Ex-Eagle Sues Band’s Founders Over Termination

The frequently stormy history of the Eagles has taken another combative turn, this one pitting co-founders Don Henley and Glenn Frey against guitarist Don Felder, who joined the hugely popular band in 1974.

Felder, 53, sued Henley and Frey in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, claiming he was wrongly booted out of the group earlier last week at a “sham board of directors meeting.”

In the suit, he seeks an accounting of all business transactions--including record royalties, touring revenue, publishing royalties and merchandising--made by Eagles Ltd. since he became a “shareholder” in 1974.

Felder, who co-wrote the band’s landmark song “Hotel California” with Henley and Frey, is also seeking to liquidate Eagles Ltd., citing the “dissension among the two factions of shareholders” and claiming Henley and Frey have abused their authority.

Daniel Petrocelli, who represents Henley and Frey, said “the action to terminate Mr. Felder’s relations was taken in the best interest of the Eagles.” He declined to comment on the reasons for Felder’s termination.

Felder claims in the suit that Henley, 53, and Frey, 52, have left him out of the mix when it comes to decisions pertaining to Eagles Ltd. He says they have abused their authority and have acted unfairly toward him and former band members Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon. The band’s other members at present are guitarist Joe Walsh and bassist Timothy B. Schmit.

The Eagles broke up in 1982 but re-formed in the mid-’90s, and their “Hell Freezes Over” tour in 1994 was one of the biggest-grossing tours in pop history. At 27 million copies, the Eagles’ “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975” is also the biggest selling album ever in the United States.