The All-Asshole Band

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, so I admit it: I am addicted to rock docs. Rock books, too. For whatever reason, I seem to be infinitely fascinated by the sordid details — and equally, the boring daily ins-and-outs — of musicians who make it to the top of the pyramid, and I have the bathroom library to prove it. I once read a book about the Grateful Dead, and I HATE THE GRATEFUL DEAD.

So it was that, whilst channel-flipping not long ago, I came across the new documentary The History of the Eagles. I never particularly liked the Eagles, although the way their material transports me back into my 6-year-old self, when they were on every radio station three times an hour, is not altogether unpleasant. And, any way you slice it, The Eagles stood at the summit of Rock Mountain throughout the ’70s, so I was interested in their story. Did they really start as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band? How did Joe Walsh, a successful solo artist in his own right, end up as their second third guitarist? Did they snort all the cocaine in America while making Hotel California, or just most of it?

I got the answers to all these questions in the first half of the documentary. (The second half was about their cynical 1994 reunion and beyond.) But the main takeaway of the whole piece was that both Don Henley and Glenn Frey are huge, huge assholes, and worse, they’re the kind of assholes that say huge asshole things right into a camera totally unaware of their own assholery. By the end of the Eagles’ first run in 1980, they had driven out two of the other three original members, and shortly after the 1994 reunion they got rid of the guy who wrote “Hotel California” because he wanted everyone to be paid the same as Henley and Frey, as the Eagles became the first band to charge more than $100 per ticket for the record-breaking tour. (He submitted to their threat to fire him if he didn’t take less money, and then they fired him anyway.)

I mentioned all this to my wife, who as she always does when I relate third-hand rock lore, did an excellent job of pretending to listen, and then she said, “Someone should make an all-star band of the biggest assholes in rock history.” I love this woman more with every passing day.

So let’s do it! Auditions for The All-Asshole Band start right now!

Lead Singers

Liam Gallagher: Watched his band, Oasis perform on MTV Unplugged from the balcony, claiming he had a sore throat (but really hung over), leaving his brother Noel to sing the songs himself. Bailed on Oasis’ 1996 tour 15 minutes before the plane took off to go look for a new mansion. And in 1997, reached out the window of his limo and threw a cyclist off his bike completely unprovoked.
Axl Rose: Habitually hours late to Guns N’ Roses shows at the band’s early-’90s peak. Once there, likely to jump into the audience and attack uncredentialed photographers. Equally likely to spike the microphone like a football and end a show at any time if the security, or sound mix, or backstage accommodations are not to his liking. Forced original members of G N’ R to sign over use of the band’s name to him or be fired; once accomplished, fired them anyway.
Kanye West: I’ma let you finish….
Mike Love: Browbeat Brian Wilson into abandoning his broadly ambitious double-album “Symphony to God,” Smile, because he thought it had “weird lyrics.” Repeatedly accused of beating his wives and girlfriends. Recently fired Brian Wilson (or, if you want to get technical, elected to tour with his own band as The Beach Boys rather than take the opportunity to continue the surviving Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary tour). And who could ever forget his acceptance speech at the Beach Boys’ 1988 Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction?
Chris Brown: 
Scott Stapp: Singer of Creed, bad enough by itself. Threw a bottle of Orangina at his wife’s head in an argument in 2007. Filmed himself getting blown by a stripper who was also blowing Kid Rock, and let the tape get out to the public. Went onstage so hammered, and gave a performance so bad, Creed became the first band ever sued for a refund.
John Lennon: Left wife, who he later admitted to having beaten, and young son at the height of the Beatles’ career to be with Yoko Ono. Had a bed installed in the Beatles’ recording studio for Yoko Ono. Broke up The Beatles, who he’d already been sabotaging for years through indifference and intransigence. Wrote “How Do You Sleep?” Got thrown out of the Whisky A Go Go for heckling the Smothers Brothers. Stiffed his son, Julian, in his will.

