EAGLES GET A NEW FREY – CONFIDENTIAL:
THERE’S A new kid in town — and it’s Glenn Frey’s son Deacon. The Eagles have welcomed cofounder Glenn Frey’s 24-year-old son Deacon to the band indefinitely, according to a music industry source. And we hear that the “Hotel California” hitmakers plan to roll on to their 50th anniversary, which is still four years away — starting with the announcement of a new tour as early as Tuesday.
Guitarist Deacon (photo inset) joined up with his dad’s former bandmates, including fellow founder Don Henley, over the summer to do “a few shows” marking Glenn’s death, but he has “signed on” as a full-time band member, we’re assured. Frey died from pneumonia at age 67 in January 2016. “For a while, there were mixed emotions and concerns about continuing, but they have been overcome,” according to our insider, who reports that the band’s big 5-0 has been discussed.
“Don expressed his delight with Deacon and dealt with his grief at losing Glenn,” says that source. “Now he feels that the band are playing strong, still have much to offer and should push on through to celebrate their milestone.”
This development marks a U-turn by Henley, who had hinted at an end for the Eagles at the Classic West Fest in L.A. in July.
Henley, 70, told the crowd: “In case this is our last dance I just want to thank all the fans in Southern California for your support. It all started right here in Los Angeles, 46 years ago. And your love and loyalty has kept it going all these years.” And in March 2016, Henley described the band’s Grammy Awards performance as the Eagles’ “final farewell” and added, “I don’t think you’ll see us performing again.”
Our Eagles whisperer says that if all goes according to plan, there will be more years to come.
“The good news is that the next plan would be some kind of world tour at the end of the decade to run over a couple of years,” we’re told.