Hotel California: LA from the Byrds to the Eagles

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Synopsis:

Documentary looking at the music and mythology of a golden era in Californian culture, and telling the story of how Los Angeles changed from a kooky backwater in the early 1960s to become the artistic and industrial hub of the American music industry by the end of the 1970s.

Alongside extensive and never before seen archive footage, the programme features comprehensive first-hand accounts of the key figures including musicians (David Crosby, Graham Nash, J. D. Souther, Bernie Leadon and Bonnie Raitt, music industry bosses (David Geffen, Jac Holzman, Ron Stone and Peter Asher) and legendary LA scenesters including Henry Diltz, Pamela Des Barres and Ned Doheny.

The film explores how the socially-conscious folk rock of young hippies with acoustic guitars was transformed into the coked-out stadium excess of the late '70s and the biggest selling album of all time.

Credits:

Producer

Holly Murray

Producer

Mark Cooper

Broadcasts:

1. 27 May 2007
   22:00
   BBC Four
2. 28 May 2007
   01:30
   BBC Four
3. 02 Jun 2007
   00:50
   BBC Four
4. 01 Jan 2008
   01:35
   BBC Four
5. 26 Jan 2008
   00:55
   BBC Four
6. 02 May 2008
   22:05
   BBC Four
7. 04 May 2008
   23:50
   BBC Four
8. 01 Nov 2008
   00:30
   BBC Four
9. 29 Nov 2008
   22:15
   BBC Two