‘I’m from a different generation’: Don Henley tears into fans who text, take pictures, etc

Something Else Reviews ^ | May 21, 2014 | Something Else!

[a fool in paradise]

As Don Henley continues on what has been a well-received, but apparently endless, hits-packed reunion tour with the Eagles, he

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

“Don’t look back...you should never look back.”

[dfwgator]

“Don Henley’s gonna tell me how to vote. I don’t @#!@ing think so, ok? I got two words for Don Henley, Joe @#!@iing Walsh, ok!? Thanks for calling, Don! How long’s your pony tail now? Ok!” - Dennis Leary

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I remember at a concert in 1991 he lectured the audience about how America was losing its regional cultures and accents to the mass-media culture.

He appeared to be completely oblivious to the fact that he and the eternal copyright system that made him rich was wholly to blame.

[ponygirl]

Henley has always been a bit of a grumpypants. Dude, you’re getting paid how much to stand up there and croon for 90 minutes?

[clintonh8r]

Henley’s always been a PITA, but he’s right.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I call them the ‘bitter clingers’.

[MuttTheHoople]

OLD FOGEY

[LostInBayport]

There is a great CD made about twenty years ago, where country singers like Travis Tritt, Vince Gill and Clint Black cover their songs. Very good, all the richness of the songs and none of the Eagles!

[dfwgator]

When you pay $500 for a ticket, you can do anything you want to.

[Fungi]

Henley sang it but if Hornsby wrote it that is OK.. By the way, Hornsby, in his song “The way it is” knows nothing about “we passed a law in ‘64 to give those who ain't got a little more.” This song is nothing more than a liberal rant. Where does all that “ain't got a little more come from?” As usual, the premise is wrong and the result is feeling, not truth. Never mind the votes by party which has been covered numerous times. Truth is not important anymore.

[RIghtwardHo]

YES!!!!!!!!!!

I got a rash, man.

[AFreeBird]

Yep: “saw a Dead Head stocker on a Cadillac”...

Been there, done that, got a lot of T-Shirts....

But those days are gone forever....

[Fightin Whitey]

Man..Couldja Change the Channel?

[RIghtwardHo]

Oh that is epic!

[lee martell]

Don was the John Lennon or grouchy know it all in The Eagles. The other lead singer named (?) was the easy going approachable Paul McCartney character. The yin always needs the yang to achieve balance.

[Norm Lenhart]

I loathe that lib POS but I’ll give him his due for one song.

I quote it often

“The Garden Of Allah”

It was pretty big year for fashion
A lousy year for rock and roll
The people gave their blessing to crimes of passion
It was a dark, dark night of the collective soul
And I was somewhere out on riverside by the el royale hotel
When a stranger appeared in a cloud of smoke
I thought I knew him all too well
He said now that I have your attention
I got something I wanna say
You may not wanna hear it, I’m gonna tell it to you anyway
You know I’ve always like you boy
Cause you were not afraid of me
Things are gonna get mighty rough here in gomorrah-by-the-sea

Ya said it’s just like home
It’s so damn hot I can’t stand it
My fine seersucker suit is all soaking wet
And the hills are burning
And the wind is raging
And the clock strikes midnight in the garden of Allah
In the garden of Allah

Nice car
Ah, I love those bavarians
So meticulous
Y’know I remember when things were a lot more fun around here
When good was good and evil was evil
Before things got so fuzzy
I was once a golden boy like you
And I was summoned to the halls of power in the heavenly courts
And I dined with the deities who looked upon me with favor,
For my talents, my creativity
And we sat beneath the palms
In the warm afternoons and drank the wine
With fitzgerald and huxley
And they pawned the biting phrase from the tongues hot with blood
And drained their pins of bitter ink
Vainly reaching for the bottle full of empty edens
Branded especially for the ones who had come with great expectations
To the perfumed halls of Allah, for their time in the sun

And we were stokin’ the fires and oilin’ up the machinery
Until the gods found out we had ideas of our own
And war was coming and the earth was shaking
And there was no more ruin in the garden of Allah

Today I made an appearance downtown
I am an expert witness because I say I am
And I said gentlemen, and I use that world loosely
I will testify for you, I’m a gun for hire,I’m a saint, I’m a liar
Because there are no facts, there is no truth
Just data to be manipulated
I can get you any result you like
What’s it worth to you?
Because there is no wrong, there is no right
And I sleep very well at night
No shame, no solution, no remorse, no retribution
Just people selling t-shirts
Just opportunity to participate in the pathetic little circus
And winning, winning, winning

It was pretty big year for predators
The marketplace was on a roll
And the land of opportunity
Spawned a whole new breed of men without souls
This year notoriety got all confused with fame
And the devil is downhearted babe, cause
There’s nothing left for him to claim

He said it’s just like home
It’s so low-down I can’t stand it
I guess my work around here has all been done

And the fruit is rotten, the serpent’s eyes shine
As he wraps around the vine,
In the garden of Allah
In the garden of Allah
In the garden of Allah

[Secret Agent Man]

if you don’t sell mojo nixon

then your store could use some fixin’

We got into a car
Away we started rollin’
I asked “How much you pay for this?”
She said “Nothing man, it’s stolen”
Punk rock girl you look so wild
Punk rock girl let’s have a child
we’ll name her Minnie Pearl
just you and me
Eating fudge banana swirl
just you and me
We’ll travel round the world
just you and me
punk rock girl

- punk rock girl, dead milkmen

[Fast Moving Angel]

I can’t totally disagree with him. I like to attend house concerts or other small venues, and nothing ticks me off more than for someone to get up and wander around or talk/laugh loudly, or constantly text, while the musician(s) are performing. That’s rude not only to the musician(s) but to the audience. While I would prefer to watch an Eagles concert, sitting in my seat without distractions, I think that in larger venues, this offensive behavior is more to be expected. (Disclosure: I like the Eagles’ music, I always have — but sometimes it’s tough to ignore performers’ politics and concentrate on the music.)

[Fast Moving Angel]

Forgot to add, I’ve discussed this with some musicians I know and while they mostly agree that this misbehavior is distracting, they’ve also learned to ignore it and just continue the show ... so maybe Don should do the same.

[a fool in paradise]

That’s nothing, at general admission club (or some festival) shows, people will gather up by the stage for one of the later acts, but totally disengage from the performance to text, read facebook, whatever, while those who are trying to watch the band and enjoy the show stand 5-10 rows deep. First come first serve, but we aren’t talking about people even “at” the show. They suck the energy right out of the moment.