The Eagles’ 2018 lineup, with Vince Gill second from left
Since the initial announcement over a year ago that country music superstar Vince Gill would be performing with The Eagles for a set of festival dates and, subsequently, further live shows, the singer and guitarist has been somewhat mum about his role in the band. Now, in a new interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch, ahead of a solo gig in the Virginia city this weekend, Gill has offered some insights into the experience.
Asked by writer Colleen Curran what it’s been like working with one of the world’s biggest rock bands, Gill first paid tribute to the late band member whose place he has taken. “Glenn Frey was a great friend of mine,” Gill says in the story. “It’s a tragic loss. I was as big a fan of that band as the people who come to see them. I never dreamed that I’d play with them. At the end of the day, I really understand how important those songs are and how deep they go with people. It’s pretty hard to describe in a sense, but it’s easy to let people know how much it means to me. Playing with these guys, harmonizing with Don Henley, it’s a ‘pinch me’ moment every night when the lights go down.”
Related: A look back at a classic album by fellow Eagle Joe Walsh
For her next question, Curran wondered what it’s like for Gill to sing some of the Eagles’ classic hits, including “New Kid in Town,” “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Take It to the Limit.” He replied, “It’s terrifying every time I open my mouth (laughs). Like, Good luck, kid, you’re taking on a classic. There’s a tremendous amount of pressure because you want to make the band feel like they did the right thing in asking me to do this. And you want the crowd to be OK with it. There’s a unique pressure. I can feel it from the crowd. They’re looking at me with one eye closed, wondering, How is this going to work? Then after a verse or two, everybody relaxes and it feels like, It’s going to be OK.”
Gill further discusses how he met Frey and then talks about other aspects of his career, noting that he is presently working on new material.
Whether he will continue with the Eagles, who have also been using Frey’s son, Deacon, in the band, is not brought up in the conversation. Get Eagles tour dates and ticket info here and here.
Tickets for Gill’s solo concerts are available here and here.
Watch Vince Gill sing “Ol’ 55” with the Eagles
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationTremendous addition and asset. Would like to see them perform some material when he was with Pure Prarie League. Amie is great to do along side with Seven Bridges Road. Keep it going. Good music is hard to come by. If you like what you are doing, keep doing it.