Guitars

Courtney Love: Probably didn’t murder Kurt Cobain, but certainly drove him to suicide. Hit an audience member with a microphone stand. Punched Bikini Kill singer Kathleen Hanna in the face totally unprovoked on the first stop of the 1995 Lollapalooza tour. Overdosed on Oxycontin in the presence of her 10-year-old daughter Frances, who as a teenager would get a restraining order against her. Accused Cobain’s former bandmate Dave Grohl of being “sexually obsessed” with Cobain, and later of trying to seduce 19-year-old Frances. Sold a Nirvana song to Major League Baseball, despite the fact that the song’s author, her deceased husband, loathed sports. Dated Billy Corgan.
Ted Nugent: NRA mouthpiece, outspoken Republican. While still married to his first wife, became legal guardian to his 17-year-old girlfriend in 1978 so he could travel with her. Was the subject of this interview. Said all this ridiculous crap, including: “If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.” Has unfortunately reneged on that promise.
Billy Corgan: Such a control freak that he overdubbed his bandmates’ bass and guitar parts himself. Is on record badmouthing nearly all of his contemporaries, including his former bandmembers, all of whom he’s fired at least once. Accused Soundgarden and Pavement of reuniting purely for the money, right after touring as “The Smashing Pumpkins” with himself and three hired guns, playing no new material. Dated Courtney Love.
Ike Turner: Beat Tina like a house floor tom for years. Was arrested in 1980 for possession of seven grams of cocaine and a live hand grenade. Married 13 times. Estimated having spent $11 million on cocaine. Is responsible for this album cover:
Dave Mustaine: Kicked out of Metallica for drinking too much, which is like getting kicked out of the Indy 500 for speeding. Birther and disciple of radio conspiracy nut Alex Jones. Told an audience that Obama staged the Aurora (‘Dark Knight’) shootings to win support for gun control.
Eddie Van Halen: Drove three different lead singers out of his band. Ended 1998 audition for Limp Bizkit by waving a loaded pistol at the band. Fired bassist for remaining friendly with previously fired singer. Let first fired singer believe he was being re-hired to generate publicity for greatest-hits record, then hired third singer.

Bass

Gene Simmons:

httpv://youtu.be/xXMpo6rrUcI

Sting: Named himself “Sting.” Pointed to his own face and told the director of the “Wrapped Around Your Finger” video, “Just keep the camera on the money.” Sued for songwriting credit on Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing,” based on that “I want my MTV” intro. Always turns “Roxanne” into an 11-minute freeform jazz exploration. All that crap about tantric sex.

Drums

Don Henley: With Glenn Frey, fired all the other original members of The Eagles after years of stifling their songwriting contributions. Famously litigious, suing everyone who looks his way. In 1980, at age 33, called paramedics to attend to a 16-year-old girl who’d overdosed on cocaine and Quaaludes in his home. Continues to perform “Hotel California” even after firing guitarist Don Felder, who wrote every part of the song but the lyrics. Wrote “Dirty Laundry” and “All She Wants To Do is Dance.”
Lars Ulrich: Napster.

Producer

Steve Albini: The list of bands he hasn’t talked shit about would be shorter.
Phil Spector: Held his wife Ronnie Spector hostage in their home for years, locking her in closets and putting a gold coffin with a glass lid in the basement so he could “keep an eye on you after you’re dead.”  Wore a cape in the studio with the Ramones, and then forced them at gunpoint to keep recording. Shot and killed an actress in 2003.
Rick Rubin: Tried to persuade the Black Crowes to change their name to the Kobb Kounty Krows, and wear overalls and chew hay on stage. Tried to bounce Mike D from the Beastie Boys. Insisted the Beastie Boys make another party record like Licensed to Ill, prompting their departure from Def Jam and bringing the Paul’s Boutique album to Capitol.

Manager

Peter Grant: Before a 1977  Led Zeppelin performance in Oakland, brutally beat members of Bill Graham’s staff in a trailer over a misunderstanding involving Grant’s 11-year-old son, then forced Graham to sign a waiver of liability for the man’s near-fatal injuries before going on with the show. Routinely conducted business while brandishing a cricket bat and settled most disputes violently.
And lastly, what should this band be called? The Assholes? The Pricks? The Jerks? All I know is I don’t want to see their rider.
This list is by no means complete. Who would you like to see in the All-Asshole Band? Sound off below, auditions are still open!

