How a Drug Dealer Inspired Eagles’ ‘Life in the Fast Lane’

So many classic rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s were connected to drugs in some way. For example, “Life in the Fast Line” by The Eagles was inspired by a drug dealer. The song narrowly missed making a huge milestone for the band.

How 1 comment inspired The Eagles’ ‘Life in the Fast Lane’

During a 2003 interview with The Uncool, The Eagles’ Glenn Frey explained the writing of “Life in the Fast Lane.” “This began with a Joe Walsh riff — he had that signature guitar part,” he said. “I had the title. 

“The true story is: I was riding in a car with a drug dealer — a guy we used to call ‘The Count,’ because his count was never very good [laughs],” he added. “We were driving out to an Eagles poker game. I was in the passenger seat. He moved over to the left lane and started driving 75-80 miles per hour. I said, ‘Hey, man, slow down.’ He goes, ‘Hey, man, it’s life in the fast lane.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, my God, what a title.’ I didn’t write it down. I didn’t have to.”

The Eagles had a critical view of people at the top

Walsh’s contributions to the song were integral. “Joe started playing a riff at rehearsal one day, and I said, ‘That’s ‘Life in the Fast Lane,”” he said. “So we started writing a song about the couple that had everything and did everything — and lost the meaning of everything.”

Afterward, The Eagles started writing a song about a couple who had everything but were still miserable. The Eagles had a habit of writing songs about people living at the top of the social ladder who still weren’t happy. It’s probably for the best that “Life in the Fast Lane” appeared on the same album as “Hotel California” as they have a similarly dim view of the high life. In retrospect, Frey said that he looked at “Life in the Fast Lane” favorably because it proved that Walsh was a true member of the band.

‘Life in the Fast Lane’ just missed a major peak

“Life in the Fast Lane” was a decent hit in the United States. It peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 14 weeks. Peaking at No. 11 can be frustrating because that means the song just narrowly missed the top 10. Of course, most bands would kill to release a song that hit No. 11, and The Eagles managed to have hits after “Life in the Fast Lane” barely missed the top 10.

The tune appeared on the album Hotel California. That record topped the Billboard 200 for eight weeks, lasting on that chart for 158 weeks in total. Hotel California produced two other massive hits: “New Kid in Town” and “Hotel California.” The former was No. 1 for one of its 15 weeks on the chart. Meanwhile, “Hotel California” was No. 1 for 19 weeks on the chart. Back in the day, an album producing two No. 1 singles was a much rarer feat than it is today.

“Life in the Fast Lane” is a classic hit and it wouldn’t be the same without The Count.