The Eagle Flies : Glenn Frey’s new sound combines topicality with the power of a 14-piece ensemble. They’ll all be in Ventura Friday.

“Don Henley must die! Don’t let him get back together with Glenn Frey!”

--Mojo Nixon

Well, he didn’t and they didn’t. Frey, in his first tour since 1986, will be at the venerable Ventura Theatre Friday night with his writing buddy, Jack Tempchin, opening. Tempchin wrote a bunch of songs for the Eagles and co-wrote a bunch of songs on Frey’s fourth and latest solo album, “Strange Weather.”

So what’s Frey been up to lately? Well, he probably just finished counting his take from his days with the Eagles.

The group sold 80 million albums before breaking up in 1981. Lately he’s been all over TV, and his solo albums have done well with hits such as “The Heat Is On” and “Smuggler’s Blues.”

Always adept at writing the toe-tapper, the Aspen, Colo.-based guitarist turned topical for the first time on his latest release. “He Took Advantage (Blues for Ronald Reagan)” is self-explanatory, while “Love in the 21st Century” explores the search for love in all the wrong places. “I’ve Got Mine” is one of those greedy-yuppie songs.

Remarried last year, Frey recently became a father for the first time, so there’s a few years of “Sesame Street” on the horizon. Besides all that, Frey has been involved in a program helping inner-city youths. He’s just your basic, well-adjusted zillionaire living in Aspen and having a swell time. And he’s a pretty nice guy, too.

So Glenn, how’s “Strange Weather” doing?

I’ll tell you one thing: I’ll never name another album “Strange Weather.” Two days after I played it for some friends in L.A., the riots broke out. Then Hurricane Andrew hit Florida. Then Hurricane Iniki flattened my house in Kauai. Then another storm, Danielle, followed me up the East Coast and dropped three feet of snow.

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Twelve guys in the band?

Yeah, and we’re getting bigger. There’s 14 now. That’s a lot of per diem is what it is. I’ve got a horn section now. I like the versatility these players give me.

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Your bio says you’re a sports fan. You were born in Michigan, then lived in L.A. for 20 years, but now you’re in Aspen. So which is it, the Dodgers or the Tigers?

Oh, Tigers, first and foremost, but for basketball I love the Lakers.

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What’s the story on this Grass-roots Aspen Experience?

This is a program I got involved in a year and a half ago. What we do is bring inner-city kids up to Colorado for some adventure and some challenging outdoor physical activities. For a lot of them, it’s the first time they’ve ever been in a plane. We challenge them to learn to ski in four days, things like that. We go camping. This all helps them get in touch with themselves. We test their mettle, then later, we do follow-ups. We’ve been able to come in contact and stay in contact with over 100 kids. I could go on and on about this program.

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Does it really cost 12 bucks for a beer in Aspen?

I don’t know about that, but it’s definitely getting expensive with all these new people. I live 12 miles out of town, and I’ve owned the house since 1975. In fact, the Eagles first performed in Aspen in 1971 and I told myself, “God, if I ever make any money at this, I’m gonna live here.”

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How did you get started in all this?

I took piano from 5 until 12 years old, then I stopped. Then I saw the Beatles and bought a guitar. I learned some chords, played in a bunch of bands back in Michigan and moved to California when I was 20. I floated around some until 1971, when I got hired by Linda Ronstadt, which made me a professional musician.

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Now you’ve got it made in the shade?

Well, I really enjoy what I’m doing. I really enjoy writing songs and making albums. I’m looking forward to doing a lot more. I’m a pretty happy guy.

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How has your music changed since the Eagles?

Well, I can work with a lot of different instruments now. The Eagles were a five-piece and we stayed with that format. Since then, I’ve been able to do a lot of different things musically. For example, now I can use a horn section and backup singers. I’m just on my own little path, adding things to become more evolved.

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Some musicians, after they change bands, refuse to do any oldies. But when you perform you play some Eagles’ songs, don’t you?

People would be really disappointed if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it hadn’t been for where I was then.

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But the Eagles won’t be flying again?

That’s right.

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So where does music fit into the scheme of the universe?

Music is medicine for the soul. It’s entertainment, but there are times when entertainment can inspire and inform. It can’t hurt. It can only help. It’s just how it makes you feel personally. This is the first album where I’ve gotten topical; I thought it was time to gaze outwards instead of inwards for a change. Before, I was always reluctant to put forth my worldview and still be relevant.

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Judging by “He Took Advantage,” I’d guess you’re not going to miss Reagan very much?

The day that Jack and I wrote that song, Bush took office. Reagan is going to go down in history as one of our worst Presidents--even his own kids don’t like him. And here we are, desperately trying to recover from Reaganomics.

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What’s next?

I’m going to Nashville to make my next record. It’s going to be called “Common Ground,” but I don’t know who’s going to play on it yet. I’m also going to be teaching a songwriting class at UCLA. Rather than Professor Longhair, they’ll probably call me Professor Shorthair.