Podcast Summary: Takin' a Walk
Episode: Bernie Leadon: An Iconic Figure in Music History – From Eagles to "Too Late To Be Cool"
Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Bernie Leadon
Date: September 2, 2025
Overview
In this episode of "Takin' a Walk," host Buzz Knight shares a conversation with Bernie Leadon—guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of the Eagles. The discussion navigates Leadon's vast musical journey, from his formative years in the California country-rock scene, collaborations with icons like Linda Ronstadt and Gram Parsons, to the release of his long-awaited solo album, "Too Late To Be Cool." The pair dive deep into the craft of songwriting, stories from the road, the evolving Americana music community, and Leadon's enduring sense of gratitude and curiosity as an artist.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Gratitude and Musical Mentorship
- Opening Thoughts: Bernie reflects on the importance of mentors and collaborators throughout his career.
"I've had a lot of great friends and people that were benefactors and advocates for me and helpers and mentors, and I'm just really grateful to all of them. You know, nobody progresses without help, really."
— Bernie Leadon [00:00, repeated at 10:31]
2. The New Album: "Too Late To Be Cool"
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Leadon's First Release in Over 23 Years:
"I haven't released anything for, I think somebody said, 23 years... I went out of the road with the Eagles in 2013 through 2015... just got excited about playing and singing every day again. So when the tour ended, I decided to spend more time writing... and I built a new building for my recording gear." — Bernie Leadon [05:13]
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Collaboration with Glyn Johns:
Leadon explains the long-standing friendship and the analog recording process:"Glyn Johns... produced the first two and a half Eagles albums, came over from England and we did two batches of recording last year and in early January this year... we recorded to 2-inch 16 track analog tape, so you have to make decisions, right, because there's no room for 43 guitar parts or 17 vocals or whatever... the whole thing took about three weeks, maybe four to mix it and everything. But it just, it sounds fresh to me still."
— Bernie Leadon [05:43]
3. Inspiration from Nashville and the Songwriting Community
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Nashville’s Influence:
"They have a catchphrase they use around here: it all begins with a song. So that's nice that they give the songwriter kind of prominence in the food chain of making music... It's really a great community and everybody supports each other and everybody cheers for one another, and it's really cool."
— Bernie Leadon [07:27] -
Anecdotes from Music Row and Harlan Howard:
Bernie describes the serendipitous encounters and legendary songwriting productivity in Nashville. [07:55]
4. Pivotal Career Crossroads
- Friendship with Larry Murray:
"Every positive connection in my career... goes back to this guy Larry Murray in San Diego... He invited me later to come out to LA... and every positive connection in my career was, you can trace it all the way through it."
— Bernie Leadon [09:12]
5. Reflections on Gram Parsons and Country Rock
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On Gram Parsons’ Legacy:
"Graham was just a lot of fun, unfortunately, he was an alcoholic... The truth is, nobody has ever kept up with Keith Richards as far as staying up and doing things that perhaps wouldn't be advisable to do for very long... Graham died at 26 and tragically, but. Brilliant guy."
— Bernie Leadon [11:16] -
Credit to Emmylou Harris:
"She's kind of been the curator of Graham's legacy by recording every song pretty much that he wrote that she liked... she's still doing that, God bless her."
— Bernie Leadon [12:43]
6. Working with Linda Ronstadt and the LA Scene
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Early Collaborations:
"I played on Stone Ponies records actually in 1968... in her touring band and record, continued recording with her... Some say we all came from Linda's band and we did, but not all at the same time, you know, but we were all in the same musical community in LA, which actually was very similar to the Nashville community back then."
— Bernie Leadon [13:47] -
Harmony Singing with Linda:
"She sings so full voice and loud, like no restraint, that I had to let my voice open up or I would have sounded like a pipsqueak mouse next to her... what a gift to be able to sing with her."
— Bernie Leadon [15:54]
7. Album Art & Stories: Henry Diltz and the Eagles
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Joshua Tree Photo Shoot:
"We're going to drive 100 plus miles... to Joshua Tree National Monument. But we're not going to go into the front gate. We're going to go in this back way... There was an old barber chair sitting on the top of it... We light a fire, and it's high desert, it's cold... the art director had brought some peyote buttons, so he just started making peyote tea... the sun started coming up... they stand us up in a group huddling together... that's the photo of us."
