Joe Walsh Misses First Show With The Eagles

Since joining the Eagles in 1975, Joe Walsh has played every live show the band has performed for more than half a century. His fiery guitar work and wry solo songs became woven into the Eagles’ concert fabric after he replaced Bernie Leadon and helped shape their harder‑edged sound. That streak came to an unexpected halt this past Saturday night, January 24, 2026, when the Eagles took the stage at the Sphere in Las Vegas without him.

Walsh, now in his late seventies, had been battling a serious case of the flu in the lead‑up to the concert. Though he struggled through most of the previous night’s show on January 23, bandmates acknowledged he was too ill to perform on January 24 and urged fans to send their support as he rested.

Faced with the sudden absence of one of rock’s most recognizable guitarists, the Eagles weighed their options. Rather than cancel the concert, Don Henley told the Las Vegas audience that they held an emergency rehearsal and decided to go ahead, relying on longtime touring members to fill in.

Guitar duties were shouldered by Vince Gill and Deacon Frey, with Frey and new guitarist Chris Holt trading licks on the “Hotel California” solo and Gill leading vocals on several Walsh‑associated songs. One set list change saw the James Gang classic “Funk #49” dropped in Walsh’s absence.

It marked the first Eagles concert in more than 50 years without Joe Walsh, a testament to both his durability and the enduring musical bond he forged with the band.

Get well, Joe!

Doug O’Brien