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Former Eagle comes to roost
A father now, Don Henley has matured -- as has his music
Former Eagle Henley, a father, has matured
(CNN) -- For many baby boomer music fans, Don Henley has been one of the voices of their generation.
When he was with the Eagles, Henley spun stories of carefree rebels, lost loves and other ideals of 1970s Americana in "Hotel California," "Desperado," "Tequila Sunrise" and other songs that continue to sell well today.
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As a solo artist, Henley offered bittersweet commentary on aging - on what happens when those carefree rebels grow up - in such songs as "Boys of Summer" and "The End of the Innocence."
Perhaps Henley is older and wiser. He also remains a master storyteller, a wordsmith whose lyrics remain the most important focus of his work.
"Songwriting is something that I revere and I respect," Henley told WorldBeat. "The lyrics are important to me. I have always loved language. I love words, I love reading. I collect books. I like information, although there's a little bit too much of it these days. It's hard to absorb it all."
Henley's latest album, "Inside Job," released this year, reflects Henley's latest absorption: his family.
"I find a great deal of comfort and solace in my wife and in my children," he said. "My children bring me back down to earth. Seeing the world through their eyes is a wonderful thing. You notice the little things that adults tend to forget and to overlook."
Henley said his family has tempered his outlook. "I think there's more of a balance in the music," said Henley. "The anger and the social commentary is tempered by the happiness and the contentment that I find."
That change in attitude is welcome creative fuel, he said. "I'd like to think it's more mature, more focused -- that the songwriting is more concise and better crafted," Henley said.
So who is better: Henley the rock 'n' roller or Henley the family man? The former Eagle neatly sidestepped the question.
"I'm happy," he told WorldBeat. "I've always been happy. I'm just happier now."
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