In post-Eagles life, Don Felder enjoys the long run

Fifteen years after being dismissed by the Eagles, Don Felder lives life in a manageable lane.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who has songwriting credits on enduring hits "Hotel California," "Victim of Love" and "Those Shoes," will play a solo show on May 21 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

Felder, hired by the Eagles in 1974 to add muscular guitar playing to the band's country-rock sound, said he's found balance in personal and professional pursuits -- a contrast to what's depicted in 1976 Eagles hit "Life in the Fast Lane."

“If I go out and play 110 shows a year, my personal life really suffers,” the 68-year-old said during a phone interview. “My relationships, my friendships, my golf game, everything. It dwindles on the vine. On the other hand, if I’m not working my professional satisfaction and desire dwindles.”

When asked about being inside one of world's biggest bands during the heyday of arena rock, Felder said the 1970s are cloaked in a "smoky haze." He cites relentless touring and excessive use of drugs and alcohol as factors, as well as love-hate relationships among band members documented in 2013 film "History of the Eagles."

“You’d literally wake up and not know where you are, somebody’s calling your room -- because you don’t have cell phones -- to make certain you’re up and out of bed,” Felder said. “People are kind of leading you around by the nose and you don’t have a lot of personal responsibility, except to show up and play well. Everything else is taken care of.”

Before his Hoosier Park date, one of six shows on a May tour that includes stops in Georgia and New York, Felder talked with IndyStar about songwriting, former guitar partner Joe Walsh and "The Big Lebowski":

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What you’ll hear: Felder, who issued a solo album titled “Road to Forever” in 2012, said his concerts feature a wealth of Eagles hits. “Everybody knows just about every lyric to every song,” he said. Non-Eagles selections include “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride),” which Felder wrote and recorded for 1981 animated film “Heavy Metal,” and a cover of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride & Joy.” “It gives me a chance to play the blues and not have to be stuck in a song structure,” Felder said of “Pride & Joy.” “Just let it go. I grew up on B.B. King and those kind of players. That’s really where my grassroots are from.”

At the source: When crafting the iconic guitar coda of 1976 song “Hotel California,” Felder said he improvised a duel between himself and Walsh. “I had two guitars in my bedroom and I said, ‘Well, Joe would play something kind of like this, then I would play this.' " As a songwriter, Felder said he’s guided by jazz musicians known for in-the-moment creativity. “When you sit down with a song idea, I can play five, 10 or 15 different licks or ideas,” he said. “Just let that stuff kind of come out of me and then step back from it and listen. ‘Wow, you know, that third lick seems like it would be the one. Let me take that and develop it.’ "

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Partner in crime: Following the January death of vocalist-guitarist Glenn Frey, surviving members of the Eagles announced the band’s demise. Felder, who chronicled his clashes with Frey and vocalist-drummer Don Henley in 2006 autobiography “Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles,” said he’s open to the idea of future work with Eagles guitarist Walsh. Felder and Walsh last appeared onstage together in 2001. “I love Joe,” Felder said. “It’s so much fun to be with him and play with him. He has a great sense of humor. I would hope that whatever powers that be, management or whatever, would allow us to get together and play.” Walsh will perform on June 16 at Klipsch Music Center as part of his tour with co-headliner Bad Company.

Not bowled over: Felder said he’s good-natured about derision aimed at his old band in 1998 film “The Big Lebowski.” (Lead character "The Dude," portrayed by Jeff Bridges, doesn’t explain why he hates the Eagles in the bowling-themed story. He just does.) “You know, there are people who love the Eagles and there are people who don’t like the Eagles,” Felder said. His fiance, Los Angeles-based real-estate agent Kathrin Nicholson, grew up with no affection for “Hotel California.” “She said, ‘In high school, it usually was the last song they played and some guy I didn’t want to dance with would come over and ask me to dance. And the song is 6-½ minutes long,’ " Felder said. “I got a kick out of it. It was charming to know that not everybody in the world likes Eagles songs.”

Don Felder

>> WHEN: 9 p.m. May 21.

>> WHERE: Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, 4500 Dan Patch Circle, Anderson.

>> TICKETS: $20 to $75. 

>> INFO: Visit Ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.