Introduction
At Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium on Saturday night, Bob Seger made a triumphant return to the stage, joining the Eagles for a stirring rendition of “Heartache Tonight.” This marked the band’s first full concert since they lost founding member Glenn Frey in January 2016, and emotions ran high as fans honored his memory.
Stepping into his father’s legendary shoes, Deacon Frey—who was invited to join the lineup in June—delivered heartfelt lead vocals on three of Glenn’s hallmark tracks: “Take It Easy,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone.” Before launching into “Take It Easy,” Don Henley paused to address the crowd: “This one’s for you, Glenn. You’re in our hearts tonight and the music goes on,” as noted by Forbes.
Country icon Vince Gill also shared the stage with the Eagles during the Classic West show. This two-night festival continues Sunday with Fleetwood Mac, and in two weeks both bands will reunite for Classic East at New York’s Citi Field.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Gill reflected on his deep connection to the Eagles’ sound. “We all honor the giants of country music—Merle Haggard, George Jones—but truthfully, more artists modeled themselves after the Eagles,” he explained. “It’s ironic that country music never fully embraced them, even though their influence is just as profound as any Nashville legend.” Gill’s seamless fit with the group was on full display as he took lead vocals on “New Kid in Town,” “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Take It to the Limit.”