The Don Felder Site » Hotel California

Dutch Treat

Felderfans — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:23:21 +0000

Guitar players in the Netherlands can pick up the January 2012 issue of Gitarist magazine and start working up their cover of Hotel California. The latest issue, which comes out today, includes a transcription and an accompanying interview with Don.

More at gitarist.nl online.

Birth of the Felder Burst

Felderfans — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:12:35 +0000

Quite remarkable that in less than a month’s time, Gibson has introduced not one but TWO signature Don Felder guitars.

Gibson announced on their website the newest Don Felder custom ’59 Les Paul Standard model on Wednesday and has since added a second feature interview with Don which reveals how he created the song “Hotel California” using his favorite Les Paul.

To listen to what the signature Don Felder model sounds like and get a close up of the goodies inside the case, check out this posting at the mylespaul.com forum. Then shuffle down to your local Gibson showroom for a test solo.

Welcome to the Hotel Californiagara Falls

Felderfans — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:28:56 +0000

Yesterday was the first of Don’s three “Evenings at the Hotel California” at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.

To summarize, according to feedback we’ve received, the band displayed superb stage presence and complimented Don seamlessly, delivering “a very well-packaged show” which “left the audience wanting more.” Interestingly, the songs “Victim of Love” and “Witchy Woman” were singled out for their tightness, including vocals.

And, because people want to know, yes, the accomplished percussionist behind the congas is in fact Don’s son, Cody Felder.

Tickets: Don Felder’s Evening at the Hotel California, August 27 & August 28 at the Fallsview. Both shows start at 9:00 pm.

Archive photo: Jesse Knish

Random Riffs

Felderfans — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:28:41 +0000

New cover of Hotel California due – Bernie Leadon re-issue – Joe Walsh in German mag

You really can never leave: The Killers will release a single cover version of Hotel California on November 30th. Their latin-y take found on YouTube previously appeared on the covers album Rhythms del Mundo earlier this year ( UltimateGuitar.com) . . . . BGO Records has reissued RUN C&W’s albums in a two-disc set. Don’s Eagles ex-bandmate Bernie Leadon was involved in the project, which spawned “Into the Twangy-First Century” (1993) and “Row Vs. Wade” (1995) (WestCoastMusic ) . . . . . fans of Joe Walsh in Germany might want to pick up this month’s Gitarre & Bass magazine. G&B pinned him and his guitar tech down during the Eagles 2009 European Tour for a peek behind the scenes.

Don Kicks Off 2010 Concerts in Niagara Falls

Felderfans — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:01:57 +0000

Don will be returning with his “Evening at the Hotel California” show to the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario for three nights in January, 2010. Tickets go on sale this Friday, October 9 via Ticketmaster.

Thursday, January 7 — Showtime: 8:30pm
Friday, January 8, and Saturday, January 9 — Showtime: 9pm
Tickets start at $20. Venue Information

Digital Deja-Vu

Felderfans — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:37:10 +0000

45 RPM single anno 1977

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the 45 rpm-vinyl single disc, Rhino is offering digital downloads of songs originally issued as 45s together with their original “B” sides, with 31 songs making their digital debut. iTunes will have 60 digital singles available, among them six exclusive never-released “B” sides, and offer the original artwork as a downloadable PDF file, when available. Rhino expects to issue 25 digital singles a month.

The Eagles’ original single Hotel California / Pretty Maids All in a Row is among the first bundles to go virtual. Incidentally for Eagles fans, there’s a second digital offering: Take it Easy / Get You in the Mood happens to be one of the six exclusives with the rare “B” side not available on any album.

Browse the complete list at Rhino. Each single links directly to iTunes.

Ein Besuch im Hotel California*

Felderfans — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:32:49 +0000

* A Visit to the Hotel California

Last week (5/21), the German cultural radio station Deutchlandfunk broadcast a feature dealing with the myth surrounding the origin of the song Hotel California. It’s an interesting report about an actual “Hotel California” in Todos Santos in Baja California, Mexico, reputed to be “the” hotel which inspired the Eagles’ greatest hit.

Today, not only the hotel, but other merchants in the area as well still cash in on the tales of a connection between the band and the hotel. The story features several references to Don’s book, underscoring the spirit behind the rock and roll folklore which even today continues drawing tourists to Todos Santos from north of the border.

There’s a transcription of the program along with the audio file in German (of course!) available on the Deutschlandfunk site. For an online translation into English, click here.

What Goes Around Comes Around

Felderfans — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:12:46 +0000

The Eagles’ million-selling Hotel California album will be re-released on 180-gram vinyl on October 21.

We know what it means to be held hostage by progress. We bought the original over thirty years ago. We got a second one on 8-track (remember those?) to listen to in our car in 1978. Then we had to have it as a music cassette to play on the brand new Walk-Man back in the day. Of course, we upgraded it to a CD when they came out around 1986. And who’s without it in mp3 format today?

So it’s back to square one, because you can check out any format you want, but you can never leave.