Music Monday ~ EAGLES

Last week we watched History of the Eagles a 3+ hour film in 2 parts, now available on Netflix. It was a slog, but an interesting one. I've always enjoyed the Eagles' 1970s hits but knew little about the band members. The band formed in 1971. What intrigued me most about the Eagles' story was the enmity that grew between band members leading to the band's break-up with the declaration that they'd get back together only "when Hell freezes over". They did get back together though.

From indications in the film (all I have to go on) it seemed to me that a major source of antipathy involved in the first exit of a member, was between Glen Frey (RIP) and guitarist Bernie Leadon; much later more problems arose and guitarist Don Felder was fired. It's not easy to keep the line-up straight, time-wise.

Frey and Leadon were two of the band's founding members; Don Henley and Randy Meisner were the other founders. Leadon left in 1975, with much bad feeling involved. I decided to look at Frey's and Leadon's natal charts, so sharp was the antagonism that showed clearly through film clips. Part of their disagreement stemmed from Glen Frey's wish for the band to veer more away from country flavours and towards rock than had been the case thus far. Leadon seemed not to agree and preferred the blue grass/country styles, found rock guitar not really his "thang". I suspect the rift went deeper than this though. A bit of political disagreement also? (Just guessing).

After Leadon left the band Joe Walsh took his place; Don Felder joined too at some point.

I've used 12 noon charts, as the time given by astro.com for Frey has a DD rating (dirty data) and there's no time of birth available for Leadon.

Glen Frey born on 6 November 1948 in Detroit Michigan

Bernie Leadon born on 19 July 1947 in Minneapolis Minnesota

Out of respect for the recently deceased Glen Frey, I'm looking only for a possible astrological source of their antagonism towards one another, not interpreting the charts in general.

I have my sights on natal Mars in opposition: Frey's at 14.53 Sagittarius, Leadon's at 13.02 Gemini directly opposite. Their initial compatibility (which I assume must have existed) could have come from Leadon's natal Jupiter conjunct Frey's Sun.

Both had natal Sun in a Water sign: Frey's in Scorpio, Leadon's in Cancer, indicating to me that Frey was likely to have been the harder headed, and more determined of the two, as well as better business minded, if his natal Moon was, as seems likely, in Capricorn.

In general, it's interesting to see that the Eagles' 4 founding members all had natal Suns in Water signs: Frey Scorpio, Henley Cancer, Leadon Cancer, Meisner Pisces. Joe Walsh, who replaced Leadon had Scorpio Sun (20 Nov 1947). Don Felder (21 September 1947) had Sun in Virgo. Timothy B. Schmit, the only native Californian in the band, joined later on, he has Sun in Scorpio too (30 October 1947). So, a Scorpio thread runs through the Eagles. The eagle is an alternative symbol to the scorpion for zodiac sign Scorpio. Hmmm.
I wonder if Glen Frey, Don Henley, or maybe others of the band had an interest in astrology.

This, from here.

The title track for 1973’s Old West-themed Desperado, which had been rattling around in Henley’s head since at least 1968, originally had an astrological bent. Frey remembers his initial lyric as, "Leo, my God, why don’t you come to your senses?"

According to the film the band's name was the result of band members, in the group's very early days, taking a hike up a mountain, with lots of peyote in their pockets. Frey (I think it was) needed to relieve himself, and in the process, in looking up to the sky saw an eagle hovering.

A couple of their songs: first, a favourite of mine, from the time when Leadon was still part of the band (at heart I'm a country gal, just not a Republican country gal!)




And their main hit after Joe Walsh and Don Feldon joined : Hotel California