Eagles TourBlog 2006

Eagles Are Coming to Europe

The Eagles are coming to Europe in the summer of 2006. We've got all of the dates officially announced as well as ticket information. Click on the date you are interested in learning about.

5/25 Munich, Germany

The Eagles will play at the Olympiahalle in Munich on May 25th.

Tickets go on sale November 12th. See the Munchen Ticket site for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 12th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/1 Mannheim, Germany

The Eagles will play at the SAP Arena in Manheim on June 1st .

Tickets go on sale November 12th. See the SAP ticketing site for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 12th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/3 Hamburg, Germany

The Eagles will play at the Colourline Arena in Hamburg on June 3rd  .

Tickets go on sale November 12th. See the Eventim site for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 12th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/10 Dublin, Ireland

The Eagles will play at Lansdowne Road in Dublin on June 10th.

Tickets go on sale November 11th. See the ticketmaster.uk  site for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 11th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/13 Birmingham, England

The Eagles will play at the NIA in Birmingham on June 13th.

Tickets go on sale November 11th. See the Ticketmaster.uk site for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 11th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/17 London, England

The Eagles will play at the Twickenham Stadium near London on June 17th.

Tickets go on sale November 11th. See the Ticketmaster.uk site (we're guessing) for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 11th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/20 Manchester, England

The Eagles will play at the MEN Arena in Manchester on June 20th.

Tickets go on sale November 11th. See the Ticketmaster.uk site for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 11th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/23 Glasgow, Scotland

The Eagles will play at the Hampden Park Stadium in Glasgow on June 23rd.

Tickets go on sale November 11th. See the SECCtickets site for information and prices (note: if you are reading this prior to November 11th and don't see the Eagles listed, be patient. Shows get added right before they go on sale).

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/11 Dublin, Ireland

The Eagles will play at Lansdowne Road on June 11th.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

The Eagles will play at Lansdowne Road on June 11th.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/14 Birmingham, England

The Eagles will play at the NIA Arena on June 14th.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

The Eagles will play at the NIA Arena on June 14th.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

6/21 Manchester, England

The Eagles will play at the MEN Arena on June 21st.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

The Eagles will play at the MEN Arena on June 21st.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show and to post reviews after it happens.

5/23 Barcelona, Spain

The Eagles will play Palau Sant Jordi on May 23rd.  Tickets are on sale now.

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5/27 Rome, Italy

The Eagles will play the Olympic Stadium on May 27th.  Tickets are on sale now.

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5/29 Verona, Italy

The Eagles will play the Verona Arena on May 29th.  Tickets are on sale now.

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5/31 Zurich, Switzerland

The Eagles will play the Hallenstadion on May 31st.  Tickets are on sale now.

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6/4 Rotterdam, Holland

The Eagles will play the Ahoy on June 4th.  Tickets are on sale now.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show.

06/25 Cardiff, Wales

The Eagles will play the Cardiff Millennium Stadium on June 25th.

Use the comments button below to chat about this show.

06/18 London, England

The Eagles will play Wembley Arena on June 18th

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Preview Article -- El Periodico

Translation by Ulli

The Eagles' numbers can also be a burden: Their Greatest Hits is the best selling record of rock history with 28 million copies. Now the Californian band has disappeared from the media's attention, but the tickets for their Barcelona debut has been almost sold out by a considerable minority. Something that isn't surprising for the mild Don Henley, founding member of the band, who confesses: "I'm curious about the reaction that awaits us. Jackson Browne, a friend of mine, has always talked to me about Barcelona."

Your last release is the DVD Farewell I - live from Melbourne. Is there any irony in using the name of a farewell tour?
It's a joke. There are many artists who announce their last tour and they keep returning ... The idea is to have a Farewell I tour, then a Farewell II tour, and so on. We're looking forward cause we're preparing a new record for Christmas. It's the first with new songs after The Long Run (1979). We're not gonna play them on our tour cause they're not registered and would be on the internet in five minutes (he laughs), and therefore we're going to play material that people know.

Why did it take 27 years to finish an Eagles record?
We have been separated for 14 years, and since 1994 we have been touring a lot. And there are other priorities: we have families, little kids, obligations ... I live in Dallas, and Joe, Glenn, and Timothy live in Southern California. When we were young we didn't have other things to care about; we could be egoistic. Now there are your children and your parents who get old. Back then Glenn and I lived together; we got up and sat down to write songs. Today it takes a lot more to find the time. And it's good to wait for the best moment. During the past few years the music has given us hip-hop, electronic stuff ... Now the singers keep returning and it's a good moment for us.

What do you appreciate about it?
During the past years the American music has been very banal, we haven't touched the important topics, only sex, drugs and violence. It's crap. We, the generation 60, made songs about what happened in the world: the civil rights, Vietnam, the ecology. This is forgotten, but now a music in accord with real life returns. We see it in Neil Young who is a leader that influenced Pearl Jam, Green Day ... His new album (Living With War) is very courageous. Since two years there's criticism about Bush having problems. Now he's started to talk straight. On our new album we're gonna have a song about Irak: The Long Road Out Of Eden, that refers to the place where the garden of Eden once was.

