--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the band first formed, everybody had…" description: "\"When the band first formed, everybody had been sidemen. So they said, 'In this band there are no sidemen,' and when I joined the band, it was still the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/119/don-felder-16328_band_when-the-band-first-formed-everybody-had_26132.png" --- # When the band first formed, everybody had been sidemen. So… ![“When the band first formed, everybody had been sidemen. So they said, 'In this band there are no sidemen,' and when I joined the band, it was still the same. There were some power struggles emerging, because Henley and Frey had sung all the hits at that point.” quote by Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/119/don-felder-16328_band_when-the-band-first-formed-everybody-had_26132.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/119/don-felder-16328_band_when-the-band-first-formed-everybody-had_26132.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/119/don-felder-16328_band_when-the-band-first-formed-everybody-had_26132.png) > “When the band first formed, everybody had been sidemen. So they said, 'In this band there are no sidemen,' and when I joined the band, it was still the same. There were some power struggles emerging, because Henley and Frey had sung all the hits at that point.” [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how a group that prides itself on egalitarianism can still develop hierarchies and power struggles, especially when certain members dominate success. **In simple terms:** Egalitarian ideals can mask emerging hierarchies. Key Takeaway Even flat structures create leaders. Themes Power dynamics Egalitarianism Group hierarchy Creative collaboration Mood Reflective Cautious Type Observational Cautionary When to use this quote - Forming a new team - Managing creative projects - Navigating fame Key Concepts Leadership Band politics Success distribution Practical Applications - Designing clear role definitions - Facilitating open communication Questions to Reflect On - How can a group maintain equality while recognizing contributions? - What mechanisms prevent hidden power structures? A Different Perspective A truly flat organization may be impossible without explicit role clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Struggles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggles/) ## Related quotes > [Kane is a band I formed with my best friend Steve Carlson. We just got together and started playing guitar. 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Priest wouldn't be here without the support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-faulkner/it-s-also-giving-back-to-the-community-that-put-us-all-there-in-the/) [Richie Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-faulkner/) > [I play the guitar. This year at the Sundance film festival, I joined the band from 'The Guitar' on stage. We warmed up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saffron-burrows/i-play-the-guitar-this-year-at-the-sundance-film-festival-i-joined/) [Saffron Burrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saffron-burrows/) > [When Stevie and I joined the band, we were in the midst of breaking up, as were John and Christine. By the time Rumours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/when-stevie-and-i-joined-the-band-we-were-in-the-midst-of-breaking-up/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [When I joined this band, I never thought of myself as a singer. I just did whatever I could, which was rap. And then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-sandoval/when-i-joined-this-band-i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-singer-i-just/) [Sonny Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-sandoval/) > [They tried to get me to use a pick when I first joined the band. They had certain things they thought were appropriate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/they-tried-to-get-me-to-use-a-pick-when-i-first-joined-the-band-they/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [When I joined the band, I hadn't been introduced to a lot of these bands on the scene - no emo bands or punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-costanza/when-i-joined-the-band-i-hadn-t-been-introduced-to-a-lot-of-these/) [Chrissy Costanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-costanza/) > [I went to a boarding school when I was 13, and it was a very arty school, so there was an opportunity for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/i-went-to-a-boarding-school-when-i-was-13-and-it-was-a-very-arty/) [Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/) ## More by Don Felder > [If I put 3,000 miles a year on my car, that's a lot. If I buy them, it just doesn't make sense, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/if-i-put-3-000-miles-a-year-on-my-car-that-s-a-lot-if-i-buy-them-it/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [One of the songs we recorded for 'The Long Run' was called 'You're Really High, Aren't You?' Which never really made it onto a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/one-of-the-songs-we-recorded-for-the-long-run-was-called-you-re/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [I especially enjoyed some of the old hairstyles, with my hair down to my shoulders and a beard. And Henley's nickname used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/i-especially-enjoyed-some-of-the-old-hairstyles-with-my-hair-down-to/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [Don't forget, Stephen Stills and I had a band in Gainesville called the Continentals when we were 15. 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The response was so great from the Boston/Doobies/Felder package.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/i-ve-known-those-guys-for-decades-and-done-some-charity-fundraisers/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [Every once in a while, it seems like the cosmos part, and something great plops into your lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/every-once-in-a-while-it-seems-like-the-cosmos-part-and-something/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [I used to drive up and down Pacific Coast Highway in this black Porsche, and I had seen a couple of accidents on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/i-used-to-drive-up-and-down-pacific-coast-highway-in-this-black/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [For every album we worked on, I brought in reels of tape of somewhere between fourteen and eighteen songs - some of them completed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/for-every-album-we-worked-on-i-brought-in-reels-of-tape-of-somewhere/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [When I first left the Eagles, I said, 'That's it. I'm going to play golf.' After 10 days, it was like... there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/when-i-first-left-the-eagles-i-said-that-s-it-i-m-going-to-play-golf/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [Glenn's passing was so unexpected and has left me with a very heavy heart filled with sorrow. He was so young and still full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/glenn-s-passing-was-so-unexpected-and-has-left-me-with-a-very-heavy/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [That last record I did, I think I played every guitar on the entire record. I want to do something more fun and exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/that-last-record-i-did-i-think-i-played-every-guitar-on-the-entire/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [I try to balance work and family. As long as I'm able physically and mentally to do it, I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/i-try-to-balance-work-and-family-as-long-as-i-m-able-physically-and/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [When you got on the private plane, you had your own private lounge where you could close the door. 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I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. 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