A lot of classic rock bands got pretty debauched, to the point where “rock star behavior” is sometimes used as a synonym for “hedonism.” The Eagles’ “Hotel California” might be one of the most famous songs about rock star debauchery. Interestingly, it’s part of a long lineage of American works of art on the same topic.
Don Henley said The Eagles had to go wild to make ‘Hotel California’ During a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone , The Eagles’ Don Henley discussed the themes of “Hotel California.” “They’re the same themes that run through all of our work: loss of innocence, the cost of naiveté, the perils of fame, of excess; exploration of the dark underbelly of the American Dream , idealism realized and idealism thwarted, illusion versus reality, the difficulties of balancing loving relationships and work, trying to square the conflicting relationship between business and art; the corruption in politics, the fading away of the ’60s dream of ‘peace, love and understanding,'” he said. “But it’s also important to remember that during the making of the Hotel California album, we were ecstatic much of the time,” the “The Boys of Summer” star said.
‘We knew we were onto something. So, you have the interesting juxtaposition of dark themes being developed and constructed in an atmosphere of excitement and productivity. (And OK, a little debauchery, here and there.
You know what they say about all work and no play.)” The Eagles wrote.
