Two days in April 1994 marked the resumption (not reunion!) of one of rock’s greatest supergroups, The Eagles. It was a moment many fans believed would never occur, mostly due to drummer Don Henley's "when Hell freezes over" remark after the band's breakup was announced in the early 1980s. Well, Hell DID freeze over – at least for Henley, anyway – and the band toured, released the Hell Freezes Over album and video and were so ready for another bout of rock superstardom.

So, what the hell happened?!

First of all, The Eagles of today aren't the same as The Eagles of the 1970s – and I don't just mean age. Back then, they were just a group, a bunch of nobodies who played together and made music – with the exception of Joe Walsh, who had prior solo success and with the James Gang, and Bernie Leadon, with the Flying Burrito Brothers. However, when the band resumed, it was after a 14-year hiatus; and while the individual egos that contributed to tearing apart the band were no longer flying on illegal substances, their solo successes graduated their egos from 'gratify me' to 'praise me'. So, with these slightly more mature musicians in 'me' mode, the band really wasn't a band anymore but more like a group of people presenting such a facade. What wouldn't have phased them in the 1970s – creatively or otherwise – is actually inhibiting them now. Maybe it's the changing times, or maybe these guys are just getting old.

Second, where's the new STUDIO album? OK, so Hell Freezes Over had, like, four new songs, and "Hole in the World" was, what? A tease? You know, that's fine and dandy if Henley wants to keep touring to push his four-year-old solo album, but keeping Eagles fans (not to mention bandmates) at bay is eventually going to piss them off. Or Henley'll just fire someone else, like former guitarist Don Felder, whom was let go in 2002. Or the egos will start to clash, and the band will again break up, leaving us fans in the lurch with no new material, other than those five songs. I don't know about anyone else, but if that were to happen, I'd consider that a blatant rip-off.

Third, it's just The Eagles, not Don Henley and the Eagles. Seriously, if I want to listen to Henley's solo material, I'll go see him live. But four songs! You don't hear them performing four of Glenn Frey's songs or Timothy B. Schmit's. They did perform four of Joe Walsh's, though two were his and two were James Gang. (Really, where are you gonna catch the James Gang live?) Maybe Henley's block of four would be more interesting if they weren't the same overplayed songs ("Boys of Summer," "Dirty Laundry" (OK, I can't fault them for playing that), "Sunset Grill," "Heart of the Matter" – yeah, all old, and all playing on your classic rock station; hmm); perhaps they should try a non-popular tune once in a while to liven it up.

Fourth, music isn't what it used to be. Obviously, popular music today is laced with more sexual overtones, and The Eagles, rockin' though they are, aren't sexy. There's not a member who is – or was – a sex symbol, not even Henley, even back in his 'fro days. Schmit would likely have been the closest studpuppy candidate, although he joined the band rather late in their heyday. It's a shame that today's so-called tastes in music lean toward the false, obscene and erotic, because The Eagles embody what music is all about: straightforward, original rock-n-roll that's exciting, turns people on, etc. and isn't about an image or marketing or selling a product.

Alas, The Eagles' high-flying days may be behind them, but 10 years after their fantabulous return to the rock radar, they still remain – through egos, solo projects, an ever-evolving mainstream, and lack of a new studio album – one of rock's enduring supergroups.

Thank God for classic rock radio!

Copyright © 2004, Talia M. Wilson
written Sept. 1, 2004; revised & posted: Sept. 7, 2004

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