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The Eagles: Reunion In The Works? Maybe, Says Drummer Don Henley

By Kaanii Powell Cleaver

From the archive: published Sep 28, 2016, 10 years ago. Details may have changed since.

Back in March, the Inquisitr reported that California rock band, The Eagles, would fly no more. At the time, band founder Glenn Frey was newly dead, and his bandmates were undoubtedly in shock. In September, Eagles guitarist Don Henley seems to be softening his stance, telling the Montreal Gazette that he no longer rules out the possibility of an Eagles reunion. In response to a question regarding a theoretical Eagles reunion show featuring SoCal songwriter Jackson Browne, Henley told the Gazette the following.

“At some point in the future, we might work our way around to that. You know, Glenn has a son who can sing and play quite well. And one of the only things that would make sense to me is if it were his son. With Jackson, of course, we could do Take It Easy and a couple other things, but the only way I would consider any kind of reunion, I think, would be with Glenn’s son, Deacon.”

If Browne joins the surviving Eagles in concert, it won’t be the first time the introspective songwriter stepped onstage with Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Bernie Leadon, and Timothy B. Schmidt. In fact, Jackson’s poignant performance with the band at this year’s Grammy event brought the house right down.

https://youtu.be/ij7KLIi4d40

The untimely passing of Glenn Frey

Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, died in January of this year. His demise was announced on The Eagles’ official website.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of husband, best friend, father, comrade, and Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016. Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide.”

Jackson Browne could be an ideal choice for an Eagles reunion

Browne, who scored radio hits with original songs such as “Doctor My Eyes,” “Running On Empty,” “Somebody’s Baby” and a well-received cover version of “Stay (Just a Little Bit Longer)” might be the perfect candidate to fill the easy listening rock ‘n’ roll shoes of the late Glenn Frey. Browne, after all, wrote the lion’s share of one of the Eagles’ most everlasting songs, “Take it Easy.” Browne also co-wrote “Doolin-Dalton,” which appeared on the band’s Desperado album in 1973, and “James Dean,” which featured prominently on the Eagles’ 1974 LP, On The Border.

According to Eagles Online , Frey and Browne met when the two were neighbors back in 1969. Browne, who lived in a downstairs duplex beneath Frey and his then roommate, songwriter JD Souther, was in the middle of composing the song that would become “Take It Easy” when he slammed the piano shut in frustration. Frey toddled down to Browne’s apartment and offered the lyric that sealed the deal on one of the Eagles’ most beloved songs.

“It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin’ down to take a look at me”

In 1974, Jackson Browne was a special guest performer when The Eagles appeared on Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert TV show. Frey moonlighted on Jackson’s 1973 album For Everyman and again when he recorded Running On Empty in 1977.

Who is Jackson Browne?

Clyde Jackson Browne was born in Heidelberg, Germany on October 9, 1948. The Browne family emigrated to Los Angeles when Jackson was 3-years-old, and it was there that a teenage Jackson fell in love with folk music. In 1966, Browne hooked up with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, recording their first two albums before signing a publishing deal with Elektra Records. He wrote several songs for Tom Rush and Steve Noonan prior to relocating to New York’s Greenwich Village where he performed as part of Tim Buckley’s band. Before returning to Los Angeles, chanteuse Nico recorded three Jackson Browne songs on her album, Chelsea Girl.

https://youtu.be/fqFUmo8VVg0

Less than delighted with the east coast progress of his career, Browne made his way back to southern California in 1968. Before long, his songs were being recorded by The Byrds and Linda Ronstadt. It was Ronstadt who hired a young Eagles to be her backup band. If and when The Eagles do reunite, Jackson Browne’s voice, guitar skills and songwriting talents will bring the seminal Southern California sound full circle.

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