Don Henley’s Concern About The Eagles Reunion

There is no doubt that losing a band member fills the surviving ones with overwhelming grief and sadness. On the one hand, they are trying to cope with this pain, and on the other hand, they are faced with some difficult decisions. While some decide to disband like Led Zeppelin after their drummer John Bonham’s death, others may prefer to go on like Alice in Chains, continuing with William DuVall following the passing of their iconic frontman Layne Staley.

Like many bands in the history of rock, the Eagles witnessed the death of a founding member, Glenn Frey. The musician, unfortunately, passed away on January 18, 2016, due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia. Besides his vocal and instrumental duties, Frey was also the co-writer of many Eagles hits, such as ‘Take It Easy,’ and ‘One of These Nights.’

Following his passing, many fellow musicians paid tribute to the late singer and expressed their grief. In a statement, Don Henley also described Frey as a brother and a good friend despite their previous problems. After losing a member as crucial as Glenn Frey, the Eagles were at a crossroads. Carrying on with the remaining team was one option, but Henley had some concerns about it.

What Did Don Henley Say About The Eagles Reunion?

After losing Glenn Frey in January 2016, the surviving Eagles members came together again a month later at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. As a heartfelt tribute to their late founder, the band delivered a memorable performance of the classic song, ‘Take It Easy.’ In later months, the Eagles began to be asked questions about whether they would continue hitting the stage without Frey.

Don Henley joined an interview with the Washington Post in November 2016 and revealed that they were done since he couldn’t imagine going on without the late singer who initially started the band. Then, Henley continued with words by saying that carrying on after that point would seem like a ‘greedy‘ and ‘desperate‘ thing. So, he made it clear that he didn’t intend to reunite the Eagles.

Here is what Don Henley said about a possible reunion:

“It would just seem like greed or something. It would seem like a desperate thing.”

Although he initially thought so, the Eagles started performing again at the Classic West and Classic East concert in July 2017 as headliners. Glenn Frey’s son Deacon joined the band to replace his father, and they kept touring in the following months. Even though Deacon Frey departed from the band in April 2022 to pursue a solo career, the band has been performing live in the United States.