at RFK stadium on some freebies, where me and a buddy ended up in what passes at that place for a corporate box, drinking free beer compliments of a gal who said she was the daughter of a former Redskin. Don’t remember a bit of the show.
Is there any truth to the rumor that in April 1945 this guy wrote an article headlined: “You mourned FDR but you mock Mussolini. Why?”
Mwall summoned, then this. No eulogy for us just yet.
It’s like the media are afraid of calling him a prick. They use words like focused, mercurial and temperamental. Sorry folks, Glen Frey was a major prick.
I chose my hate very selectively. I don’t hate Frey or The Eagles. I hate what they represent. The music doesn’t offend me.
More on point, Bowie drove music and style down a different rode. Guys like Glen Frey drove rock and roll back into the middle of the road. The guy never took a chance and for that reason I don’t respect him. Doesn’t mean I hate him.
I can say something good about Glenn Frey: He might not have been the worst actor on Miami Vice.
Let the healing begin!
By acting like a colossal douche, Frey managed to absorb some of the vitriol that would have otherwise been directed at Don Henley. Pretty selfless if you ask me.
That is truly the funniest, funniest, funniest thing I’ve read (or I guess not read) in a long time. Thank you Mr. misterioso.
I basically have the same feelings as the consensus here, but not nearly as strongly, I guess because I don’t really hate their music as much as not really give a shit about it. Never enough to care to know much of anything about Frey — including how to spell his name until this morning. But I do like “Take it Easy.”
David Bowie is a whole other thing. That’s a meaningful thing, for me. He’s a giant of a true artist who touched millions of lives in a very meaningful way.
But I suppose there’s a segment of humanity out there who feel the same about Glenn Frey. God bless.
I want to rise to Glen Frey’s defense as he is being so ruthlessly and wittily pilloried here by RTH. Not because he doesn’t deserve it but because he is such an easy target it seems beneath RTH.
On the other hand, ruthless and witty pillorying is what we do best here on RTH. Gotta love it!
(As I write the words “easy target”, I think: is he the easiest target in all of rock? Is this a topic for a Battle Royal? Do we still do those things here on RTH?)
So it is written, so let it be done. I’ll try to set this up tomorrow.
At the risk of being called out again, I will admit to some nostalgic fondness for Glenn Frey/Eagles. As a kid, I enjoyed those first singles and Greatest Hits compilations. Did I need to go see them in concert? No. Did I need to pay through the nose to attend the reunion? No way. Do I associate them with a younger, musically open, and admittedly more naive self. Yes.
You made me remember that I did see them in concert. I checked the date, and it was July 14, 1972, shortly after their first album came out. I sort of remember that they were good, but I have better memories of the band they opened for, Procol Harum. In the 70s bills were not carefully crafted, and bands that seem to come from different worlds when we look back were all just part of ‘rock.’
Could someone point me to some references of Frey’s assholeness? Is this common knowledge or was it symbolically referenced in “Almost Famous”?
In the last few weeks, I’ve had a constant soundtrack of Bowie songs in my head. No Eagles tracks have made it there, consciously or unconsciously.
I would say it is not exactly a well-kept secret. But for ample material, you could watch that interminable History of the Eagles documentary that crops up on HBO periodically. Though I don’t wish it on you.