Don Felder experienced a significant surge in fame following the remarkable success of the Eagles’ Hotel California album. As the co-writer of the iconic title track, he was eager to deliver a strong follow-up. However, it took time for Eagles fans to hear his lead candidate, which began to take shape during the recording sessions for what would become the 1979 album, The Long Run. This delay was not due to a lack of creativity on the part of the guitarist. “I composed a really heavy track that Joe [Walsh] and I could perform using ascending chromatic scales and harmonies while trading off solos,” he shared during a recent interview on the UCR Podcast, which you can listen to below.

“In the studio, we recorded a version of it. It was probably the heaviest piece the Eagles had ever attempted to play,” Felder elaborated. “This track was meant for The Long Run, but as we approached the deadline for completion, we found ourselves without lyrics, vocals, or guitar solos, just a basic track. We had to leave and embark on a tour for [the album]. Our jamming sessions were focused on trying to finalize and mix everything, but we simply ran out of time.”

Despite the time constraints, The Long Run fared remarkably well upon its release in the fall of 1979, achieving significant success with three hit singles. One standout, “Heartache Tonight,” co-written by Bob Seger and Glenn Frey, reached No. 1 on the charts and even garnered a Grammy Award. This album ultimately marked the end of an era for the California group, who parted ways after completing their tour for the record.

READ MORE: Discover How the Eagles Overcame Punk, Disco, and Fatigue During ‘The Long Run’

Felder’s proposed song may have been sidelined at the time, but this turned out to be a fortuitous twist of fate. “Later, I received a call from a movie director who wanted me to write a song for an animated film. I went to see the movie, Heavy Metal,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘I have this strong, heavy track that I wrote and recorded for the Eagles.’ Back then, we often used working titles, and that track was nicknamed, ‘You’re Really High, Aren’t You?’ Most likely, we were. [Felder chuckles] Unfortunately, it never materialized. After returning home from the movie, I decided to take that unfinished idea and develop it into a new track. I essentially rewrote it with the same intent. If you listen to ‘Heavy Metal,’ you can envision Joe and I performing those harmonies and trading solos perfectly.”

Experience Don Felder’s New Version of ‘Heavy Metal’

Explore Don Felder’s Latest Album Featuring Hidden Gems from Eagles’ History

Although Felder has been absent from the Eagles since 2001, he continues to create fresh music. His latest album is a fascinating project that reflects on the 50 years (and counting) he has dedicated to the music industry. The Vault: Fifty Years of Music includes songs crafted from his archives alongside tracks composed specifically for this record. Fans can enjoy a new rendition of “Heavy Metal,” as well as rare gems like “Hollywood Victim,” which surfaced during the Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over reunion while they were exploring material for a potential album.

This track has deeper roots still, as an outside contribution put it on hold. “Timothy B. Schmit, [former 38 Special vocalist] Max Carl, a renowned English singer, Paul Carrack, and I were forming a band,” he explained. “We were creating demos when Paul presented a song. We recorded it with him on lead vocals, and all of us contributed harmonies and solos, just as we had for Hell Freezes Over. The song, ‘Love Will Keep Us Alive,’ was drawn from our old demos. However, instead of Paul, who I absolutely adore as a vocalist, Timothy wanted to take the lead. So, we reconstructed the entire track from the ground up. It’s fascinating how elements from different phases of my life have found their way into Eagles records or [ended up ] into the vaults.”

Currently, the guitarist is on tour to celebrate the release of his new album, performing songs from his Eagles legacy as part of the Brotherhood of Rock tour alongside Styx and Kevin Cronin.

Listen to Don Felder on the ‘UCR Podcast’

Discover Don Felder’s ‘Hollywood Victim’