— Bernie Leadon [17:06] -
New Album Cover’s History:
"I made that cover for an album that was to come out 45 years ago and it never did... I paid for it back then, so we're using it."
— Bernie Leadon [19:08]
8. Musical Curiosity and Songwriting Approach
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Eclectic Styles on the New Record:
"There's a lot of styles I've played and studied... sometimes I start a song with a guitar riff... other times I've started with words... There's a lot of different feels and flavors and vibes. So that's cool... The central theme is, you know, it's just, it's me doing it and there are songs I wrote and in one side Lark, you know, that's it."
— Bernie Leadon [25:38] -
On "Too Many Memories":
"I've lived many lifetimes in a single go... And so it's not that there are too many memories, but... There's still some things that... bothered me or that bothers a person... The conclusion of the song is just, finally, just face all the shadows and let it all go, like, melt like fog on the meadow... Focus on today, be happy. Don't forget to smile."
— Bernie Leadon [27:01]
9. Contentment and Advice for Living
- On Presence:
"Simple things, like, let's enjoy the day, be present here, get out of the past, get out of the future, and just live today. And don't forget to smile, because it doesn't cost anything."
— Bernie Leadon [29:03]
10. Upcoming: Americana Fest & Performing Live
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First Americana Fest:
"As the Americana Music Association began... seems like most styles of music now are called Americana if they don't know what else to call it... I've not attended it before formally... I'm really looking forward to is kind of home base now, I guess."
— Bernie Leadon [29:41] -
Blending the Old with the New:
"I'm going to play at least three Eagle songs... and one that I wrote with my brother Tom Leden... It's called Hollywood Waltz... Buck Owens recorded it. So it's like, how do you get a cut with Buck Owens? You have the Eagles record it first."
— Bernie Leadon [30:42] -
"Train Leaves Here This Morning":
"I've just dropped the key one whole step... I did it every night in the history of Eagles tour and you know, 10 years ago, but that was in the key of E and I decided D is more relaxed... that's my take on it."
— Bernie Leadon [31:31]
11. Bluegrass Revival and Influences
- Young Guns of Bluegrass:
"Chris Stapleton, notably... Billy Strings is like, I guess, the latest phenomenon... Remarkably good guitar player... bluegrass is a really good training ground... you can cross pollinate it with whatever you want..."
— Bernie Leadon [33:49]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Artistic Support:
"Nobody progresses without help, really." — Bernie Leadon [00:00, 10:31]
-
On Recording with Glyn Johns:
"He just works so fast and smoothly. He makes decisions on the fly... It sounds fresh to me still." — Bernie Leadon [05:43]
-
On the LA Scene and Linda Ronstadt:
"Some say we all came from Linda's band and we did, but not all at the same time." — Bernie Leadon [13:47]
-
On Letting Go and Enjoying the Day:
"Just live today. And don't forget to smile, because it doesn't cost anything."
— Bernie Leadon [29:03]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00 – Gratitude for friends, advocates, and mentors
- 05:13 – Bernie discusses the long-awaited new album, "Too Late To Be Cool"
- 07:27 – The Nashville songwriting and music community
- 10:31 – Tracing his career roots back to Larry Murray
- 11:16 – Memories of Gram Parsons and the origins of country rock
- 13:47 – Collaborating with Linda Ronstadt and the early LA music scene
- 17:06 – The legendary Joshua Tree photo shoot for Eagles’ album
- 25:38 – Eclecticism in songwriting and lead track descriptions
- 27:01 – Story and meaning behind "Too Many Memories"
- 29:41 – Bernie’s excitement about Americana Fest
- 31:31 – Revisiting and reinterpreting "Train Leaves Here This Morning"
- 33:49 – Thoughts on bluegrass resurgence and its new stars
- 35:22 – Closing appreciation and farewell
Episode Tone and Takeaway
The conversation is warm, reflective, and deeply appreciative of both the roots and evolution of American popular music. Leadon’s humility, humor, and philosophical outlook shine, making this episode a must for fans of the Eagles, classic rock, country, and those fascinated by the stories behind music history.