The Eagles Performance Don Henley Regretted

Some musicians feel that the industry should come second to artistry. While we’re sure a nod at the Grammys feels good no matter what, it’s not every artist’s main motivation. The Eagles were among that group.

While playing at the Grammys in honor of the band’s legacy and the passing of Glenn Frey, the Eagles not only gifted the audience one of their biggest hits but also finally received a Grammy for Hotel California–one that they skipped the ceremony altogether in the ’70s to avoid. Despite the honor, Don Henley regretted the moment. Find out why, below.

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The Eagles Performance Don Henley Regretted

The Eagles avoided the Grammys like the plague in their heyday. So much so, that they skipped picking up their trophy for Hotel California. That action alone tells us all we need to know about how the band felt about the industry’s bigwigs.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t avoid the famed award show forever. A couple of years after the passing of Frey, the Eagles were tapped to play “Take It Easy” with one of the song’s writers, Jackson Browne. While it was certainly a momentous occasion, it didn’t sit right with Henley.

“I sort of wish we hadn’t done it, frankly,” Henley once said. “It was too soon, too weird. I don’t know why we said yes. We were still in shock and didn’t know what to do. Then, at the end of it, these two Grammy honchos walked out with the award for Hotel California, which we had refused to show up and accept in 1977.”

Despite all the prestige they had amassed up to that point, fame still seemed to be uncomfortable to Henley and co. Revisit “Take It Easy,” below.

Well I’m a-running down the road trying to loosen my load

I’ve got seven women on my mind

Four that want to own me, two that want to stone me

One says she’s a friend of mine

Take it easy, take it easy

Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy

Lighten up while you still can

Don’t even try to understand

Just find a place to make your stand and take it easy

Across their tenure, the Eagles have taken home six Grammy awards and 18 nominations. Needless to say, they’ve had a successful run. Learn more about the band’s Grammy history, HERE.

(Photo by CSU Archives/Everett/Shutterstock)