Jimmy Page, Steve Miller Watch Don Felder Perform ‘Hotel California’
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Jimmy Page, Steve Miller and Don Felder at the Met Museum’s Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll, April 1, 2019 (Photo © Greg Brodsky; used with permission)
It’s not every day that such rock icons as Jimmy Page, Steve Miller and Don Felder are humbled about their place in the classic rock pantheon. But such was the case on April 1, 2019, when the classic rock stars appeared at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to help usher in the first major exhibition in an art museum dedicated entirely to the iconic instruments of rock and roll.
The exhibit—Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll—which ran from April 8 through October 1, was a must-see for any serious classic rock fan, with more than 130 instruments played by such artists as Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Prince, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr (one of his Beatles drum kits), Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Who, and dozens of others.
The Who stage set-up (Photo via The Met Museum; used with permission)
And, of course, legendary guitars from Misters Page, Miller and Felder, as well as Talking Heads’ Tina Weymouth, who also attended.
At the event, Felder, born Sept. 21, 1947, performed his iconic guitar solo from Eagles’ “Hotel California.” Knowing he would be under the gaze of his fellow icons, he admitted: “I’ve played for hundreds of thousands of people and I’ve never been so nervous as I am now.” (Watch it below.)
[The Met Museum announced that the exhibition had already topped 500,000 attendees.]
Rick Nielsen’s Custom Five-Neck (Photo © Greg Brodsky; used with permission)
Visitors were able to get close to many of rock’s most celebrated instruments—most are housed in plexiglass fixtures—as Prince’s 1993 “Love Symbol” electric guitar, Rick Nielsen’s 1981 custom five-neck, and John Entwistle’s eight-string custom Explorer bass guitar.
Some of the other jaw-dropping highlights: Bruce Springsteen’s modified Fender, composed of a Telecaster body and an Esquire neck, his primary instrument in countless live performances and recordings dating from 1972. It’s the one slung over his back on the Born to Run album cover.
Keith Richards’ “Micawber” Fender electric Telecaster, given to him for his birthday in 1970 by Eric Clapton; “Keef” first used it to record the Stones’ Exile on Main Street.
Eddie Van Halen’s “Frankenstrat” (Photo © Greg Brodsky; used with permission)
Eddie Van Halen’s legendary composite guitar, “Frankenstrat,” so named because he pieced it together from modified factory seconds and mismatched odd-lot parts.
Each of the press event’s VIPs spoke reverentially about the occasion. Page spoke about “the phenomenon of electric guitar music” and shared how the “rockabilly of Elvis Presley changed my life. This day, today, is something I never would have dreamed of my whole life.”
Miller mused: “You’re probably wondering what’s ‘The Joker’ doing [here]? This is an exhibit only The Met could bring together.” He was quite taken with the exhibition: “All these people… you feel their presence… all these great artists. It’s really powerful. I’m really moved.” He pledged to donate his 1961 Les Paul, given to him decades ago by Leslie West, to the museum’s education department.
Related: Later that year, Miller performed to an intimate gathering at the Met
Watch Felder perform the “Hotel California” guitar solo at the event, to the appreciation of fellow icons Page and Miller
Here’s a photo we took of Page, at far left, looking on while Felder performed.
(Photo © Greg Brodsky; used with permission)
Max Hollein, Director of The Met, said: “’Play It Loud’ celebrates a formative chapter in 20th-century art and culture, and the extraordinary objects featured in this presentation convey the innovation, experimentation, passion, and rebellion at the heart of rock and roll. The exhibition allows us to appreciate the artistry of the instruments as well as their powerful role in the creation and expression of rock’s legendary sound and identity.”
Organized thematically, “Play It Loud” explores how musicians embraced and advanced emerging technologies; the phenomenon of the “Guitar Gods”; the crafting of a visual identity through the use of instruments; and the destruction of instruments in some live performances, one of rock’s most defining gestures. The exhibition also included Jimi Hendrix’s electric guitar “Love Drops,” originally decorated by him, and Eric Clapton’s “Blackie.”
