A long spell ago, I recall it being in 1984, Glenn Frey was a guest on “Late Night With David Letterman.” The charter member of The Eagles had just released “The Allnighter,” featuring “Smuggler’s Blues,” and was plugging that album while recalling one of the band’s early tours.
Frey remembered watching “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” after a concert. Holding a bottle of beer, Joe Walsh glanced at the screen and remarked, “Johnny looks thirsty,” and poured the contents into the back of the TV.
“The Eagles,” Frey concluded, “a great American band.”
Johnny was done that night, at least for the moment. Letterman closed his show this week, ending his 33-year run after Wednesday’s broadcast.
Somehow these American institutions meet in this space as The Eagles return to MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday night in the “History of the Eagles” U.S. tour (tickets are $85 to $275 and are still available at MGMGrand.com and Ticketmaster.com).
The Eagles happen to be the last remaining super group who rose out of the 1970s still touring that I have not seen in concert. I’ve seen Frey, Walsh and Don Henley in Las Vegas — though never on the Strip, oddly enough.
Whatever, paying homage to the band and Letterman, here are the Top 10 Fun Facts about The Eagles. Mikey J, a drum roll, please (inside reference):
10. The original band served as the backing musicians for Linda Ronstadt.
9. Before joining the band, Frey had performed in Bob Seger’s backing band.
8. Walsh was the closing performer at JuneFest at Sam Boyd Stadium in 1999, topping a bill that also featured The Knack, The Romantics, Blue Oyster Cult and Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
7. Walsh is married to Marjorie Bach, sister of Barbara Bach, who is married to Ringo Starr.
6. At the opening of “The Beatles’ Love” at the Mirage in June 2006, Walsh shared a row with Starr, Bach, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Sir George Martin and Giles Martin.
5. Henley has played the old and new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel (in 2000 for the former and 2011 for the latter).
4. Frey was among the first acts to play the Club at the Cannery when it opened in 2003.
3. The band released an album every year from 1972-1976, each selling more copies than the previous, ending with “Hotel California,” which sold 16 million copies.
2. In 1968, Walsh was a guitarist in The James Gang and toured with Tempest Storm as the band’s opening act.
1. Original guitarist Bernie Leadon quit the band in 1975, making that announcement as he poured a beer on Frey’s head. Walsh swiftly replaced Leadon and since leaving the band has made two solo albums 27 years apart.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
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