The Eagles were arguably one of the greatest bands of all time, a fact even the original members couldn't dispute. But according to at least one of the founders, namely Don Henley, there is one group that will go down in history as being better than the Eagles: the Beatles.
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"I've heard that comparison," Henley tells Far Out magazine. "But I don't think we're in that league. Good Lord, no. People do relate to those songs, though."
Fellow founding member Glenn Frey, who passed away in 2016, might not have thought the Eagles were on par with the Beatles. But he did acknowledge they had something no other band had.
"While the band did break up in 1980, our music continued without us," he said, "It was becoming increasingly apparent to me that, no matter where I went or what I did, for the rest of my life, I would always be an Eagle."
The Eagles Today
The Eagles did breakup, but reunited in the early '90s. Today, they continue to perform, this time with the addition of Vince Gill, who replaced Frey in 2017. Although the Eagles were willing to incorporate some of Gill's music into their shows, the Country Music Hall of Fame member declined the invitation.
It was when Henley overheard Gill singing "Whenever You Come Around," that Henley suggested they add the song into their set list.
"I said, 'Well, with all due respect, I'd rather not,'" Gill recalls to American Songwriter. "Don looked at me, puzzled. He said, 'Why?' I said, 'Look, what I'm getting ready to do, this is going to be pretty uncomfortable for a lot of people, me included.' I said, 'I don't want to give them one more reason not to be happy that I'm out there.' I don't want them to sit in those seats saying, 'I didn't come here to hear Vince Gill songs. I came here to hear Eagle songs.'"
In addition to Gill, Frey's son Deacon is also now part of the Eagles. Currently the Eagles have dates booked at Sphere in Las Vegas through April 12. No other dates are listed on their website.
