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Dark Desert Highway
How America’s Dream Band Turned into a Nightmare
By Mick Wall
Published by Hachette Australia
ISBN 9781409190707
The Eagles were a strong force in popular music during the 1970s and I knew a lot about their music. Funny thing is, they rarely gave interviews and valued their privacy.
Apart from Don and GIenn, and later, high profile Joe Walsh, I didn't know the names of the other band members, Randy, Bernie and Timothy, until I read this book.
However, I'm going to begin this review with a few disclaimers:
If you are offended by:
foul language, beware, don't read this book.
drug abuse, beware, don't read this book.
sexual promiscuity, beware, don't read this book.
If you have no knowledge of pop music and don't like pop music, beware, don't read this book.
If you can cope with all the above, you will enjoy this book. It is very well written and is a page turner in every respect. I found it difficult to put down, even when I was reminded of other things I had to do, like eat dinner. I have been in the music / entertainment world since 1967 and thought I was pretty knowledgeable in pop/rock history, but the author has obviously far more knowledge than I have and I learned many new facts about this subject. He goes into extraordinary detail about the people about whom he is writing.
While this is a story of the Eagles band, it is more, a story about the members of the band and the influences in their environment. There is considerable background information about other people on the sidelines, including musicians, songwriters, management, agents, record companies, record producers, the artists, photographers, and designers of the album covers.
The book starts by setting the scene of what Los Angeles (LA) was like when the 60s turned into the 70s. In the first few chapters, there is very little mention of any of the band members. Concentrating on the background, the tapestry if you will, of the environment into which these four guys, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, as individuals are drawn to LA from different parts of the USA and are serendipitously put together by John Boylan, Linda Rondstadt's manager, producer and boyfriend, who have a vision that these guys do not see straight away.
They tour with Linda as the backing band and discover that they are pretty good together and plan to become a band themselves when the tour ends. They tell Linda. She says that's a great idea.
After their initial success, being guided by their then agent, David Geffen, and being sent to the UK to record in London with legendary producer Glyn Johns. They hate England in winter and can't wait to get back to LA. The album, and single spinoffs, are moderately successful and they decide to follow up with their own concept album. They are sent back to the UK but Glyn is not happy with the musical content and the mindset of the guys during this second visit and the album is a flop.
The story continues with them working their way out of the flop, the cracks that start occurring in the relationships of the members and their management. It continues with the addition of another band member and old friend of Bernie's, Don Felder, who augments their lead guitar sound.
The biographical story goes into the emerging power struggle within the band and the songwriting partnership of Glenn and Don, Comparing it with other songwriter partnerships such as 'Lennon / McCartney', 'Jagger / Richards', 'Marriott / Laine' and other members of their respective bands. How they call the shots and the other guys have to follow. It also talks about the changing of the original royalty agreement, where all the royalties would be shared equally and the constant touring, where the guys are living together 24/7.
Over this time pressure builds up resulting in Bernie leaving the band, after a particularly nasty confrontation with Glenn. This leaves the door open for Joe Walsh to join the lineup.
All this is happening at the same time as another story is unfolding... the creation of "Hotel California", an undisputed Rock Classic and, understandably, takes up a large part of the middle of the book.
The author explores the significance of this song and album, not only for the band but also for the record buying public. The promotional tour is hugely popular and long. Randy is just sick of the way he's being treated by the 'Gods', Don and Glenn, as the other members of the band and the crew have labelled them. He spits the dummy and walks away. Enter Timothy L Schmitt.
The author continues with the story of the follow up Album "The Long Run" and ends at the concert in Hyde Park, London in 2022.
This is a fabulously enjoyable, well written book to read. It is filled with eye opening, jaw dropping information, which you will enjoy “until hell freezes over”..
the author
Mick Wall is the UK's best-known rock writer, author and TV and radio programme maker, and is the author of numerous critically-acclaimed books, including definitive, bestselling titles on Led Zeppelin (When Giants Walked the Earth), Lou Reed (The Life), The Doors (Love Becomes a Funeral Pyre), and Jimi Hendrix (Two Riders Were Approaching). He lives in England.
Reviewed by Ken
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee
