Estelle interviewed for Red Magazine
5 years ago
United States Don Felder is an accomplished American musician, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band the Eagles, co-writing iconic songs such as "Hotel California."
Interested in booking Don Felder?
Request A ShowDon Felder signed a deal with Frontiers Music Srl for his solo album, indicating a partnership for album release and distribution.
Don Felder is represented by Red Light Management, a company that manages artists and their careers, including bookings and public relations.
Gibson named two re-issues of their guitars after Don Felder in 2010: the 'Don Felder Hotel California 1959 Les Paul' and the 'Don Felder Hotel California EDS-1275,' acknowledging his significant use and association with their instruments.
Donald William Felder was born on September 21, 1947, in Gainesville, Florida. His interest in music began after seeing Elvis Presley perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” leading him to acquire his first guitar around the age of ten. A self-taught musician, Felder learned to play by ear and was significantly influenced by rock and roll music. At 13, he formed his first band, the Continentals, which included Stephen Stills and Isaac Guillory. Around this time, he also met Bernie Leadon, who would later become a founding member of the Eagles. Felder continued to develop his guitar skills, including slide guitar, which he learned from Duane Allman. After the Maundy Quintet, a band he formed with Leadon, Felder moved to Manhattan, New York City, joining a band called Flow and releasing a self-titled improvisational rock fusion album in 1970. He later moved to Boston, working in a recording studio, and then to Los Angeles in 1973, where he performed as a guitarist for David Blue’s tour.
In early 1974, Felder was invited to contribute slide guitar and solos for the Eagles’ songs “Good Day in Hell” and “Already Gone.” His talent led to an invitation to join the band shortly thereafter. His arrival coincided with the Eagles’ shift from country rock to a more rock-oriented sound. On their fourth album, “One of These Nights,” Felder sang lead vocals on “Visions,” a song he co-wrote with Don Henley, and arranged the title track’s guitar solo and bass line. After Bernie Leadon’s departure in 1975, Joe Walsh joined, forming a significant dual guitar partnership with Felder. The band’s album “Hotel California” became a major international success, with Felder co-writing the title track and “Victim of Love.” He contributed significantly to the album’s sound, including the memorable guitar solo on “Hotel California.” Felder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Eagles in 1998.
Felder continued with the Eagles until his termination in 2001, which led to a legal dispute resolved out of court. Following his departure, he released his autobiography, “Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001),” in 2008. He also embarked on a solo career, releasing albums like “Airborne” (1983), “Road to Forever” (2012), and “American Rock ‘n’ Roll” (2019). His solo work included collaborations with notable musicians such as Sammy Hagar, Slash, and Peter Frampton. Felder has toured extensively with his band, the Don Felder Band, performing Eagles classics and his solo material. In 2016, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
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