20 Comments

  1. Nice post. I have had the same conversation with me wife. I will watch a rock doc about damn near anyone. Just watched the Eagles doc and man, what a bunch of assholes. The way that GF looks right into the camera with that asshole face of his and Don’s smugness cannot be measured. I might add Sebastian Bach to the list, but you have it well covered. It’s my understanding that Rich Robinson from the Black Crows is also a major asshole.

  5. For biggest asshole manager you would be hard pressed to go past one Stan Polley who managed British band Badfinger in the early 70’s. In the short time the original lineup existed they wrote mega hits for themselves and many other artists worldwide. Polley, who was American managed to convince them to forego the spoils of rock stardom in the short-term and and sign over ALL of their income to Polley who would pay them a meager wage with the promise that they eventually receive squillions later on. But as their albums and singles flew up the charts and the entire band lived like pigs in a tiny house-share in the UK, Polley remained stateside and slowly became harder and harder to get a hold of until he virtually disappeared altogether. Main writer and bandleader Pete Ham received a phone call one night in early 1975 and learned ALL the bands money was gone. That very night he hung himself in the house he had bought for himself and his 8 months pregnant wife believing he would never be able to pay it off. The next most visible original member Tom Evans also hung himself about 8 years later.

  6. I just watched the Eagles doc last night. Part I was excellent. Part II was just boring. Sorry, but nothing interesting happened after 1994. They just got back together to make some money. Lots of it.

    And I have to agree, Glenn Frey comes across as a major league asshole in both parts. All the other band members – even Henley at times (no stranger to assholedom himself) – seemed contrite and almost apologetic for some of their behaviour, for some of the things they did/said to the other members over the years. These are 60-something year old men being interviewed remember – it stands to reason they did and said things when they were young that they now regret. Most are man enough to admit it.

    Not Glenn Frey. He openly brags about the times he went at Meisner & Feldner, to the point of becoming physically aggressive, and ultimately forced them from the band. He even comes across as an asshole during footage of their pick-up softball games in the mid-70s, yelling at the one of the other guys (Felder I think) for not running hard enough to first base.

    Then there was the almost-reunion back in 1990, when the other four members spent 3 days rehearsing in the studio waiting for Frey to show up, then he phones and says, “Sorry guys, not coming.” It was all about him, all the time. For the most part, I found Henley to be an asshole only insomuch as he always, ALWAYS sided with Frey. He knew if he and Frey stuck together, they’d win every every battle eventually.

    It continues in Part II, with Glenn Frey first bragging about how he basically bullied Felder into either accepting less money or not being part of the renuion tour. (We’re not talking about a little bit less – Felder wasn’t demanding completely equal pay – we’re talking about 3 times less money than Henley & Frey.) Then Frey brags about throwing him out of the band in 2001, because “Felder was never happy”. Apparently Felder should have been happy about Frey & Henley treating him as a second-class citizen all those years. Felder, for his part, refused to say anything bad about the other guys, even tearing up in the final cut when talking about how much he missed being with the guy, and how much it hurt not to be a part of it anymore.

    There’s always more than what we see. People adopt roles and project images during interviews, and we never get the whole story. But from what I saw, Frey was a bullying, classless, self-centred prick, and was proud of it. And Henley was complicit because he backed Frey in his battles with the other guys, no matter how bad he got, even when they were having their own personal differences.

  7. i think queen had it right when they decided to split all profits and song writing credits four ways. kept them together when other bands were falling apart.

  8. i think queen had it right when they decided to split all profits and song writing credits four ways. kept them together when other bands were falling apart.

    edit: i was googling glenn frey asshole and i stumbled across your site. i agree.

