The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Jimmy Buffet performed at the Yes On Proposition 15 Benefit at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. The concert was a fund-raiser for the California Nuclear Safeguards Initiative. Proposition 15 would prohibit the construction of nuclear power plants in California and limit their use. The proposition was defeated during California’s primary election held on June 8th, 1976. The bands performed without pay. Jackson Browne was initially scheduled to appear but cancelled. Jimmy Buffett took his place.
Sacramento City College Express, April 29, 1976
Express (Sacramento City College), May 6, 1976
Express (Sacramento City College), May 6, 1976
Program
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Jane Fonda with Glenn Frey outside the Eagles’ trailer. Fonda spoke at the fundraiser.
The Eagles played four sold-out concerts at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, October 19-22, 1976. Get all the details and hear audio from the shows, plus one complete concert.
In February 1973, the Eagles spent a month in London recording their second album DESPERADO. They also taped an appearance on BBC’s IN CONCERT and played a handful of shows in and around London. Get the full story here, plus never-before-seen home movie footage.
The Eagles played to 200,000 at the music festival, California Jam, held at the Ontario Motor Speedway outside of Los Angeles. The concert was produced by ABC and simulcast on TV and radio on May 10th, 1974. Jackson Browne filled in on several songs with the band in the absence of Don Felder, whose wife went into labor on the day of the concert.
Ad from the Los Angeles Free Press, March 22, 1974
Two stages were used that were perched on 600 feet of railroad track. As one band played, the other stage was set up for the next act, then rolled onto center stage. The stages can be seen under the striped canopies. The semi-circle of trailers behind the stages were the bands’ dressing rooms.
Photo by Mark Sullivan.
The Eagles played a 45-minute set (only 20 minutes was televised) (Not in order of performance)
James Dean Blackberry Blossom Midnight Flyer Already Gone Take It Easy Tequila Sunrise Witchy Woman Peaceful Easy Feeling Early Bird Outlaw Man
Below is a clip of the Eagles’ intro from the radio simulcast on ABC’s KLOS-FM in Los Angeles:
Heading to the stage: L-R: Glenn Frey (behind the door), Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon, and road manager, Richie Fernandez.
Bernie, Randy (blue shirt), Glenn and Don
L to R: Randy Meisner, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon
Randy’s blue shirt with the hand-embroidered eagle was a gift from a fan named Terri “Woody” Smith. She also gave him a yellow shirt with the cover design from On The Border, also hand-embroidered (see it here).
Photos by Jeffrey Mayer.Photos by Julian Baum.
Randy performing “Midnight Flyer” from On The Border, which had just been released:
The footage below includes the five songs that aired in the televised concert on May 10th, 1974:
Below is a post-show interview with Bernie Leadon that appeared in the San Diego Door, May 14th, 1974. Although Bernie talked mostly about the band’s music and albums up to 1974, he did voice his frustration to interviewer Greg Leonard about the band’s mid-day performance at Cal Jam:
“Bernie had just returned from what he felt was a frustrating performance in the mid-day heat. When I met him he was nursing a glass of champagne trying to relax after the tension of playing outdoors, with no prior soundcheck, before nearly 200,000 people.”
Click below to read full article:
Reviews and further reading (click images to access articles).
Los Angeles Free Press, April 18, 1974
Daily Report, Ontario, CA, April 7, 1974
USC Daily Trojan, April 22, 1974
Circus, August 1974 (includes review of On The Border as well as California Jam.)
Randy Meisner returned to the stage in Houston, Texas on February 12th, 1981, following a two-and-a-half year absence from performing. After the show, he sat down with Dale Adamson of the Houston Chronicle for a candid backstage interview.
The cover photos of the Beverly Hills Hotel at sunset, taken at Will Rodgers Memorial Park, and the back cover and gatefold, taken in the lobby of the Lido Apartments in Los Angeles, were taken by David Alexander. The cover was designed by Kosh and Don Henley.
A poster insert was included with first issues of the album. It showed the band posed on a bed. According to photographer, Norman Seeff, this photo was a composite (multiple photos combined to create one image).
“Soon after commencing this session, the band walked out. I had no idea why at the time. A week later, I showed them a poster design I had created by combining a number of individual shots. They loved it and all was forgiven. It became a poster insert for the HOTEL CALIFORNIA album.”
