(Credit: Alamy)

Tue 4 November 2025 18:00, UK

There’s a certain rhythm that makes Eagles sound like one of the best bands in the world.

As much as people like the idea of them making breezy, beautiful music whenever their songs come on the radio, Don Henley knew that it took a lot of work to make everything sound easy most of the time. So when it comes to getting a new person in the group, he was always a bit hesitant at who they were going to be taking on every single time they lost somebody.

But it’s not like certain members of the band weren’t expendable. As much as every musician brought their best to whatever tune they worked on, it was understood that Henley and Glenn Frey were the masters of the operation, and any of the other artists they worked with were some of the greatest bandmates in the world. While that idea pissed off Don Felder to no end when he wanted to sing his own songs, it was always about knowing the role everyone played in the group.

Sure, Felder could have helped keep the one-for-all mentality alive, but having him sing one of the band’s tunes would have been a waste of potential. ‘Visions’ was already one of the most questionable tracks that had been released in a pre-Hotel California world, but by the time they got started writing their masterpiece, the idea of anyone substituting in a filler tune wasn’t an option anymore.

Everyone needed to play exactly right, so letting go of Bernie Leadon right beforehand wasn’t doing them any favours. Leadon was clearly a great guitarist and could play circles around anyone, but after one too many arguments with Frey, the band actually found the perfect replacement once they got Joe Walsh to start opening up for them on tour, even having him join the band onstage for ‘Rocky Mountain Way’.

Walsh’s rock and roll chops didn’t really need any introduction, but Henley remembered being a bit sceptical about him joining the group, saying, “He had a fine solo career going before our manager suggested bringing him into the Eagles. We in the band had some trepidation because, although we liked him personally and we liked his music, we weren’t sure that he’d be able to fit into an already established group. But somehow it worked, and Joe has always been able to live in both worlds.”

And considering the music he had to work with, it’s not like he was giving them any of his lesser material to the group. ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ is one of the best riffs bearing the name ‘Eagles’ on it, and even if ‘Pretty Maids All In a Row’ was a million miles away from Walsh’s usual wheelhouse, hearing him operate in their world with a touching ballad is a beautiful change of pace.

Given that the band’s morale was also getting a bit tense, having Walsh there to pass the time was a great way to balance everything. Not only could the guy sing, but he was also hilarious onstage, which came in handy since the rest of the band were known to be incredibly still. Now they were a bunch of instrument-wielding statues onstage with a certified musical clown up there with them.

So while Walsh may not have been brought into the group in the best way, the sound of Hotel California would have never been the same without him. Everyone might be able to plug in and play the parts just right, but there’s a unique touch and sense of fun that comes with Walsh playing that you’re not going to find anywhere else.

Related Topics