  9. Came across this after watching the eagles doc. No interest in them as a band but got caught up in the misty eyed retrospective tale. Couldn’t decide on Frey but yeah, the treatment of Felder was appalling from arguing that he was ‘never promised a song’ to claiming that their 80s career kept the name of the Eagles going (lol) and when someone fought for equal pay after essentially contributing more than 50% to the defining hit that made them all so wealthy and famous. Well, I’d rather side with Feldman. Turns out they tried to squash all kinds of lovely rumours about themselves also.

  11. What a wonderful site/blog w/e it’s called now, but I agree Henley is a pompous arse and Frey was a total unmitigated douche. They screwed Felder who has shown himself to be a 100% class act. Joe Walsh, an overall beaten man trying to live out his life, doesn’t have the balls to tell the truth about what he knows. Schmidt just lives an unassuming private life with a mere $15 million net worth, a smart guy. Henley is a total dickhead. Go on youtube. He spends more on his lawyers there taking songs down than he loses in royalties with the songs up on there. Thanks for the opportunity to speak my mind about what a complete phony Henley is. Oh, yah! If you watch carefully, you’ll see most of his vocals on Hell Freezes Over are overdubbed. Total POS!

  12. In the History of the Eagles documentary, it’s obvious Frey & Henley on many levels aren’t honest with themselves. Walsh stated they “were all alphas”. If that’s the case & 3-4 days practicing on 1990, why didn’t Walsh implore his brother-in-law, Ringo Starr to take the drums, Schmidt, Henley & Leadon (if Randy was healthy enough to join in, definitely) “GO FOR IT, rename the band (leave these 2 asses behind-let them since they both Frey & Henley
    start their own new band. “When Frey decided FINALLY in 1994 make a new band, geez”!)

    Born in Southern L.A. myself, WHO did Frey & Henley “think they were” proclaiming, “we’re The Eagles from Southern California”? Sorry, “NO, NEITHER OF YOU ARE… YOU’RE ‘IMPLANTS FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN & LINDEN, TEXAS”! We’re they ashamed of their “true backgrounds”? They “built the Eagles as being from Southern California
    BS!!

    Frey was exactly one month younger than me, yet on the documentary Frey claims he was a sophmore in high school in 1968, makes no sense to me, we were same age, yet I graduated from high school 12th grade in June 1966. Why was Glenn Frey only in 10th grade in 1968? (??)

    Timothy B Schmidt needs to “believe more in himself”, watching him “rock out” (Meisers’ incredible high in “Take it to the Limit”, among other songs Randy sang; Walsh & Felder (with Timothy) is the reason I continue to watch this documentary over & over.. eventually it hit me what “total egotistically Frey & Henley are!! SHAMEFUL DON HENLEY, SINCE FREY HAS MET HIS MAKER… WONDER HOW FREY NEGOTIATED WITH HIS MAKER? (Perhaps a bit harsh, yet Glenn was a full-on BULLY in life).
    Yes, good songwriter they were, however SO were Schmidt, Felder & Walsh….

    Towards the end of part 2 of this documentary, Freys’ wife, Cindy seemingly “wanted/tried to claim” a song of J.D. Southers…. surprised or perhaps we’ve not read the end of that claim. Hopefully J.D. Souther stood his ground on that song being “his”!! Apparently Frey married an equally “selfess woman in Cindy”.. she & Glenns’ children trying to take other songwriters songs.. KNOCK IT OFF..

    Personally i can thank Frey & Henley with other Eagle band mates ONCE for helping Randy Meisner by covering one of his hospitalizations.. (all monetary assistance from all band mates of then The Eagles”).. oh WOW! Thank you? Probably made Randy feel like it was a “loan”?? Certainly a lot can’t really be determined now that Frey is gone.. Henley knows… think he’d ever be honest about it all.. they (Frey & Henley) seemingly proudly stated in the documentary (more or less) how superior they were to other bandmates… demanding more money.. unbelievable!

    I watch the documentary ONLY to see Timothy B Schmidt “rock out” (like a true rocker often closing eyes & just rocking out to the music), Walsh & Felder , “incredible guartists’ “!!

    Think Timothy B Schmidt, Don Felder, Joe Walsh (Walshs’ bro-in-law, Ringo Starr on drums & ?? Replace Henley!!

