Eagles Once Opened for This Huge Prog-Rock Band in 1972 (and Immediately Regretted It)

Although they may be classic-rock royalty now, Eagles spent their early days like so many other budding bands. They opened for other, bigger bands, a huge opportunity which can introduce musicians to brand-new audiences. But there was one show in particular that didn’t go so well for them.

After forming early in 1971 in Los Angeles, Eagles released their first single, “Take It Easy,” in May 1972. And thanks to its success and the buzz generated by their live shows at the Troubadour, they were booked to open for other, bigger rock bands. These days, opening acts are at least in the same genre as the headliner. But that wasn’t always the case in the ’70s.

“Back then there was no trying to match styles of music—they just put you out there, and you had to sink or swim,” frontman Don Henley said in an interview with Classic Rock.

And so, with prog-rock band Jethro Tull riding the success of the newly released Thick as a Brick, Eagles were added to the bill for a few dates. The two bands’ styles were completely different. Eagles played more laid-back, easygoing rock while Jethro Tull remains known for a more progressive and often theatrical style.

“It was due to an agent who didn’t really care whether the groups had anything in common or not,” Henley explained. “He said, ‘You’re gonna open for this group called Jethro Tull,’ and we went, ‘Uh, OK.’” Henley also called the pairing “an absolute mismatch.”

At the time, “Take It Easy” was the Eagles’ only hit. But as the tour got started, they began to become more popular—just not necessarily with Jethro Tull fans.

“It wasn’t really music that was gelling with our audiences, who could be rather spiky,” Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson said in a 2024 interview with Prog magazine. “They didn’t enjoy the tour—they seemed rather remote.”

But the difference in the bands’ musical styles and fan bases wasn’t the only issue. Anderson also explained that they also didn’t get along well, saying, “We didn’t really talk to them. I don’t think they liked us, and we didn’t really like them that much either.”

Despite the awkward experience, both bands and frontmen have moved on. Eagles have since become one of the biggest rock bands of the ’70s. Likewise, Jethro Tull is still beloved by fans for their unique sound and influence in the genre.

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