Eagles Play First Show Without Joe Walsh Since 1975 After “Emergency Rehearsal”

For the first time in the band’s history, Eagles took the stage without guitarist Joe Walsh.

Walsh was absent from their Saturday, January 24, show at Las Vegas’ famed Sphere venue after coming down with the flu. Since he joined the band 51 years ago in 1975, 78-year-old Walsh has never missed a show until now.

Frontman Don Henley explained Walsh’s absence to fans, noting the band had to choose between continuing without him or canceling the show altogether.

Eagles Have a “Deep Bench”

“We had a choice to make,” Henley said. “We could either cancel the whole thing, or we could man up and do the show. So we came down here this afternoon and had an emergency rehearsal for two hours. And fortunately, in this band, we have a deep bench.”

Most of Walsh’s parts were covered by bandmates Vince Gill, who became a touring member of the band in 2017, and Deacon Frey, who took over for his father, founding member Glenn Frey, after his death in 2016. Frey and new guitarist Chris Holt took over Walsh’s parts on “Hotel California,” with Frey playing the solo. The band only made slight changes to their setlist—Walsh’s James Gang track “Funk #49” was removed and the band played “Best of My Love” instead.

Henley also noted that Walsh had been under the weather the previous evening. In addition to Walsh leaving the stage when he wasn’t needed, the band left “Rocky Mountain Way” out of the set. “He was sick last night,” Henley said. “But he heroically made it through last of the show.”

Although Walsh was the only member of the band to miss the show, Henley mentioned other members were also battling illnesses, himself included, and referred to music as both “a universal language” and “medicine.”

“After the week we’ve had, we could all use some medicine,” Henley said. “I’m not going to do much talking.” He continued, “I’m not going to do much jumping around. I’m not going to do any squatting. I’m just going to play the s— out of this guitar. I’ve been playing these songs for you for 53 years now. It’s been a privilege and an honor.”

The concert was Eagles’ 46th at the Sphere since beginning their residency in Sept. 2024. The band’s next show is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30, which should give Walsh plenty of time to recover.