That's news: Timothy B. Schmit said last year in his diary that the Eagles were entertainers, not politicians.
That was last year! (he laughs) Things have changed. But we're not gonna have an album that's only political; we want to reflect all aspects of life.

Are you inspired by the collaboration of Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger?
I admire Bruce, maybe it's no commercial success, but it's noble and it's worth the pain. It's a good moment to revive the protest song. There's a tradition that has been in the dark and we enjoy the idea of getting back to it.

Are you worried about the missing attention for the Eagles from the media?
The radio isn't that important anymore. We can circulate the music on the internet or via a marketing company. We're not gonna end up on the Rolling Stone cover, but it doesn't matter. Neither do we intend to sound modern nor do we intend to write a new Hotel California. We only want to be the Eagles, and we go on writing country-rock songs like we have done from the beginning in the seventies.

Do you think the people are going to see you for non-musical reasons, like your aura as survivors of the hippie era?
We never have been hippies, rather people who worked hard (he laughs). I believe people will come to see us for the music and the memories that we bring back to them. They associate us with California, but we're an American band with roots in Blues, Gospel, Country, Big Bands, Motown ...

Did you notice that in Europe there's enmity against the American spirit that you represent?
No. When I was young I wrongly thought that the government and the people were the same. I hope that nobody considers us to be like Bush's government. We commit mistakes: Bush is a mistake, the war as well. But we only come to play music and give people happiness.

Preview Article - La Vanguardia

Translation by Otto

Don Henley is a Texan gentleman, well spoken and educated. Getting on in years, he admits to feeling happy being in Barcelona where next Tuesday the group of which he is a founding member, The Eagles, will present their first concert in Spain in their professional career of some 35 years. (Palau San Jordi). The band will perform with 12 musicians whose nucleus consists of henley, Frey & Walsh.

What can we expect on Tuesday?

To see The Eagles in their best state of mind and health. We will begin our European tour in Barcelona with precision, thats why we met up several days ago here to prepare everything for the tour. The idea is to play for 3 hours putting forward everything the crowd expects and two or three surprises.

New Album?

Yes. Glen & I have written it over the last few months. We have had it pending for 4 years and now we have it all. It will be out at the end of this year or early 2007. The title will be “The Long Road to Eden”

So why are you carrying on touring..is it not tedious and exhausting?

Basically to survive.... Without this we would not know how to live. I have to say that for me personally it takes an enormous amount of physical energy to do tours like these, sure we have families and kids, but its equally certain that without the feeling of being on the road it would not be the same.

The new album....will it be politically acceptable?

Acceptable, yes, in the direction that we are not at ease with the politics of our country, especially the war in Iraq.

Why did you not all protest before?

Thats the sad reality. The Press, artists and musicians...we were all totally gagged since 9/11 for some 3 years. We werent either to be or not to be patriotic. The issue was that the law of silence affected all broadcasting.

What is the secret of Eagles perseverance?

There is no secret. The Band has a musical patrimony of the highest level, and we make irreproachable hit records

Barcelona SetList

Submitted by Oboka

Don Henley is a Texan gentleman, well spoken and educated. Getting on in years, he admits to feeling happy being in Barcelona where next Tuesday the group of which he is a founding member, The Eagles, will present their first concert in Spain in their professional career of some 35 years. (Palau San Jordi). The band will perform with 12 musicians whose nucleus consists of henley, Frey & Walsh.

What can we expect on Tuesday?

To see The Eagles in their best state of mind and health. We will begin our European tour in Barcelona with precision, thats why we met up several days ago here to prepare everything for the tour. The idea is to play for 3 hours putting forward everything the crowd expects and two or three surprises.

New Album?

Yes. Glen & I have written it over the last few months. We have had it pending for 4 years and now we have it all. It will be out at the end of this year or early 2007. The title will be “The Long Road to Eden”

So why are you carrying on touring..is it not tedious and exhausting?

Basically to survive.... Without this we would not know how to live. I have to say that for me personally it takes an enormous amount of physical energy to do tours like these, sure we have families and kids, but its equally certain that without the feeling of being on the road it would not be the same.

The new album....will it be politically acceptable?

Acceptable, yes, in the direction that we are not at ease with the politics of our country, especially the war in Iraq.

Why did you not all protest before?

Thats the sad reality. The Press, artists and musicians...we were all totally gagged since 9/11 for some 3 years. We werent either to be or not to be patriotic. The issue was that the law of silence affected all broadcasting.

What is the secret of Eagles perseverance?

