By the time The Eagles reached the mid-1970s, they were a well-oiled hit machine. Don Henley and Glenn Frey had mastered their formula—polished harmonies, airtight production, and no room for filler. Every track had to earn its place. But one song on One of These Nights slipped through… and Henley never forgave it.
Following the lukewarm reception to their outlaw-themed concept record Desperado, the band regrouped with a more commercial focus. With guitarist Don Felder newly added to the lineup, the band began pushing into slicker, more rock-forward territory. The result was One of These Nights, a breakthrough album that boasted hits like the title track and the soaring “Take It to the Limit.”
But one track didn’t quite fit.
Bernie Leadon, a founding member with deep country-rock roots, felt increasingly alienated by the band’s shift toward radio-friendly gloss. Amid growing tensions, Leadon insisted on including a gentle ballad he had co-written with his then-girlfriend, Patti Davis (daughter of Ronald Reagan): “I Wish You Peace.”
The song, sweet on the surface, ignited a firestorm within the group.
Henley was blunt in Life in the Fast Lane: “Smarmy cocktail music. Nobody else wanted it. We didn’t feel it was up to the band’s standards.” And yet, the track made it to the final cut—mainly because Leadon refused to back down.
According to legend, Leadon told the band if they didn’t record it, he’d “break Glenn’s arm.” He later admitted it was absurd, noting, “The song is ‘I Wish You Peace,’ but I’m gonna break your f*ing arm if you don’t record it.” The irony wasn’t lost on anyone.
It wasn’t the only time Leadon clashed with the rest of the group. Producer Bill Szymczyk recalled a late-night session where, after hours of failed takes, he asked Leadon for input. Leadon simply stretched, said, “I think I’m going surfing,” and walked out.
“I Wish You Peace” might seem like a harmless lullaby, but its inclusion exposed a deeper fracture. Leadon’s soft, hymn-like farewell clashed hard with Henley and Frey’s vision for a sharper, more modern Eagles sound. In many ways, the song became a quiet rebellion—a personal goodbye disguised as a gentle sendoff.
Shortly after the album’s release, Leadon exited the band for good. His departure paved the way for Joe Walsh, whose edge helped steer the Eagles into their most iconic era, including Hotel California.
In hindsight, “I Wish You Peace” is more than just a polarizing ballad. It’s the song that fractured the band’s foundation and signaled a shift in their legacy. Behind its calm melody lay resentment, rebellion, and the cost of staying true to yourself in a band where compromise came with consequences.
