After fires destroy home, Bernie Leadon finds creative renewal in Pacific Palisades

Bernie Leadon, one of the co-founders of the iconic band Eagles, has recently unveiled his first solo album in the past 20 years. This album release comes after Leadon’s former home in Pacific Palisades was destroyed in wildfires earlier this year. The 78-year-old musician poured his grief over the loss of his neighborhood into his music, resulting in a strong creative resurgence after many years of limited output.

Leadon’s album, titled “Too Late To Be Cool,” showcases his deep connection to his country-rock roots. The cover of the album features a poignant image of Leadon standing with his guitar on a hill overlooking the nighttime lights of Los Angeles. This image, captured by photographer Henry Diltz for an earlier Leadon solo project that was never completed, highlights Leadon’s intimate relationship with the city where he made a name for himself as a pioneer of the country-rock genre. Throughout his career, Leadon contributed to several renowned bands, including the Eagles, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Linda Ronstadt’s band, infusing his music with heartfelt emotion and twang.

During a recent visit to Los Angeles from his current residence in Nashville, Leadon shared his perspective on the creative landscape of the late ’60s and early ’70s, a period when artists like him were at the forefront of shaping cultural commentary through their music. Leadon expressed his admiration for the artists of that era, likening them to Pied Pipers who influenced and guided the culture with their artistry. He recalls the significant impact these artists had on society, driving forward social discourse and leaving a lasting impression on the music scene.

Presently, Leadon is collaborating with Warner Chappell Music in downtown L.A., where he recently secured a publishing deal to promote his new music through licensing and recordings by other artists. In his heyday with the Eagles, Leadon was known for his distinctive curly hair and handlebar mustache. However, as he navigates this new chapter in his musical journey, Leadon has adopted a different appearance, with a shaved head and a clean-shaven face that has been mustache-free since 1986.

Leadon’s latest album was meticulously crafted in his personal analog studio in Nashville, where he poured his heart and soul into each track. The album represents a culmination of Leadon’s experiences and emotions, especially his profound sense of loss following the destruction of his home in the wildfires. Titled “Requiem for a Village,” one of the songs on the album serves as a tribute to his lost neighborhood, encapsulating the grief and nostalgia he feels for the place he once called home. Overall, Leadon’s return to the music scene with “Too Late To Be Cool” marks a poignant and introspective exploration of his past, present, and future as a seasoned musician.