The eagles wow fans at o2 show
The Eagles soared at The O2 as they brought the British leg of their world tour to an end on Saturday night (April 5).
The legendary country-rock band were in cracking form for the last of their five dates at The O2 Arena, delighting fans with a three hour, hit-packed show.
Rolling out tracks from their latest, and possibly last, studio album "Long Road out of Eden", along with a host of classics from their back catalogue, the 60-somethings proved they still had what it takes. Refreshingly the veteran Americans were not content to simply rehash their greatest hits, with the newer material sitting comfortably alongside the old favourites.
Founding members Glenn Frey and Don Henley were both in fine voice as they shared vocal duties, with bassist Timothy B Schmit also taking his turn at the mic, notably on "I Don't Want to Hear Anymore".
Frey, looking more like a retired mafia don than a rock star these days, kept the crowd amused with his banter, dedicating "Take it to the Limit" to his ex-wife's credit card, and thanking the audience several times for turning up.
Henley, always a more intense character, spent less time behind the drums than before. Despite complaining of a cold he produced the goods vocally, including a storming version of his solo hit "Boys of Summer".
There were many highlights, with the music well-served by an excellent sound system. No problems now with muddy acoustics at the North Greenwich venue.
A faithful rendition of "Hotel California", thrown in surprisingly early in the set, the epic, cinematic "Long Road out of Eden" and a blistering "In the City", sung by the inimitable Joe Walsh, all deserve a mention.
Walsh, the man who put the cojones in the band when he joined full-time in 1976, was certainly responsible for the evening's rockier moments, most memorably a barnstorming version of his 1978 solo hit "Life's Been Good", complete with a "helmet cam" trained on the crowd.
Always one of the great guitar gurners, some of the facial contortions Walsh produced during the show would have put rubber-faced comedian Lee Evans - due at the same venue in October - to shame.
Mention must be made of Steuart Smith, who recreated the long-gone Don Felder's guitar licks as well as adding his own polish to newer tracks.
The plaintive "Desperado" - with mobile phones replacing the more traditional cigarette lighters as the crowd sang along - brought the night to a reflective conclusion, sending 20,000 fans home happy.
They may have been preaching to the converted but there's no doubting their class. On this evidence The Eagles place among rock's greats is well deserved.
simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk
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