The Eagles played the Rotterdam Ahoy on June 18th, 1975. Opening the show was Joe Walsh, only a few months before he joined the band.
This was the Eagles’ third appearance in Rotterdam and their first at the Ahoy. Three days later, they would appear, along with several other acts, at Mid-Summer Music, a festival organized by Elton John at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Coinciding with their Ahoy appearance was the Dutch release of the Eagles’ fourth studio album, One Of These Nights, which was met with positive reviews. One in particular, from the Dutch paper, Trouw, was especially complimentary of “the little mouse Randy Meisner”:
“Overlooked…are the title track and the two songs ‘Too Many Hands’ and ‘Take It To The Limit,’ co-written by the little mouse Randy Meisner (note his irreplaceable bass parts). Beautiful.” (Trouw, June 28, 1975. Translated.)
Randy backstage at the Ahoy.
©Gijsbert Hanekroot
Joe Walsh opened his hour-long set with the Barnstorm song, “Here We Go.”
Following Joe’s opening and a short break, the Eagles took the stage. Despite problems with the sound system, the “exuberant” Ahoy audience was enchanted:
“After initial sound difficulties, The Eagles worked their way to a superior level. The music was hurled incomparably tight into the hall. The vocals were immaculately clear, the close harmonies were of a transparency not achieved by any group in this genre. It was perfection that was heard by an exuberant Ahoy. It was a concert of highlights only. Highlights that the public has already learned from The Eagles’ records. That songs from Desperado, On the Border, and from their most recent LP, One Of These Nights, could be performed so perfectly, was a surprise, even to the connoisseurs. A worthy end to the pop concert season.” (Algemeen Dagblad, June 19, 1975 – translated)
Setlist
***
Take It Easy
Outlaw Man
Doolin-Dalton
Desperado (Reprise)
One Of These Nights
Train Leaves Here This Morning
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Desperado
Ol’ 55
Midnight Flyer
Already Gone
Too Many Hands
Good Day In Hell
Witchy Woman
Best Of My Love
Oh, Carol (with Joe Walsh)
Tequila Sunrise
The Eagles & Joe Walsh in the Dutch magazine, OOR, July 2nd, 1975. The text is impossible to read or translate, so I have provided this only for the photos and overall coolness.
More photos:
Great research and post Jessica!
Thank you for all you do- Melody
Glad you enjoyed it, Melody!
Thanks Jessica another good article and pictures. Great work.
Thanks, Eileen!
I was with the Eagles at that show in Rotterdam. I was living in Holland, and was friends with and worked for Irving in college in Champaign, IL. When I heard the Eagles and Joe Walsh (I had met him from helping out at concerts Irving had promoted in the Midwest) were playing, I contacted Irving’s office and met up with him at the Hilton. We went to the soundcheck with them, then back to the hotel for a light dinner, and then back to the hall for the show. Bernie Leadon was there with his girlfriend, Patti Davis Reagan. She was accompanied by plain cloths California State Troopers, as her father was then the Governor of California. This was a bit awkward, as I brought something to smoke, and Glenn Fry and I had to sneak around to have a puff or 2. I was invited to go to Wembley with them, but had to get back to my wife in Zeeland (about an hour away), and 6-month-old son, I was a new father, and my rock and roll days were over by then. I don’t remember Jody (who I knew from Champaign) being there in Rotterdam with Joe, or Randy’s wife and kid. I hardly knew the music of the Eagles, as I hadn’t been back to the US in 5 years, but it was a great show, I was very impressed.
Thanks, Arnie! What a fantastic story! I’ve read some similar accounts regarding Patti. She would show up with her security detail when the Eagles were recording One Of These Nights and the guys would have to clear the decks of any illegal substances. Do you still keep in touch with Irving?