Eagles Perform Without Joe Walsh for the First Time in 50 Years as He Recovers from the Flu
Joe Walsh performing with the Eagles in New York in 2017.
Credit:
Kevin Kane/Getty
Eagles Mark Milestone Show Amid Health Setbacks
Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh has contracted the flu, which led to his absence from the band’s concert at the Sphere in Las Vegas on January 24. This performance was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first time the Eagles have played a show without Walsh in over 50 years.
Speaking to fans, lead singer Don Henley reassured the audience that Walsh is "going to be okay" and that he "just needs some time" to recover.
The Eagles faced a pivotal decision following Walsh’s illness, as the band wanted to maintain their performance schedule. "Joe has come down with a bad case of the flu. We had a choice to make. We could either cancel the whole thing, or we could man up and do the show,” Henley explained. After a last-minute rehearsal, the band chose to proceed, relying on their depth of talent.
A representative for Walsh indicated that although he is experiencing a "tough and difficult" bout with flu, he anticipates a return to performing soon. Henley also suggested that some of the other band members have been unwell, remarking that music "is medicine." He humorously noted, “I’m not going to do much talking. 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.”
Joe Walsh (second from right) performs with the Eagles in New York City in 2023.
Kevin Mazur/Getty
In Walsh’s absence, fellow band members Vince Gill and Deacon Frey covered his parts. Originally, the lineup was set to perform “Funk #49,” a staple typically led by Walsh, but instead, they opted for “Best of My Love.”
Earlier in the week, Walsh had participated in most of a concert on January 23, although he took some breaks and did not join the band for the final bow. He first joined the Eagles in 1975, taking over from founding member Bernie Leadon.
“I’m not going to do much talking… Joe’s going to be okay. He just needs some time. Give him some love,” Henley told the audience before launching into their set.
Despite the recent health challenges, the Eagles celebrated a significant achievement: their 1976 album Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 became the first album to receive quadruple diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), attesting to over 40 million sales in the U.S.
The Eagles have 10 more dates scheduled at the Sphere, where they began their residency in September 2024, with the next show slated for January 30. It remains unclear whether Walsh will be back on stage by then.
Reflecting on what the band’s performances mean to the audience, Henley remarked, “When the Eagles play, people come and sit next to each other and everybody gets along… There’s so much love coming at us from the audience that we play our ass off and everybody goes home happier.”