There is no secret. The Band has a musical patrimony of the highest level, and we make irreproachable hit records

Review El Periodico

Computer Translation

The Palau Sant Jordi last night undertook a nostalgic trip to California with the successes of the Eagles

	The members of the Eagles, yesterday, during its performance in Barcelona. Photo: ALVARO MONGE

NANDO CROSS
BARCELONA

It would be impossible to synthesize in a single one devises the sense of the concert of last night: it was first of a tour of false goodbye of the Eagles, since they are composing new songs, but also was his presentation of the group in Spain, country where never they had acted. Impossible? Everything was much more simple: the band went to the Palau Sant Jordi to offer a trip in the time and the space to the California of years 70. A flight of luxury, inevitably nostalgic, at which 16,000 scored about fans.
From a principle it was clear that, by much excitation that showed the public, those that were going to mark the rate at night they would be the Eagles. And the Californian group never emphasized by its nerve. They appeared 15 minutes late and with sigilo and discretion easy interpreted Take it. It was a strange, too lukewarm beginning for a so emblematic piece and until energetic in his been moderate repertoire. But the tepidity seemed to be the tactics selected for the night.
During a good short while it seemed that nobody had informed to them into which they were acting before real public. Endorsed by an elegant game of panels and up to eight musicians more, the Californian ones behaved as if they were in plató of television. That volume so contained and pluscuamperfecta sound equipment did not help to clarify if it were a real concert or a three-dimensional DVD. But before Peaceful easy feeling Glenn Frey went to silverplates it. "Hello, Barcelona. Welcome to our first concert in Spain ", it said in English a perfect one.
In the first block of the show the Eagles did not move away a little while nor of the noticeable route. They sounded to One of these nights, New kid in town, I can't tell you why, Lyin' eyes and The long run, among others. All, in sweet and smooth interpretations, fine and safe, of high nostalgic fidelity. After a pause of 20 minutes to recover of it is not known what effort, returned with Tequila sunrise. Soon, Timothy B. Schmidt gained a sonorous applause when going in Castilian before singing Love will keep U.S. alive.

TWO NEW SONGS
The great surprise at night arrived with does not dwell cloudy days, a new song, and Hole in the world, composed by Don Henley after 11-S. But the moment freak wrote down Joe Walsh when being placed a helmet of bricklayer with an integrated minicamera that filmed the public. By then the close guitarist already had lain down the concert to the back and the reinforced volume she offered the most energetic minutes and until estridentes. The block of sparks rock, and the concert, lane culminated with Life in the fast.
The script of the final straight line was written 30 years ago and fell with the precision of the strictest transmitter of adult FM. One cheered introduction of the trompetista (with hat mariachi) announced --"ooooh"-- Californian Hotel, the song by which many had paid the price of the entrance. More than one and more than 500 they occurred by satisfied and they left the enclosure to avoid cloggings. They were lost, among others, the moment for vocoder of Walsh in Rocky mountain way and the sad end with Desperado.

Fam Review: Otto

The set list has already been posted, and clearly the reviewer in El Periodico comes from the same egg as all press reviewers, so heres a true fans interpretation.
The venue was amazing, the stage set as standard. The surprise was the variation in order of songs and the early introduction of Witchy Woman.
Sound wise, the volume, bass and mike presence was cleaner than I have ever heard before. The clarity and vocal volume meant you got every ooh, aah etc etc. Band interaction was better than usual, with jams and riffs shared by Walsh & Schmit & Smith joining together centre stage. Don was hidden from view behind drums and Joe, but featured on giant screens almost constantly. He was note perfect except when he missed the first couple of words on a verse in Boys of Summer. He did his usual Hole in the World intro speech, and that song was a delight in loud accapella with all voices heard again due to mic faders being perfect. No One day at a Time and no Wasted Time. Plus no "credit card" jokes or "first wife-Plaintiff" lines.
Timothy spoke a lot as expected in Spanish, and he shouted "whos got the best football team" and "whos got the best Formula 1 driver" both of which sent the crowd wild.
Glenn apologised for leaving it so long to play in Spain...he also commented about the new album, saying it was done and they hope to release it before all their fans pass away!!

Dress code was formal to start, after the interval when they showed a few video footage clips, the attire was changed to Jeans and casual shirts.

Overall the best show I have seen matched with a great crowd. You guys are in for a treat for sure!!

Barcelona Photo

Barcelona Video

http://www.tv3.cat/3alacarta/video.htm?ID=205452796&CAT_ID=154363335

Fan Review: Marc

9.50PM, crowd was starting to get anxious, but the lights suddenly turned down and hysteria set in.  One may say that starting a concert with Take it easy might not be nor daring nor exciting but, let me tell you, the Barcelona audience was far from getting angry for that.  To say it otherwise, the crowd was excited enough and, all through the evening, demonstrated that its amount of patience was enough to apologise any flaw the performance might reveal.  Nevertheless, spanish fans had to be patient for 40 years since this was the first Eagles concert around.

The difference between a classic rock band and a newer one, even those with a lots of tours in their backs, is that this guys know perfectly what they're doing, anytime, from start to end.  So, in the first hour, the mood was set with a mostly calm repertoir.  Witchy woman, Peaceful easy feeling, New kid in town sounded so perfect that one started to suspect that somebody had connected their cd player to the dozens of speakers that hanged everywhere.  It's well known for all the Barcelona people that the Palau Sant Jordi where the concert was taking place was conceived not only to welcome sport venues but also music shows, but all the vocal harmonies where so clearly distinguished that one could nothing but thank architects and sound engineers alike for this wonderful and subtle gift.

