Don Henley — co-founder, drummer and one of the voices of the Eagles — has always been frank about where he thinks his band belongs in rock history. When people compare the Eagles to other giants, Henley doesn’t pretend they’re equal to everyone. In fact, there’s one band he says the Eagles simply couldn’t match: The Beatles.
What Henley actually said
In interviews Henley has accepted that fans and critics sometimes compare the Eagles to The Beatles. But he shuts that idea down quickly. “I’ve heard that comparison,” he told Far Out magazine. “But I don’t think we’re in that league. Good Lord, no.” That short, blunt line captures how he sees the gap: enormous respect for The Beatles, clear humility about the Eagles’ place beside them.
Why Henley picked The Beatles
Henley’s reason isn’t just fandom. He recognizes what the Beatles achieved — not only hit songs but cultural impact, songwriting breadth, and musical innovation that reshaped popular music worldwide. Henley has often said The Beatles were a formative influence on him; watching them early on made him decide to be a musician. That deep personal and historical reverence explains why he thinks comparing the Eagles to the Beatles is unfair to both groups.
Not a put-down of the Eagles
Saying the Beatles are in a different league isn’t Henley trashing the Eagles. He and Glenn Frey built a band beloved for its harmonies, songwriting and carefully crafted songs about American life. The Eagles sold millions of records, and their music — from country-tinged ballads to radio classics — shaped a generation. Henley’s comment reads as measured: respect for the Eagles’ success, and respect for the Beatles’ historic scale.
What this comparison really means
When fans ask “Who’s better?” they’re often mixing different things: record sales, musical innovation, cultural influence, songwriting, live performance. The Beatles are often seen as the most revolutionary pop group of the 20th century. The Eagles, by contrast, are masters of harmony, songwriting craft and a more American, roots-based sound. Henley’s line acknowledges that both bands excel — just in different ways.