    Have listened to Deacon Frey, now clear why they brought in Vince Gill for vocals. Deacon not all that great on vocals & can’t seem to play guitar & ding at same time.

    East/West shows next month (July 2017) sound like quite the “line up”… with Gill, the Eagles should be okay.. plus people attending aren’t all that “inept” to clearly hear closely.. just “having a great time attending the concert”…

    I don’t understand who/which Dr. Glenn Frey was listening to that ultimately led to his death. Not only am I a month older than Frey, I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, diagnosed
    2 years before Frey & have my problems that go along with the RA, I understand the complications associated with it. Did Frey again feel/think he could escape the side effects of RA? RA side effects ARE ulcerative colitis & pneumonia!! My Drs have told me if I ever again require “major surgery”, don’t expect to ever come out of the anesthesia. Simple as that… take care of yourself!! Obviously Glenn didn’t or felt he could beat it by having parts of his intestines cut out, NO!! YOU CAN’T DO THAT….. YOUR LUNGS CANT/ WON’T ALLOW YOU TO!!

    Would love to see Joe, Don Felder, Timothy, Bernie, maybe Ringo & Vince Gill create their own band!! Who needs Henley (talking out both sides of his mouth… referring to Don Felder as “Mr. Felder”, yet stating “a child/person picking up drum sticks just wants to be accepted”. What the he’ll is wrong with you Henley? Granted perhaps Felder shouldn’t sing…. think he’s better on the guitar than you are at both drums & vocals….
    Bottom line is “it all equals out”, get over yourself, apologize to Felder before either of you are too late… like Frey!! ENOUGH OF HOW GREAT YOU ARE OVER EVERYONE ELSE!! How embarrassing for your children, Henley.. actually they “May not care since your obvious GREED has “left them millionaires”!! Overall very SAD!!

    It’s unfortunate & sad, I pick up more & more
    (attitudes, etc) each time I watch this. Then I follow up with my thoughts & Google to see if I’m the only person to come to these conclusions…. Obviously I’m NOT alone.

    Irving Azoff, another one, why didn’t Irving set Frey & Henley straight? Was he, also fearful of being terminated if he opened his mouth?

    Listening to the documentary while writing… Glenn just stated “all the undercurrent of tensions & so on within the band”, hey dude (Frey) YOU CREATED IT ALL°

    Lastly, wish they weren’t so greedy & domination (Frey & Henley)…. feel Joe, Timothy & Irving truly feared being terminated if they even “had a thought”… they obviously kept it to themselves…..

    HIGHLY UNFORTUNATE OVERALL!!!

    *Can only add a footnote for Don Felder … be thrilled your music, instrumental abilities likely “kept Felder “out of the Vietnam War” (actually all members were of age to be ‘drafted’ as many of our Veterans were & so very many that never came home”??

    Quick question, if Frey & Henley were in the same situation they left Linda Ronstate in, would these two be as “gracious as Linda was”, NO, I think definitely NOT , OBVIOUSLY!!

    DIFFICULT TO “WRAP ONE’S MIND AROUND” & SO SAD & UNFORTUNATE!!

    HENLEY, PLEASE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENTARY…. YOUR PERSONAL , BAD, & EGOTISTICAL!! BE HONEST… APOLOGIZE TO FELDER & OTHER BAND MEMBERS THAT WITHOUT YOU WOULDN’T BE WHERE YOU ARE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY & LIFE….. IT’S PAST TIME YOU “GET OVER IT”!! Bottom line!!

  13. Good list, accept for a few key points where your excuse is “they said things about Obama”
    Obama was a seedy bastard and he kept hillarys emails to blackmail her 😀

    Yeah Fuck Obama and Killary

  14. Brilliant. Great knowledge. Death to corporate rock.
    Producer:
    Manager (honorable mentions): Don Arden, Irv “Mr Corporate” Azoff, Dee Anthony, Ron DeCline, Don Arden.
    Promoter: Harvey Goldsmith
    Hypocrite: Eric Clapton

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