The stage showed a very stylish desing, with lots of videowalls showing not only the band members playing but also playful and coloured non figurative images that gave the perfect decoration in harmony with the lights.

The more countryesque songs that were played in this first part of the show where very charming and introduced the crowd in a sort of melodic trance.  The only problem here for the audience was to contemplate a completely bored Joe Walsh, playing his rythm guitar apatheticly, leaving the solos to his guitar sideman.
Nevertheless, by that time, it was pretty clear that the bands habilities where intact through the years, showing their masterful harmonies and not being affraid of high tones, specially mr Frey, whose singing reached everyones heart easily.

Everybody knows that this guys are not youngsters anymore, but everybody was quite surprised when Henley announced a break after the tenth song.  The band was the only one that needed such a break, but the crowd had still enough patience to wait for 20 minutes and get connected again when the guys came back on stage with Silent Spring.

And seriously, the first hour of the second act put the endurance of the audience patience to the test.  The band clearly delayed its major hits and started performing a set of not so well known singles like Love will keep us alive, aside projects's songs (mostly Walsh's) like Life's been good to me, and "new" songs from the band, supposedly part of the forthcoming album, like No more cloudy days.  In between, some major hits like Tequila Sunrise and Take it to the limit to prevent people from booing them; wise move.
And although this part seemed mostly designed for the best fans (the only ones to be able to sign the lyrics with no mistake) the truth is that it was the rock boost the crowd needed.  Mr. Walsh awoke from his initial letargy, took the axe, and decided to have some fun.  Walsh is, no doubt about it, the most rock 'n roll soul of the band nowadays, and while Frey, Schmidt and Henley fight for imposing his country repertoire, Joe (Jose as Frey was presenting him to the audience) knows how to reach heaven with a proper distortion and take the crowd with him.  Even though most of the audience didn't even recognize some of the songs, his performance, perfectly strenghtened by the horn section, leaded the evening towards a climax that everybody was seeing it coming.

The evershining and playful Heartache tonight and a superb performance of Life in the fast lane that rocked every soul in town, prepared the arrival of what everyone in the audience was expecting:  Hotel California.

After that, they could have played anything, the worst tune you've ever known, and people would still have praised them.  Instead of that, they choose Rocky mountain way, All she wants to do is dance and Already gone, just before Desperado closed the show, with an amazing and subtle performance that asked for tears.  The final image of the darkened stage with only a murmuring Henley lit up by a spotlight will remain in my retina for ever.

Not everyday one has the chance to be part of a magic evening like this.  Not everyday one has the opportunitie to watch rock 'n roll history in front of his/her eyes.  But most of all, not every day one has the chance to shed some tears for a sound that lies deep within our souls.

Marc Ambit 23-5-06  Barcelona

Fan Photos: Andy

Mekur Online Review

Computer Translation:

Old heroes with fresh sound The Eagles in Olympia-resounds It is not easy to believe that the Eagles complete straight their last tour. So well presented, so playful and so ambitioniert one does not retire simply. The California Country Rocker has its concert journey however anyway ironically "far-waves 1" designated, thus "parting, first". In the sold off residents of Munich Olympia-resounds anyhow arose only once briefly nostalgia, when after the break old film cutouts of the Eagles were brought in from the 70's-years. That works incomprehensibly for a long time ago. And if one is honest, some hits in the course of the time a little lost at gloss. The group was considered to genuine skirt fans anyway as gang of Weichspuelern, which delivers hotel terrace music at best. And one could quite win the impression in this evening that the Eagles wanted to prove that they are really large volume. Remarkably motivated and astonished with a refined, versatile program presented themselves three-hour "parting concert" the rule. Natural it was again once at Don Henley to push the thing energetically in the correct direction. As one after the first pieces - many from the earliest album - to fear had, a witness of a nice, but inconsequential nostalgia revue to become, Henley with its packing solo number "Boys OF buzzer" the public tore to Ovationen. Directly after it guitarist Joe Walsh cried wuchtig its "into the town center" into the hall. And inspired the Eagles with unusually pressureful, schmissigem arrangement surprised, with which dynamic Blaesersaetze provided for almost funkige sounds. From then on the fans cheered ekstatisch the recent and fresh sound of their old heroes. By any means a classical author did not harvest the largest rejoicing, but the fire-new "gets into the World", in which the Eagles demonstrated pure Soul. Impressing the virtuose instrumenting and like immaculately the voices complemented each other. Particularly fascinatingly the contrast between the voices of schlagzeuger Don Henleys and singer Glenn Frey was natural. After the everlasting Evergreen "hotel California" stood resounds finally to head, and the Eagles continued lively. Altogether nearly three hours long. If it were a parting, then more with dignity. But one would see it nevertheless gladly again, this volume, which becomes ever better at the age.

Munich Ticket

Thanks Monja!