Jimmy Page, in his dragon-embroidered costume, 1975 (Photo: Kate Simon via The Met Museum; used with permission)
Additional highlights: Chuck Berry’s electric guitar ES-350T (1957), which was his primary guitar from 1957 until about 1963 and was used to record “Johnny B. Goode”; Keith Emerson’s keyboard rig, consisting of the customized Moog Modular Synthesizer, electric tone-wheel organ, and rotary speakers; a reconstructed performance rig from Eddie Van Halen as it appeared onstage in 1978; Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Number One” composite stratocaster, which was his main instrument throughout his career; and Page’s dragon-embroidered costume (Los Angeles, 1975)—the elaborately hand-embroidered suit took over a year to complete and Page wore it during Led Zeppelin’s live performances from 1975 to 1977.
The exhibition was organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (It traveled to the HoF’s museum in Cleveland, later that year.)
13 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThe dumbest thing the Eagles ever did was get rid of Felder. And the dumbest thing Don Henley continues to do is avoid reconciling with Felder so he can get back in the band.
You are right. The biggest mistake Henley and Frey EVER made.✌
Nailed it. I hear people talk about how great the Eagles are without Felder and I wonder if we’re listening to the same music. The Hell Freezes Over recording is far superior to anything the Eagles, sans Felder have even thought about doing.
I agree he should be in band but their live shows right now are ridiculously amazing.
I won’t even get into the internal politics/drama of the Eagles, but suffice to say Don Felder is an excellent guitarist, and often overlooked (It was his 12-string that set the stage on the Hotel California title track).
I saw Don Felder perform live about 3 years ago, and, as of then, was still playing exquisitely.
He reportedly had a young Tom Petty as a student, while teaching guitar lessons in their mutual hometown of Gainesville, FL.
Baybluesman,
Interesting tidbit you’ve shared regarding Don Felder teaching guitar lessons to a young Tom Petty.
Understanding is Felder also taught members of band the Eagles on playing guitar early on, as well.
For that Felder gets shown the door years later by Henley & Frey, how un-grateful on their part.
Don Felder is a great & tasteful guitar player but should leave the lead vocals to someone else; no wonder he & Frey/Henley butted heads about singing leads on Eagles tunes.
I agree Felder pulls off some wild moves with his guitar playing. But the vocals and harmonies are still owned by Don Henley and Frey. Listen to Frey’s solo albums, he is a true crooner and luckily his son got some of those vocal genes!
It would be neat to see them all perform again.
For sure. He obviously uses autotune extensively these days but that wasn’t available in this venue. As great as his playing is its almost painful listening to him try to sing.
Yes – Felder should avoid singing altogether and just hire someone with genuine singing ability.
Had he either accepted his role in The Eagles and never made any effort to sing at all or put in the time and effort to develop his singing and songwriting like George Harrison, it might’ve been a very different story for him.
I have Over the Years Appreciated the Exquisite Musical Talents and Outgoing Personality of Don Felder.. I hope Don will soon Schedule a Tour here in Northern California possibly Saratoga Mountain Winery with a Beautiful Outdoor Venue..Love to See!
Frey was the leader…Eagles was HIS band. He was insanely jealous of Felder’s playing skills and knowledge. Even Walsh was in awe of him but could play off him very well unlike Frey…the VOICE… Of course Henley went along with Glenn, they were the lyricists and owned the publishing rights, but it was the riff that started the song HC. Just look at Walsh’s riff for life in the fast lane. Too bad politics got in the way…(greed)….really sorry it had to end a great band that way. I would love to see Felder and Walsh join up again for something…you know it would be killer!!!!!!
Felder was actually friends with Bernie Leadon back in Gainesville, Florida, and they were in a band together called The Maundy Quintet, but there is no evidence to suggest that he taught guitar to the other Eagles.
He was not even one of the original members and he was not fired from the band by Frey or Henley out of malice or greed – the reason that they gave for terminating him for disruption of band activities.