Eagles’ Onstage Confrontation Foreshadowed in Heated Encore Performance
The tension between the Eagles was palpable during their 1980 performance at a benefit event for California senator Alan Cranston, which would prove to be the band’s final show until their 1994 MTV special. According to American Songwriter, the band’s fateful performance on July 31, 1980, was marked by an unease that would eventually boil over into a physical confrontation.
The title of the special taping, Hell Freezes Over, seemed apt given the Eagles’ acrimonious split. As American Songwriter reports, the band’s prolific live recordings provide sonic evidence of the tense edge they imbued into their set as they grew more anxious with anticipation of a post-show fight. The Eagles’ final encore songs, including Joe Walsh’s "All Night Long," showcased the band’s signature air-tight performance, but a closer listen reveals the strain beneath the surface.
American Songwriter cites guitarist Don Felder’s memoir, Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles, which details the events leading up to the confrontation. Felder recalled meeting Cranston and his wife, Norma Weintraub, and making a comment that Glenn Frey overheard and took umbrage with. The tension between the two band members continued to escalate, with Frey provoking Felder throughout the set. "I’m gonna kick your a** when we get off the stage," Frey said, according to American Songwriter.
The confrontation ultimately spilled out into the post-show, with Felder opting to smash a Takamine acoustic guitar rather than engage in a physical altercation with Frey. As American Songwriter notes, Felder said, "That was the only time I ever did that… When you break a guitar, it’s an expensive mistake, for one thing. The other thing is, you could hurt yourself with splinters and stuff, or hurt somebody around you. It’s not a very safe or healthy way to relieve your frustration." Frey responded by saying, "Typical of you to break your cheapest f***ing guitar."
The irony of Frey’s comment was not lost on American Songwriter, which points out that Frey had secured a sponsorship deal with Takamine, requiring each band member to play their guitars. Felder’s actions can be seen as a manifestation of the tension between the band members, as well as a commentary on the commercial pressures they faced.
The Eagles’ onstage confrontation has become the stuff of legend, but it was the culmination of a long-simmering tension between the band members. As American Songwriter demonstrates, the evidence of this tension can be heard in the band’s live recordings, providing a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of one of rock’s most iconic bands.
American Songwriter also reveals that the band performed at a benefit event, which wasn’t exactly the reason for their onstage confrontation, rather it worsened their nerves due to having different opinions on performing at the event. As American songwriter stated the conflict between band mates began much earlier and wasn’t anything new.
As reported by American Songwriter, The unease progressed in their performance as "All Night Long," seemingly feeling anxious, which felt ‘strained’ compared to how usual or tighter sounding they felt on stage.