Vene: Fan Review and Setlist

I am a music director at Slovenija's national radio station Radio Slovenija. I have attended the Eagles concert yesterday in Munich. It was the second time for me to see them live (after 10 years). I sat in the arena (row 27). They played so immaculate that it is hard to believe it's real. The show was perfect. Mr. Frey said that the members of the band are Germans: Well, we have Herr Walsch, I am Frey, there is Herr Henley and of course Herr Schmidt:-))))   Henley said before they played Hole in the world that it has benn written in the wake of 9/11, he paused a little and later said that they (USA) need a new leadership.

The setlist was like this (I hope I haven't missed anything)

Take it Easy

Witchy Woman

Peaceful Easy Feeling

One of These Nights

New Kid in Town

I Can't Tell You Why

Lyin' Eyes

The Boys of Summer

In The City

The Long Run

20 minute break

Tequila Sunrise

Love Will Keep Us Alive

No More Cloudy Days

Hole in the World

Take it to the Limit

Walk Away

Sunset Grill

(band introduction)

Life's Been Good

Dirty Laundry

Funk #49

Heartache Tonight

Life in the Fast Lane

encore 1

Hotel California

encore 2

Rocky Mountain Way

All She Wants to do is Dance

encore 3

Already Gone

Desperado

I hope the new record comes out  soon, because I can hardly wait.....

Munich Review / Article

Sent in by Fumiko from Sueddeutsche Zeitung

Download Eagles-SZ.pdf

Watch the Load In

Fumiko sent us this really cool animated gif of the goings on in Munich before the show. You can watch them set up and do soundcheck. Thanks!

Daniel's Munich Photos

http://www.eaglesfans.com/tour_2006/munichphotos.htm

Thanks Daniel!!!

Barcelona : Hotel California

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJfmSVla-QU

Eagles in Rome

Leo's Photos:  Eagles in Rome.

Eagles - Rome, 27 May 2006 - 001

Roberto's Photos: Eagles - Rome, 27 May 2006 - 001.

BBC2 Interview

Link: Latest Eagles News : BBC2 Interview.

Eagles, the flight of goodbye of the aquile

Eagles, the flight of goodbye of the aquile. Radio/Print interview

'Nowadays the fans keep their clothes on'

Link: Arts | 'Nowadays the fans keep their clothes on'.

'Nowadays the fans keep their clothes on' The famously combustible Eagles, makers of the best-selling rock album of all time, tell Sylvie Simmons what it's like to be back on tour Sylvie Simmons Friday June 2, 2006

Guardian
Don Henley, who has been remarkably relaxed so far, has just got a little tetchy. With the people who say the Eagles reformed out of greed. With the people who say the ticket prices for their summer shows are extortionate. And with one, unnamed member of the Rolling Stones.
"We are a brand, a bit like the Stones," he says, accepting there is little point pretending his band are at the cutting edge of rock'n'roll. "But we haven't exploited it in that way; we've never sold our name or our music for commercials for a product, and we're very proud of that. Which is not to say we may not do it in the future, but I think [the Stones] have gone a little bit further down that road. I mean, I remember when we first started elevating our ticket prices, one of them - I'm not naming names, but it wasn't Mick - saying in an interview in Rolling Stone magazine, 'Well, how much do you want to pay for nostalgia?' And then a couple of years later, they're charging double or triple what we're charging. For nostalgia."
Tetchiness is what peo

Munich Photos

http://fotoservices.bluewin.ch/fotopage/meier-deus/

Eagles live! - a photoset on Flickr

Link: Eagles live! - a photoset on Flickr.

YouTube - Desperado (live!)

Link: YouTube - Desperado (live!).

Rotterdam Photos

Photos from Anita

Link: Rotterdam Photos.

Hamburg Review (Child of the 70s)

Don’t you all love that pre-show excitement? I do!! We, Ton and I, met Ulli and Michael in Hamburg city at 2 pm, to have a drink and a bite somewhere, before going to the stadium. We decided on going to the Hyatt Hotel, you never know who you’ll meet there and when we got there everything was blocked, lots of police and security standing in front of the entrance. It couldn’t be, could it? Not for THE GUYS?

We were right, it could not be. When we asked security they told us there were some other “famous” Americans staying in the hotel, the American national soccer team (only a few days left before the World Cup) . Pretty exciting too, so we decided to go through all the security-stuff, which took about 15 minutes, and went inside to have a coffee. My o my, never saw so many crooked legs on flip flops in a 5-star hotel .

After this adventure we had a quick bite, a nice German “curry-wurst” and we took the tube to the stadium. Both Ulli and I took our cameras, and it was no problem to take them inside. It was still early, so according to a good German habit we drank a few beers before going to our seats, hoping to meet Victor (BigVic from the messageboard). Unfortunately he didn’t answer to our SMS’s, due to cellphone problems he told me the day after.
We were very surprised we got a ticket upgrade from row 5 to row 3, left section, perfect view. Not because of the tank tops we weren’t wearing, they left out the the first 2 rows, anyway, we had a very good start.

