Just about all bands have creative differences of opinion. It happens. Sometimes feelings run very high, especially if people are far apart in their thinking and won't budge. That is what the Eagles occasionally experienced.
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We know them for their legendary hits like "Hotel California," "Take It to the Limit," and "Lyin' Eyes," but they also had a few epic disagreements behind the scenes. For example, they got into a major snit when guitarist Bernie Leadon (Joe Walsh later replaced him) wanted the band to record a song called "I Wish You Peace," which he co-wrote. Don Henley disliked it intensely and wasn't shy about expressing his feelings. Here's what took place.
Don Henley Despised 'I Wish You Peace'
The Eagles did somewhat grudgingly record this tune but Henley was not pleased with it. Per faroutmagazine.co.uk via Henley's book, Life in the Fast Lane, he bluntly voiced his thoughts. Henley referred to "I Wish You Peace" as "smarmy cocktail music...Nobody else wanted it. We didn't feel it was up to the band's standards." Ouch!
Bernie Leadon Was Equally Vehement About The Song
Leadon would not be pacified. According to the outlet, he said, "I let it be known that if they didn't record that song, I was going to break Glenn's [Frey's] arm. It's absurd, right? The song is 'I Wish You Peace, but I'm gonna break your [expletive] arm if you don't record it." The Eagles' producer, Bill Szymczyk, tried to play peacemaker. To smooth things over with Leadon, he suggested the band record a song called "Journey of the Sorcerer' on the last album Leadon would work on with the band.
That must have seemed like a good plan, but like many good plans, it fizzled. Per the outlet via History of the Eagles, Szymczyk noted, "We had spent all night working on one track, and we couldn't get it. I looked over and said, 'Bernie, what do you think?'. And he stretched his arms and said, 'I think I'm going surfing,' and he left." Enough said!
Enter Joe Walsh For 'Hotel California'
Walsh gave the band "a shot in the arm" as they launched into what became Hotel California. The Eagles kept right on going, moving past their internal discord and making more sublime music.
