As the Eagles continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hotel California, they are preparing for publishing of the new book, Eagles And Hotel California: 50 Years. Written by veteran rock journalist and historian, Sean Egan, it arrives on September 8th, offering a definitive exploration of the record that captured the shift from ’60s idealism to ’70s disillusion. Keep reading below to find out more.
Pre-order Eagles and Hotel California: 50 Years here: https://geni.us/EaglesHotelCalifornia
This slipcased hardcover volume pairs more than 200 rare and iconic images with fresh reporting and analysis. Egan traces how the Eagles – idealistic young musicians navigating a jaded, hedonistic era – channeled the contradictions of their time into a long‑playing masterpiece. The book examines:
The turbulent 1976–77 sessions at the Record Plant (Los Angeles) and Criteria Studios (Miami), where the band’s musical precision met the era’s excess.
The album’s overarching theme – a concept‑album‑adjacent portrait of a culture sliding from innocence into self‑absorption – and the band’s intentional mirroring of that descent.
The songs that became generational touchstones, including “New Kid in Town,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and the title track with its now‑legendary guitar duel. Despite its conceptual spine, Hotel California was a commercial powerhouse, producing multiple chart‑topping singles.
The Eagles’ unique duality: serious artists and radio mainstays; decadent rock stars with a conscience; not close friends, but remarkably cohesive collaborators.
The album’s 50‑year legacy, and how its themes of ambition, illusion, and escape continue to resonate with new generations of listeners.
With the Eagles still performing to sold‑out arenas and attracting fans across decades, Hotel California remains proof that popular music can thrill the senses while engaging the mind. Eagles And Hotel California: 50 Years tells the story of how that immortal work came to be – and why it still matters.
Sean Egan has contributed to Billboard, Book Collector, Classic Rock, Record Collector, Uncut, RollingStone.com, and more. He has written or edited two dozen books, including works on the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Small Faces, the Clash, Manchester United, and James Bond. His 2002 book Jimi Hendrix and the Making of “Are You Experienced” was nominated for an Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. Egan is also the author of Bruce Springsteen & Born to Run: 50 Years, also from Motorbooks. He lives in England.
Book Specs:
Hardcover w/slipcase, 176 pages & 250 images ∙ $50.00 USD, $65.00 CAD ∙ ISBN: 9781577157670 · Published by Motorbooks