For the first time in nearly five decades, the Eagles took the stage without Joe Walsh.
The band performed their Saturday, Jan. 24 show at the Sphere in Las Vegas without the longtime guitarist and singer, who was sidelined after coming down with the flu. Walsh joined the Eagles in 1975, making his absence a historic first for the group.
Rather than cancel the sold-out performance, the band opted to push forward.
“We had a choice to make,” Don Henley told the audience. “We could either cancel the whole thing, or we could man up and do the show. So we came down here this afternoon and had an emergency rehearsal for two hours. And fortunately, in this band, we have a deep bench.”
With Walsh out, the Eagles reshuffled both vocal and guitar duties to keep the show largely intact.
Vince Gill stepped in to handle lead vocals on Walsh-associated classics originally recorded with the James Gang, including “Rocky Mountain Way” and “Life’s Been Good.” On “Hotel California,” Deacon Frey and Chris Holt teamed up for the signature dual guitar leads, with Frey taking over Walsh’s iconic solo section.
Despite the sudden change, the band made only one adjustment to the setlist. James Gang’s “Funk #49” was dropped and replaced with the Eagles’ “Best of My Love.” Otherwise, the performance stayed remarkably close to the planned show.
Walsh had appeared onstage the previous night despite feeling unwell, though he sat out several songs and the band skipped “Rocky Mountain Way” at that performance.
Henley addressed Walsh’s condition directly, making it clear the absence was temporary.
“Joe’s going to be okay,” he said. “He just needs some time. Give him some love.”
The Eagles are scheduled to continue their Sphere residency through the end of March, with another show slated for Friday, Jan. 30. At this point, Walsh’s return date has not been publicly confirmed.
Walsh’s absence came during an otherwise celebratory moment for the band. The Eagles were recently informed that their landmark compilation Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) has become the first album in history to receive quadruple diamond certification from the RIAA, signifying sales of more than 40 million copies.
Originally released in 1976, the album has long been one of the best-selling records of all time, featuring classics like “Take It Easy,” “Desperado,” “One of These Nights,” and “Lyin’ Eyes.” The new certification further cements the Eagles’ status as one of the most commercially successful acts in rock history.
Even without one of its most recognizable members onstage, the band’s ability to adapt — and the audience’s reception — underscored the depth and durability of the Eagles’ legacy.
For now, the message from the stage was clear: the show goes on, Joe Walsh will be back, and the Eagles’ run at the Sphere is far from over.