The concert began a few minutes past 8, nothing new to tell about the clothes, they were all wearing old stuff, DETAIL: Everybody changed clothes during the break, except Timmie. He was wearing his black jeans, big black shoes and grey shirt during the entire concert. They all wore jeans and looked great, especially Joe did.

The sound was awesome, Don’s voice was great, Glenn sang fantastic, only one or two flaws (Ulli knows where and when, I didn’t hear it), Joe sang fine, but seemed a little bored during the first part of the concert. He did his helmet cam act, very funny, people loved it. And Timmie, he was the best of course , he got a standing ovation after I Can Tell You Why , DETAIL: “Danke Schön”, ”That’s the only German I know”!! His bass playing was awesome, he was in a good mood, smiling a lot and looked at us very often, I think he recognized us from last year in Utrecht .

Making pictures was very easy. At first security didn’t allow us to use flash and video, but they gave up after an hour or so. So many people were making pictures and the guys really didn’t mind at all. They all did their best to look into people’s cameras when they were aware of them, no problem, very relaxed. My pictures are a bit crappy, I’ll try to post some more but Ulli’s pics are much, much better.
Set-list was pretty much as always, but they left out Rocky Mountain Way , I’m not sure about All She Want To Do Is Dance. Hole In the World made me shiver, gosh, was that beautiful.
I really liked the 70’s videos they were showing after the break, the one on Joe’s boat, the baseball video and the Desperado video, that was really a bonus.
Special attention goes to all the other band-members, Stuart did a great job and so did the others. DETAIL: The horn-section was wearing different hats.

All and all it was a great night, the crowd was great, most people were dancing and singing, like us. Thank you Hamburg, thank you EAGLES!!!!! London, here we come!!!!!!!

Hamburg Review - Tequila Sunset

These are additions to Child of the 70s Review

First of all I have to say that Michael and me enjoyed the whole day with Suus and Ton - we had a lot of laughs and we also saw a bit of Hamburg and all that was going on in that buzzing city (I've been there pretty often and I always enjoyed it).

It turned out that no less than three security guys were right in front of us. But really, nobody minded the pictures, all they were looking for were videos and as soon as someone held up a camera for a longer time period they were asked to not do videos - in a quite friendly way.

I thought the guys were not especially chatty but Glenn talked a lot to his compadres and they seemed to have a lot of fun, at least he was laughing all the time.

I remember Timothy also saying "guten Abend" at one time, so obviously "danke schön" were NOT the only two words of German he knew.

Glenn made the usual joke about anything less than four years (or how ever many years he picked on other occasions) are considered "new" by the Eagles before they played NMCD. However he skipped the credit card joke and just said they'd play an old song with a new take on it before TITTL.

Don got standing ovations for his wishes to get rid of Mr. Bush as soon as possible - well, this was Germany and his words found a lot of open ears. Hole In The World live was SO much better than I could imagine, it really made me shiver. Till now it had been just a good song for me but live it was outstanding.

There was only one song that only got moderate applause and that was "Sunset Grill". Well, they shouldn't have skipped "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" and "Rocky Mountain Way", each of those would've been much better.

I'm sorry they took ODAAT entirely off the set list, it's a song I really love and it sure would've been a blast.

Most people around us were obviously "casual fans" - I guess from their remarks, some guys behind us only seemed to know "Hotel California". But in front of us, a bit more to the middle, there was an American, he said something about being from Santa Barbara, who obviously was a dedicated Eagles fan from their beginnings. He looked like a leftover from the 70s - hippie-like - and he was SO enthusiastic. At one time he got out of his row and crawled on all fours past security to the front of the stage - it was pretty dark there below, but we noticed him, and Glenn noticed him too, made some funny faces and laughed about it. But that guy didn't have a chance to go anywhere after that cause security noticed him too.

The sound was spot on, it wasn't as loud as on other rock concerts but loud enough that we didn't disturb anyone with us singing along .
There were fewer out of tune notes than on most bootlegs I've heard, in fact there only were very few. Guess they've listened to their own recordings often enough to know how to work around the hard parts. They did it really perfectly.

It was a perfect show - it was a perfect day (entire weekend for me and Michael) - and now I can't wait for London. But I have to say two weeks with the memories of Hamburg and the anticipation of London are just fine.

Newspaper Review / Hamburg

Translation by Tequila Sunset

THE EAGLES

Ruhig sein können die doch gar nicht

Kultig: Die Altrocker in der Color Line Arena

SÖREN INGWERSEN

Wenn das neueste Album einer Band bereits zwölf Jahre alt ist und sie dennoch in der Color Line Arena vor über 15000 Besuchern spielt, dann sind entweder höhere Mächte am Werk oder die Band heißt "The Eagles".

Der saubere Westcoast-Rock der vierköpfigen Band und ihrer Mitmusiker genießt Kultstatus. Die Hits "Take it easy", "Lyin' eyes" und "Hotel California" machten sie in den 70ern berühmt und verpassten dem amerikanischen Mythos von Freiheit, Einsamkeit und Rebellion einen unverkennbaren Sound. Dieser Botschaft und dem Einlullungseffekt der klaren Arrangements, locker fließenden Beats und eingängigen Refrains kann man sich nur schwer entziehen.

