While it would be exaggerating to say there’s been a lot of activity involving the Eagles lately, inasmuch as they began their so-called “Long Goodbye” tour three years ago and that trek is only now showing signs of nearing an actual ending, a few events and physical-media releases are worth noting. Whereas the “Long Goodbye” tour initially began as a traditional roadshow, in late 2024 the group transitioned to a lengthy residency at high-tech Las Vegas venue the Sphere, performing two-hour sets accompanied by an elaborate multimedia presentation. Generally speaking, their lineup has remained stable, with veterans Henley, Schmit, and Walsh abetted by latter-day players Deacon Frey and Vince Gill plus an armada of side musicians. The most significant change to the lineup, which happened several months into the Sphere residency, was the retirement of guitarist Steuart Smith, who replaced Don Felder in 2001 and functioned as the band’s co-lead guitarist until illness compelled his retirement in 2025. Even though the Eagles have a fret-heavy membership including Gill and Walsh, the band replaced Smith with Chris Holt, so he’s the guy playing the dueling-guitar attack on “Hotel California” at the Sphere.
Speaking of the Sphere, next month (allegedly) marks the end of the Eagles’s run at the venue, hence the announcement of the band’s set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2 and “The Long Goodbye: Act III,” a batch of three dates across the south throughout May. It remains to be seen whether “Act III” will evolve into yet another global odyssey, shift back to the Sphere, or possibly resolve with a for-real final show somewhere. As Henley noted in a recent TV interview, at a certain point advancing age will compel the end of the band’s career—but then again, Paul Simon is on the road in his mid-80s, so who knows?
Meanwhile, back here at Every Eagles Song, updates have quietly been made to existing content. Even though this blog’s last new post was an obituary for J.D. Souther in 2024, older post “An Eagles Solo Discography” gets modified whenever a band member issues new music, so several entries catalog 2025 releases by founding Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon, who unexpectedly ended a 20-year recording drought with a new album plus a few standalone singles. Felder issued a new disc in 2025, as well. Related, older post “An Eagles Discography” gets updated whenever official band content hits the marketplace, for instance this week’s release of One of These Nights: Deluxe Edition, which is preceded by what technically qualifies as the first new Eagles single since the Long Road Out of Eden era nearly 20 years ago—to promote the One of These Nights reissue, the band issued a 1975 live cover of the Chuck Berry number “Carol,” with Frey singing a characteristically energetic lead.
Whether it’s archival releases or concerts, the band never stays idle for long, even though hopes for legit new tunes have mostly faded—and as long as the Eagles keep adding footnotes to their legacy, I’ll be here to catalog the details with my usual needlessly obsessive fervor.
Speaking of the Sphere, next month (allegedly) marks the end of the Eagles’s run at the venue, hence the announcement of the band’s set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2 and “The Long Goodbye: Act III,” a batch of three dates across the south throughout May. It remains to be seen whether “Act III” will evolve into yet another global odyssey, shift back to the Sphere, or possibly resolve with a for-real final show somewhere. As Henley noted in a recent TV interview, at a certain point advancing age will compel the end of the band’s career—but then again, Paul Simon is on the road in his mid-80s, so who knows?
Meanwhile, back here at Every Eagles Song, updates have quietly been made to existing content. Even though this blog’s last new post was an obituary for J.D. Souther in 2024, older post “An Eagles Solo Discography” gets modified whenever a band member issues new music, so several entries catalog 2025 releases by founding Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon, who unexpectedly ended a 20-year recording drought with a new album plus a few standalone singles. Felder issued a new disc in 2025, as well. Related, older post “An Eagles Discography” gets updated whenever official band content hits the marketplace, for instance this week’s release of One of These Nights: Deluxe Edition, which is preceded by what technically qualifies as the first new Eagles single since the Long Road Out of Eden era nearly 20 years ago—to promote the One of These Nights reissue, the band issued a 1975 live cover of the Chuck Berry number “Carol,” with Frey singing a characteristically energetic lead.
Whether it’s archival releases or concerts, the band never stays idle for long, even though hopes for legit new tunes have mostly faded—and as long as the Eagles keep adding footnotes to their legacy, I’ll be here to catalog the details with my usual needlessly obsessive fervor.
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