Former Eagles will not be honored by the Kennedy Center later this year.

[WalshGirl]

Has anyone followed this story? Anyway, it appears only the four main Eagles will be honored later this year. The article reads, in part:

Apparently, it’s not just the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that creates controversy over which former members of a band can be honored. The Kennedy Center has responded to a petition that sought to include ex-Eagles Don Felder, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner when the band receives the Kennedy Center Honors later this year.

Despite 10,301 signatures, the petition has been denied after running it by the surviving members of the band. In a statement on the petition’s official change.org page, Brandon Butler, who started the movement, forwarded a statement by Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter.

It read, “The Kennedy Center consulted with the Eagles and through that discussion, it was determined that the four band members who ‘carried the torch’ — Don Henley, the late Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit, and Joe Walsh — will be awarded the Honors. We appreciate that there will be some debate about who constitutes the Eagles. This determination does not discredit the contributions of former band members.”

Read More: Former Eagles Will Not Receive Kennedy Center Honors | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eagle...ckback=tsmclip

[Freypower]

We have a topic on this.

https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/foru...ead.php?t=5783

[WalshGirl]

We have a topic on this.

https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/foru...ead.php?t=5783

Thank you!

[Delilah]

Has anyone followed this story? Anyway, it appears only the four main Eagles will be honored later this year. The article reads, in part:

Read More: Former Eagles Will Not Receive Kennedy Center Honors | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eagle...ckback=tsmclip

Walshgirl, I wish I had posted my comment about the petition here like you did. I welcome those posts relating specifically to this topic being moved here. That way it won't bring down the vibe of what's supposed to be a celebratory thread, as someone else pointed out, and those who have opted out of that thread don't have to feel excluded. Meanwhile, those of us who are sad and disappointed by the petition can express ourselves without the snipes and insults.

Btw, thanks for the link. Some pretty strong opinions are expressed in the comments.

[East Texas Girl]

Would love to see them all honored in this way, especially the founding members; but alas it is not my call. We just have to remember that without the input from all 7 of the Eagles they would not have the success they have today. Thanks for all the music they have provided us over the years!

[UndertheWire]

I've listened to recent interviews with Timothy, Joe and Don Henley and although they seem fine when talking about their solo projects, when it comes to the Eagles and Glenn, they still sound wounded. It's a reminder of how close they were and that they probably think of the four of them as a unit and are maybe not ready to consider the bigger picture.

[UndertheWire]

I'm quoting part of a post from the Felder press thread.

I finding it upsetting that three Eagles who were part of the band in its most artistic and productive period are not included in the honors. I feel upset that the current group feels they are "carrying the torch" and aren't honest enough with themselves to admit that the torch was lit a long time ago and every single one of those guys struck a match.

Mostly I'm upset that the best selling, most accomplished American band won't take the high road and allow each member to be honored, that they can't see what a statement they could make by honoring the best of each of them and letting go of the worst. That's what really makes me sad, and it disappoints me that fans want to carry some of the same old wounds and attack each other and Members of the Eagles. JMO

I don't find it helpful to get upset over something over which I have no control. Would I have liked to see all seven honoured? Yes, but it's not going to happen and there's nothing I can do to change that so I've moved on.

I know there were people who tried to make a change by organising that petition, but from the start I've thought that it would only harden attitudes. It's like with children when the more you push them to say "sorry" or "thank you", the more entrenched they become. Generally, an approach that allows everyone to save face will be more successful.

The problem with the petition is that the organisers and its supporters made it a battle that they were trying to "win" on behalf of Felder, Meisner and Leadon and see Henley and Frey defeated. In doing so, they've ensured that everyone loses.

What noone can stop is for each of us to honour whoever we choose. If you watch the tributes, there is nothing to stop you including the other band members in your thoughts. Hopefully, the introduction will cover the entire band.

As for social media, particularly Don Felder's Facebook page, I'm always amazed by the ignorance of those fans who seem to believe the band starts and ends with Hotel California.

[sodascouts]

No online petition was going to change anything. Those things are a dime a dozen, and if you don't get at least 100,000 signatures, you're not considered worth noting. This one got some press because Felder himself promoted it and it was still unable to get anywhere near that number.

Regardless, as I said, it was never going to change anything. The Kennedy Center is not a popular awards ceremony driven by the desires of the fans. It owes nothing to the fans. It is for the artists.

I do feel bad for the other former Eagles, but I understand the decision. I hope people can accept it and move on.

[Delilah]

I don't find it helpful to get upset over something over which I have no control.

Neither is it helpful to get upset over what complete strangers say in the comments section on Felder's Facebook page, another thing over which we have no control. However, because we are humans and not robots, we are going to be upset when we believe something is unfair and unjust, especially when it comes at the expense of people we love and admire. It would be helpful to be able express these emotions, especially in a forum titled "Former Eagles," without tacitly being told to shut up about it.

It stands to reason those of us who are disappointed by this will move on and get over it. It is hardly the crisis of the century. What is NOT helpful is being told to get over it all the while pouring salt into the wound by referring to the petition as pointless or childish, or nothing more than a vehicle to "defeat" Henley or Frey.

No doubt many people signed the petition knowing it would not effect any real change, but we did it to make our voices heard and to stand up for three people we believe to be to be very talented musicians--singers, songwriters, instrumentalists--who played their own substantial roles in the success of the band and are part of the reason why the band made such a cultural impact. At the very least it did raise awareness and helped remind people that yes, indeed, there were 3 other Eagles and they still matter to a whole lot of fans.

[Vector]

Wow, it has been about 3 years since I last came to this forum and so much has changed. The biggest and of course saddest news is the passing of Frey just about a year ago. I thought of coming back then, but had lost track of the forum for a spell, and was not really in any type of mood to think about the loss. Poor Meisner also had his share of heartache losing his wife to the tragic accident.

I must say that having just watched a few snippets of the Kennedy Award show where the former band members were not invited, really is another new low.
It of course was appropriate to have Frey's wife there to represent him. However, I read a few weeks prior that Henley had made the decision not to include Leadon, Meisner, nor Felder for the ceremony, which is sadly typical of him.
Even Frey's passing and thus staring his own mortality in the mirror didn't allow Henley to get past his own pettiness.

For all we know, poor Randy might not have been healthy enough (physically or mentally) to attend, but he still should have been invited. The same is true of Leadon and Felder. The Eagles would obviously never have been as successful for it not for those three members.
Thus it was very fitting to have all 7 of them together at the R&R HOF induction.
This time around it should have been all 6, with Frey represented via his family.

It really sickens me to think my favorite band no longer holds the same respect I use to have for them. This last bit of disrespect and pettiness toward the rest of the group is beyond explanation. Even the biggest Henley apologist cannot defend it with a straight face.
Needless to say this comment does not apply to every member equally, though each has their own shortcomings/faults (except maybe Timmy)
If Joe & Timmy had a say/vote, I'd bet they would have overruled Henley and said lets invite everyone. But with Henley now being the sole owner of the Eagle's franchise, doing the right thing was not going to happen.