Während bei "In the city" Saxofone und Trompete den satten Soft-Rock akustisch anreichern, zittern auf der mosaikartigen Projektionsfläche Bilder vom Times Square. Die hohen Gesangsstimmen der vier Musiker formieren sich zum Country-Chor, holen sich Anleihen beim Blues oder Gospel, wie in "Hole in the world", einem der beiden Stücke, die nach dem 11. September entstanden sind und politisch Stellung beziehen. "Wir hoffen, dass wir in einigen Jahren eine weisere Führung haben werden", sagt Don Henley. Ohrenbetäubender Jubel. Dann steigert auch die Band ihre Lautstärke und Joe Walsh spielt seine Gitarren-Soli mit hinreißender Perfektion.

Fast hat man vergessen, dass diese "Farewell I-Tour" auch ein Auftakt zum Abschied sein soll. Alle Musiker streben deutlich auf die 60 und damit auf den Ruhestand zu. Aber mal ehrlich: Ruhig sein können die doch gar nicht.
(MOPO vom 06.06.2006 / SEITE 19)

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However they really can't be quiet

cult: the old rockers at the Color Line Arena

If the most recent album from a band is already 12 years old and they still play at the Color Line Arena in front of 15,000 people then either higher powers are at work or the band is called "The Eagles".

The clean West Coast Rock by the 4 piece band and their backup musicians has cult status.
They got famous in the 70s with their Hits "Take it easy", "Lyin' eyes", and "Hotel California" and gave the American myth of freedom, loneliness and rebellion an unmistakable sound. It's hard to withstand this message and the ensnaring effects of the clear arrangements, the easy flowing beats and catchy chorusses.

While during "In The City" saxophones and trumpets enrich the full soft-rock acoustically pictures of Times Square are jittering on the mosaic like projection screen. The four musicians' high voices form into a country choir and get inspired by blues or gospel like in "Hole In The World", one of the pieces that were written after September 11 that takes a political stand. "We hope to have a wiser leadership in a few years", Don Henley says. Deafening applause. Then also the band increases volume and Joe Walsh plays his guitar solos with ravishing perfection.

You almost forget that this "Farewell I Tour" is meant to be the start to a good bye. All musicians are clearly aiming 60 and with that retirement. But honestly: they really can't be quiet though.

Newspaper Review -- Hamburg

Translation by Tequila Sunset

Garanten für erstklassige Rocksongs

Eagles: Großer Jubel beim ausverkauften Konzert der Westcoast-Band in der Color-Line-Arena

Von Heinrich Oehmsen

Hamburg -

Die Color-Line-Arena ist bis unters Dach voll. Jeder, aber auch wirklich jeder Platz ist besetzt. Es liegt eine fast vibrierende Spannung über dem Auditorium. Um fünf nach acht die ersten Pfiffe der ungeduldigen Fans, gefolgt von aufmunterndem Klatschen. Um 20.08 Uhr die ersten Takte von "Take It Easy". Jubel brandet auf, Tausende springen von ihren Sitzen und applaudieren den Eagles. Zuletzt ist die amerikanische Westcoast-Band 1996 auf der Trabrennbahn in Bahrenfeld in Hamburg zu Gast gewesen, jetzt macht sie während ihrer bereits seit 2001 dauernden weltweiten "Farewell Tour" wieder Station in der Hansestadt. Vielleicht zum letzten Mal.

Die Eagles - das war immer ein Garant für mehrstimmigen Harmoniegesang, exquisites Gitarrenspiel und ebensolches Songwriting. Und genau das bekamen die Fans in einer dreistündigen Show geboten. In fast makellosem Sound, der endgültig mit den miesepetrigem Vorurteil aufräumte, in einer Arena könnte es keinen erstklassigen Klang geben. Mit gestochen scharfen Videobildern, die das Geschehen auch in die bühnenfernen Blöcke transportierten. Und mit Songs aus mehr als 30 Jahre Bandgeschichte.

So gut wie jeder in der Arena dürfte das Album "Hotel California" im Plattenschrank oder CD-Ständer stehen haben, denn nicht nur der Titeltrack - im Zugabenteil gespielt -, sondern auch andere Songs daraus wie "New Kid In Town" wurden besonders frenetisch gefeiert. Es ist überhaupt erstaunlich, welche Präsenz die Songs über die Jahre entfaltet haben. "One Of These Nights", "Desperado", "Tequila Sunrise", "The Long Run", "Heartache Tonight" oder "Witchy Woman" - all diese Songs hat man im Ohr, weil sie früher im Radio gespielt wurden. Damals, als das Radio sich noch um Vielfalt bemüht hat und Songs gespielt wurden, die nicht notwendigerweise ein Singlehit sein mußten.

