Danny Kortchmar recently spoke with Vicki Abelson and dared anyone to collab with the ‘Napoleon’ Don Henley. Kortchmar collaborated on the Eagles legend’s three solo albums, and while recalling his time in the studio with Don, he ‘dared’ anyone to collaborate with the rocker, saying: “He’s not the most pleasant person to work with.” He’s got a little Napoleon in him… He is, nonetheless, a very lovely and loving man. He vacillates between the two. He’s not sure which to be because he’s in business and knows others are attempting to take advantage of him.” Kortchmar also attributed Henley’s ‘Napoleon-like’ demeanor to the rocker’s small-town upbringing: “When you’re from Linden, Texas, and your father owns a hardware store, and you end up in Los Angeles making millions of dollars… You’re wary of people and keep an eye out for them.” When the host inquired if he had ever ‘butted heads’ with Henley, the producer laughed and said: “Of course, every time.
You’ve got to be kidding, right? I was fired three times… Certainly, [I was] continually fired.” Danny collaborated with Don Henley throughout the 1980s and into the late 2000s, beginning with Don’s debut solo effort, ‘I Can’t Stand Still,’ in 1982. The duo then collaborated again for ‘The End of the Innocence’ in 1989, and again in 2009 to make the compilation album, ‘The Very Best of Don Henley.’ The complete interview is available below.
