And Who Will Play Glenn?

Multiple sources have confirmed to Pollstar that twin festivals are being planned on both coasts this July featuring Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. But who will take the place of Glenn Frey? We don’t know but we have a (pretty big) idea.

John Shearer / Invision / AP – Don Henley and Glenn Frey of The Eagles
The Forum, Inglewood, Calif.

The festivals with working titles Classic East and Classic West are expected to be held at Dodgers Stadium and Citi Field in Los Angeles and New York. The passing of Frey put a holster on the future of Eagles, with Don Henley correctly saying that the spirit of the band was synonymous with its co-founder who died last January because of multiple physical ailments.

However, the surviving members, including the under-celebrated guitarist / songwriter Steuart Smith, can still put on a heck of a show, as can the Mac with or without Christine McVie. The only question is how to handle Frey’s absence.

There was a recent suggestion that a reunion of sorts would be possible if Frey’s son Deacon joined in. However, at least one source told Pollstar weeks ago that it will possibly not be a relative or an old friend like Jackson Browne but, rather, an “established country artist.” Beyond that, it’s speculation although we are strongly leaning toward a person who performed in honor of the Eagles at the Kennedy Center in December. There, Vince Gill played alongside Ringo Starr, Bob Seger, Steve Vai and Kings Of Leon, with Gill performing “Peaceful, Easy Feeling.” He also recorded “I Can’t Tell You Why” for an Eagles tribute album and his comparisons to the Eagles run deep as the singer for the Pure Prairie League.

Two months after the Kennedy Center performance, Gill was inducted into the Guitar Center Rock Walk by Joe Walsh.