I see a lot of criticism on their reviews, it seems people got their feelings hurt or offended bye the perspective that was given predominantly by the two founding members besides establishing the band, they also wrote most of the music... if you liked the album Hotel California it's because they created the theme and the story that the songs would tell-that's in the documentary in case you missed all this). Felder was not kicked out of the band because he had opposing political views, he had a growing dissension that culminated that night in 1980 at a benefit concert. Oh, and also in the documentary, they all stated that after the hotel California album Danny we're pretty much on the way to breaking up and they were burned out and worn out. I thought it was very honest and very revealing since none of them claimed to be the Risen examples of perfection. Put it in perspective kids. They were young, mostly single horny and partying Young Musicians making more money than they ever thought they would make in their lives. All the criticisms seem very personal, as if sensibilities and feelings got bruised. Let's not forget that from 1971 through 1977 they created and released music and songs that have become part of many many peoples soundtrack of their lives. If you are surprised that they are not perfect and they are flawed human beings who happen to have incredible Talent, that you missed the entire point of the documentary. Period.

I found this on Netflix streaming movies. I am roughly the same age as most of the member of the Eagles group, I have some recollection of hearing their songs back in the 1970s but nothing more. I knew absolutely nothing about them. I had no idea who Glen Frey and Don Henley were in the 1970s.Jump to the 2000s, maybe 10 or 12 years ago, a friend gave me the DVD of the Eagles returning to performing as a group in 1994, "Hell Freezes Over", because they once had said hell would have to freeze over before they reunited.The DVD itself is great, it gives a bit of the preparation they went through to get a few new songs and get concert ready. They coined the inside phrase "are you puking?" because that is the feeling they were to get as they were nervous about performing again in front of a big audience. So I only knew them as 40-something men, clean-cut and business- like. But this documentary "History of the Eagles" shows them starting out as kids, in their early 20s, scruffy with long hair and a few beards. And then there was Joe Walsh, by his later admission always on drugs and/or alcohol during his waking hours, a talented musician who loved to trash hotel rooms just for the fun. I believe he said his record was $28,000 damage to one room. As Henley says, many hotels banned them from ever returning. But they obviously had talent and they pooled their talent to become one of the most successful groups of the 1970s. Their "Hotel California" will likely live forever. The film also traces their issues with managers, producers, and recording companies. And how strong personalities caused them to quit in 1980.Now late in life the biggest revelation is Joe Walsh, he was forced by Henley and Frey to enter rehab before they would try to reunite. Walsh now says they saved his life and in fact he is a much nicer person in old age.Now I am an even bigger fan of the Eagles. This film documents what they went through, but I suppose it isn't greatly different from what many similar bands went through during that period. Or perhaps any period!

There was a lot of speculation on the "Why the Eagles split up" and without giving too much away this does answer a lot.Some people have said in musical fields that Glen Frey is an ego- maniacal, glory-seeking, talentless musician. The reality is between Glen Frey, Don Henley, Timothy Schmitt, Randy Meisner, J.D. Souther and Jackson Browne, the Eagles possibly have more hits than most bands could hope for since the Beatles.There is a feeling of an arrogant man in the way Glen Frey presents himself and as the movie clearly states it was not until Frey decided he was ready that The Eagles could reform and play again. The different ventures each went on and the use of musicians in Henley's solo career such as Pino Palladino certainly give Henley more musical kudos in some circles than Frey will ever get, but the reality is together they wrote great songs. The same was said of Lennon and McCartney in other ways.Simply as the title of this summary says, he that writes owns. Any musician ever involved with any label or record company as it used to be known, knew that "He that pays owns". This is no different. So basically,they can do whatever they like. The glue that holds them together is the songs and if I was to pick the most likable person and peacemaking soul that holds the band together, where humanly possible, it would be Timothy B Schmitt who Frey could take some humility lessons from because he comes across as what his critics say in paragraph #2.All that said and done, it is one of the better historical and pedagogical films made and worth watching if you liked the Eagles music which I did. There are sad moments and one cannot help but feel sadness at youthful ignorance and the pitfalls of the industry, but it is a great eye opener and worth the money to buy the DVD. :)

The reviewers before me have pretty much summed this film up. I would put my money on 80% of the viewing demographic will have grown up with the Eagles and many of them, like myself, would know them first and foremost for their music. All of us have heard snippets of stories and probably read differing opinions as to how they imploded and reassembled and then generally just came and went again at random. Many of us would have been to a concert, possibly more than one and seen them in the flesh, marveling again at their magical ability to blend voices and instruments into some of the best music produced in modern times. This documentary knits it all together. There will be millions of words written online over the coming months and perhaps years critiquing this film for better or for worse.I have adopted the stance that this is a group of musicians that are just as human as all the rest of us, extraordinarily gifted in their chosen fields and were at the intersection of preparation and opportunity just at the right time. The addition of a copious amount of personal home movie footage, some never aired before adds the essential layer to the production and wraps the package up like a tightly constructed wine. I'm sure there are many who will be watching this who will see themselves in the background of some of the footage, even at the third encores and will will be gasping in their living rooms grateful for the fact that the passage of time is the best camouflage for human recognition. Could you just imagine..." OMG Mom, I don't believe you did that ! How am I going to explain this to my friends !! "