Vince Gill Talks Joining the Eagles: ‘I Feel I’m a Great Fit’
When Vince Gill joined the Eagles last month for his first rehearsal with the storied band, ahead of the group’s two reunion shows at July festival gigs in New York and L.A., the country singer-guitarist had to pinch himself. “It was a surreal experience,” he says, sitting on a couch in his home studio in Nashville, his 21 Grammys and vast guitar collection behind him. “Don’s there, Timothy is there and I’m singing these songs. It was an amazing gift.”
On July 15th at L.A.’s Dodger Stadium, Eagles members Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh will reunite for their first full show since Glenn Frey’s death in 2016, for the Classic West concert, an all-star weekend of classic rock featuring icons like Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan and Journey. Gill and Frey’s son Deacon have been tapped to step in for the late co-founder, both of them adding vocals and guitar to the Eagles’ already potent lineup. (They’ll do it all again on July 29th at Citi Field in New York.)
Rolling Stone Country talked with Gill about which Eagles songs he’ll sing – they’re not all Frey tunes – how he’s preparing for the shows and the possibility of a full-fledged tour.
You’ve known Don and Glenn for some time. How’d this opportunity come about?
Through management. [Eagles manager] Irving Azoff picked my manager Larry Fitzgerald’s brain about my interest. From what I’ve been told by Don, I was the only consideration. But I didn’t think they’d do it.
You mean reunite at all?
Yeah. When Glenn passed, that was Don’s first response: “I can’t see us playing without Glenn.” With time, maybe they understood the impact of the legacy of these songs and thought, “It would be good for people to continue to hear these songs.” But the only reason I’m getting this chance is because of the sadness that happened to Glenn. It is pretty bittersweet.
You were closest with Glenn, weren’t you?
Maybe. But I really got to know Don a lot better when he made his solo record [Cass County]. I played and sang on it. Now we are doing a duet together for a tribute to Elton John. And Joe and I kicked around the idea of doing a Traveling Wilburys thing. We were headed down that path and then the tragedy happened to Glenn. I think everybody is trying to figure it out, and see if it even feels good to them or feels right.