Natürlich hat die Zeit oder besser das ausschweifende Leben als Rockstar auch Spuren bei den verbliebenen vier Eagles (die von einer achtköpfigen Band unterstützt wurden) hinterlassen. Am sichtbarsten bei Gitarrist Joe Walsh, der jedoch im zweiten Teil zeigte, daß er den Titel "Master Of The Stratocaster" immer noch zu Recht trägt. Don Henley, zu Beginn hinterm Schlagzeug, später als vierter Gitarrist in der Frontreihe, hat zwar an Körperumfang etwas zugelegt, aber an Stimme nichts verloren. Besonders stark sein Song "Dirty Laundry" von seinem Soloalbum "I Can't Stand Still". Glenn Frey ist immer noch das Zentrum der Eagles, ein gepflegter Sänger und Gitarrist, der die Ansagen macht und den anderen zeigt, wo's langgeht. Wegen seiner langen Haaren hebt Bassist Timothy B. Schmitt sich von seinen alten Kumpanen deutlich ab. Er erinnert an die Spät-Hippie-Phase in den 70ern und scheint seinen Alterungsprozeß verlangsamt zu haben. Schmitt ist der Mann für die Balladen: "Love Will Keep Us Alive" und "I Can't Tell You Why". Am Ende der drei Stunden bleibt kein Wunsch mehr offen. Farewell, Eagles!

erschienen am 6. Juni 2006

Guarantors For First Class Rock

Eagles: Great Applause for the Westcoast Band's Sold Out Concert at the Color Line Arena

By Heinrich Oehmsen

Hamburg -

The Color Line Arena is filled up to the ceiling. Every seat, really every seat, is occupied (translator's comment: there were four seats left in front of us but we were too far to the side to have a good angle from there, so we stayed where we were). There's a vibrant tension all over the auditorium. At 5 past 8 the first whistles by impatient fans, followed by encouraging clapping. At 8:08 the first chords of "Take It Easy". Applause coming up, thousands get off their seats to cheer for the Eagles. Their last appearance was in 1996 at the Trabrennbahn in Bahrenfeld/Hamburg, now they're again in the "Hansestadt" on their Farewell Tour which already lasts since 2001. Maybe for the last time.

The Eagles - they've always been a guaranty for vocal harmonies, exquisite guitar playing and as well exquisite song writing. And that was just what they offered their fans in a three hour show (translator's comment: almost three hours - no 2nd encore here). With an almost flawless sound that finished off the prejudice that in an arena there could be no perfect sound. With pin sharp videos that transferred the pictures even to the seats far from the stage. And with songs from more than 30 years of band history.

Almost everyone in the Arena is likely to have the album "Hotel California" in their LP or CD collection cause not only the title track - played as an encore - but also other songs from that album like "New Kid In Town" were celebrated frenetically. It's actually surprising how the songs evolved over the years. "One Of These Nights", "Desperado", "Tequila Sunrise", "The Long Run", "Heartache Tonight" or "Witchy Woman" - all these songs are present cause they've been played on the radio back then (translator's comment: I wonder why only back then). Back then when radio took care of variety and played songs which didn't have to necessarily be a single hit (translator's comment: is that the answer? I guess it's rather that German radio nowadays only cares for concerts they promote by themselves.)

Of course time or rather the rock stars' abusive life style has left its traces on the remaining four Eagles (who were supported by an 8 piece backup band) . Most certainly on Joe Walsh who however showed in the second part that he rightly bears the name of the "Master Of Stratocaster". Don Henley, at the beginning behind the drum kit, later as the fourth guitarist up front, has gained some weight but didn't lose any of his voice. Especially great was his song "Dirty Laundry" from his "I Can't Stand Still" solo album. Glenn Frey still is the center of the Eagles, a dapper singer and guitarist who does the intros and shows others the way. Because of his long hair bassist Timothy B. Schmit (translator's comment: I allowed myself to spell his name correctly) looks significantly different from his band mates. He reminds us of the late hippie era in the 70s and seems to have slowed down his aging process. Schmit is the man for the ballads: "Love Will Keep Us Alive" and "I Can't Tell You Why". At the end of the three hours no wish remains unfulfilled. Farewell, Eagles!

Newspaper Review / Hamburg

Translated by Tequila Sunset

No Farewell to the "Hotel California"

The Eagles played in Hamburg

Something has survived: towards the end the Eagles unpacked the snow white double neck 18-string guitar. With this brontosaur of instruments the West Coast legends celebrated their "Hotel California", the decadent groove of which still fascinates after 30 years and which - like "Stairway To Heaven" - belongs to the magic mile stones of rock music.

"We will play many songs today", front man Glenn Frey greeted the approximately 14,000 fans in the long time sold out Color Line Arena. No less than 25 songs were on the list, among those were classics like "Take It Easy", "One Of These Nights" or "Desperado" that the late Johnny Cash honored with a cover version. The Eagles also performed some more recent works, but those rather served for increasing the anticipation for "Hotel California" immeasurably.

"Farewell I" is the current tour's title, however as long as Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit keep playing with such dedication that farewell could take a long time.

Hamburg Photos

These photos were taken by Childofthe70s and Tequila Sunset. Thanks Ladies!