The Eagles Story II

It was 10 o'clock, Thursday morning, when Gus receives a call from Kristin the event director. "Gus, are you busy this Saturday?"

"Why?" Asked Gus.

Don Felder has asked me to organise a surprise cameo appearance for him at the Dunhill and you have been recommended as his backing band! I nearly crash the van!

Then half an hour later Don phones me...

" I would like you guys to back me for a surprise gig at the Dunhill VIP Dinner this Saturday. Is that OK?"

I nearly crash again!
Checking my very busy schedule I manage to fit him in. The gig is on!

We arrived at the hotel about 3 o'clock where we were to meet up with Don to discuss the music set and work out who was going to play and sing what parts.
The event organiser had been very secretive about this performance, as her star guests had no idea what was about to take place.

So, Don and his partner wander into the hotel foyer and we agree to meet with him at 4 o'clock in his hotel room. We took a few acoustic guitars with us and set off looking for his room.

Given that we were excited about doing a gig with 'the man' himself, we introduced ourselves and piled into his hotel room. The initial scene was very laid back.
We laughed and joked and basically got on really well. We were actually not nervous at all.

We got the guitars out of their cases and Don picked up a Takemine acoustic we brought for him.
After he moaned and groaned about the set up and intonation, he started hammering out some of his famous riffs with an effortless ease.

Jim Bowie, who would be doing the twin solo over Hotel California, watched in awe as months of chord and solo rehearsing were revealed in a flash. Don really has an amazing command of the guitar and his showmanship is evident within a very short space of time.

We start working out Hotel California, which in fact Felder wrote in 1974. There was much debate about the key in which we would be playing because Felder wanted to lower it to Am instead of Bm.
He argues that "only Henley can sing it in that darned key", to which we reply "Well, so can we actually..", but it's a discussion we'll never win.
After 30 years of hearing this track, playing it, breathing it, he decides the structure of the song is to be different and not a stuffy studio version. We run through the song acoustically, working on the harmonies and timing, before moving on to the rest of his set list.

So time is travelling fast and we depart from Don's room to meet up in the VIP tent to set up and sound check. Kristin, the events organiser from Gekko Events was very keen to make sure that no prying ears were listening in, so she gives us the go ahead and we get started.

Don insists that we perform with punch and insists that its not to sound like some "poncy cocktail lounge performance". We therefore punch the harmonies out wholeheartedly! Kristin, hardly believing her ears, is starting to show less trepidation and is now believing that despite having only two days to organise this monumental task, that we were all going to not only pull it off, but also stun the audience with the all inspired performance.

With the sound check over, everyone feels a little easier…

We depart back to the hotel for the usual band fish supper…not!

This is the Dunhill… and we are in the Old Course Hotel…!

We are told to get to the fourth floor restaurant, where we would be fed in fine fashion.
Now, we've got jeans on, tea shirts, trainers. It's rock and roll man!
This must be a first for ANY golf club entrance, least of all The Old Course.
Anyway, the look on the waiters face as we descend on the restaurant was priceless!

"We're with Don Felder, we're his band…"

This was met with disbelief as the waiter looked us up and down.

"Honest, we've been sent here by the organiser…"

There was a pregnant pause as the waiter tried his best to be diplomatic. No one was expecting us you see, but we eventually got ourselves seated and suitably fed and watered. We were a trifle under dressed for the occasion, but we were well looked after by the Old Course waiting staff, who expertly showed off the label of our Highland Spring Water when masterly filling our glasses. Class eh?

Band call was 9.45pm so we amble over to the tent.
I think the bouncers thought we were some locals trying to get a sneak at the guests inside the VIP tent…

"We're the band. You know, Don Felder...?

Anyway, we get changed into our stage gear and wait for the call…

At 10.20pm we get on stage in preparation for Don's performance. He is introduced to a who's who audience as one of The Eagles, selling 40 million albums worldwide and writing the famous classic song Hotel California. There is a huge applause. We are then introduced as the "Best Eagles Tribute Band in the world". Now those were not our words, but nevertheless, our chests puffed before the count in to Hotel California.

There was a huge applause as the audience appreciate the magnitude of the occasion. It is nearly 10 years since a member of the Eagles had performed Hotel California in Scotland. Never noted for singing lead vocals, Felder sung and played the track with great skill and played all the riffs we associate with this song. The place erupts in applause when the song ends.

We are then joined on stage by Tico Tores, Bon Jovi's drummer. Great to see him, but does he know the next song is…Tequila Sunrise?
We reckon this was the first "rock" version of Tequila ever played! Nice one Tico!

Finishing with "Take it Easy", Felder exits the stage to a hearty applause. We get ourselves offstage and mix with the celebrities.

What a day. We had a chat with Don before leaving the bash and he gave us great consideration and his time. We would like to extend our thanks to Don and Catherine for their hospitality and friendliness during the whole event. We all had a thoroughly memorable day and there are plenty stories to tell our grandchildren in years to come…

Roll on next time…if we're lucky.

Eagles Story - Hotel California