Shortened Setlists Here to Stay?

[TimothyBFan]

First I want to agree with LTLH & WF--I'm very thankful I got to see the show in 2008 in Chicago that included the FULL setlist including the 2 encores!! The boys were in top form those nights and I'm sure the other Borders, Maleah, PM & Soda would all agree that it couldn't have been a better show. It was my first Eagles show, after waiting over 30 years to finally see one, it was well worth the money. And so was the show in Cincinnati at that price. Those were the only times I've seen them and I will never regret the fact that I spent the money--even tho that same money would of most likely bought about 10 concert tickets for other artists. It was truly a dream come true for me but that being said, I made a vow to never spend that kind of money again for any concert, not even an Eagles concert....well until I almost had a front row ticket dropped in my lap, then I lost my resolve. It didn't work out, so I was able to stick to my word.

Now onto 2011----Ticket prices have increased a bit and the shows have apparently been cut by 1/3. To be truthful, don't mind that the show has been shortened, I understand why maybe they need to, but I do have a problem with the songs that are left. And I really have a problem with the fact that ticket prices HAVE NOT been cut. Did I expect them to be? Truthfully, probably not for the simple fact that I do believe it's all about the money for Irving and the Eagles and not about the fans that have made them what they are today. That disheartens me.

And to add insult to injury, these last couple of weeks, I will admit, have been a bit of an eye opener for me. I truthfully don't feel I'm the only one (some have said so here on the board as well) that is a bit put off by their behavior. The interviews that haven't been exactly nice, the stories about their demands with food & rugs in bathrooms, etc., and then there was the picture. Again, I'm no prude and I've done it myself BUT I truly expect more from these guys than that kind of behavior. Come on, you're a rock star and tho it shouldn't happen and it's not pleasant, don't tell me you're not use to it and the best way to make the press leave you alone is show some decorum-don't give them reason to talk you down and hound you by flipping them off. And when I see members of this board selling their tickets off to concerts because they were expecting a longer show, etc... that speaks volumes to me. JMO tho---again, what do I know.

As for the shortened setlist---I couldn't agree more with what FP posted here a few post back... It does seem to have almost become the Don & Joe show with special guest Timothy B Schmit on bass & Glenn Frey on guitar and co-vocals. Not acceptable FOR ME. That's not to say that others are or will be perfectly ok with that.

I will ALWAYS love these guys, after 35+ years, how can I not? And after spending a big chunk on my allowance as a child/teen on albums & posters and my adult life on memorabilia, tickets, programs, etc... I think I've earned the right to speak my mind and let them know I'm disappointed in them right now.

Again, I will agree with FP, maybe it's time to step away if it's become such a chore to do a decent show for a decent price and deal with the press and public.

I'll step down from my now and apologize if I have offended anyone or have been out of line in my opinion.

[luvthelighthouse]

TBF, I mostly agree with you.

However, I am not offended by the bird flipping photo. I've had enough on some days where I may whip out a double bird! Also, we only just discovered the "firm grapes" news. That doesn't mean it hasn't been going on for years! Their performance waivers seem to be closely guarded... but I bet there is a stuff in the there that would certainly escalate them to diva status. Earned or not is not for me to say... I mean, all these performers have crazy stuff in agreements. To me, all the food and drinks and plush stuff they ask for in their dressing rooms when they aren't even in them for more than an hour is so wasteful, IMO.

I totally agree, the Don and Joe show doesn't work for me either! I think the second half is way too Joe heavy. I wish Joe were more spread around. I do not care how well the solo stuff plays live, I want EAGLES songs! One from each of their solo careers would be fine... but that's enough for me.

I said it earlier and I'll say it again... shortened show should mean lower ticket price. Why should people pay the same for a 2 hour show that others paid for a 3 hr show? It's wrong!

I don't doubt that they love their fans. You can tell when the fans are into the show, they guys get more into their performance. I do feel they are out of touch w/the everyman. I mean, how can they be in touch, they've been millionaires for decades. I don't think they get that what they are asking for is peoples two week paychecks! Yes, I know, if you can't pay it, don't go... but then many hardcore fans would miss out on the live expierence.

I could go on, but I'll stop...

[sodascouts]

First off, I too am disappointed by the shorter set. I feel that if, God forbid, they are truly physically unable to do a longer show they should drop more solo songs instead of Eagles songs, and - even more importantly - charge less money for a shorter show. That's only fair.

As far as the behavioral stuff, though, I'm not shocked that they want things "just so" when it comes to their food and backstage area. That's par for the course with rock stars. As for Don flipping the bird - gee whiz, Don being cranky, how shocking (NOT)! It's more vulgar and immature than usual, but it's not like he was caught carjacking or urinating on young girls in a bathtub (Chuck Berry, I'm looking at you), torturing prostitutes (hey, Rick James), into child porn (hey, Gary Glitter) or sleeps with young boys (hello, Michael Jackson). How about the members of Led Zeppelin shoving fish up a woman's privates? That's the kind of behavior I find truly appalling. In the grand scheme of things, is flipping the bird at the press really so horrific?

Lame? Yes. Deal-breaker for my fandom? Heck no.

But that's just me. Everyone's reactions are equally valid.

One more thing: I truly do believe they care about their fans. With regard to Glenn, I know that first-hand. Like LTL, I believe they're just a bit out of touch when it comes to money.

[TimothyBFan]

As far as the behavioral stuff, though, I'm not shocked that they want things "just so" when it comes to their food and backstage area. That's par for the course with rock stars. As for Don flipping the bird - gee whiz, Don being cranky, how shocking (NOT)! It's more vulgar and immature than usual, but it's not like he was caught carjacking or urinating on young girls in a bathtub (Chuck Berry, I'm looking at you), torturing prostitutes (hey, Rick James), into child porn (hey, Gary Glitter) or sleeps with young boys (hello, Michael Jackson). How about the members of Led Zeppelin shoving fish up a woman's privates? That's the kind of behavior I find truly appalling. In the grand scheme of things, is flipping the bird at the press really so horrific?

I totally agree about rock stars but like I said somewhere else, I expect that from Led Zeppelin, Ozzy, Motley Crue, Rick James, etc... doesn't make it right of course. But I guess I hold the members of the Eagles in a different "class" of rock star and expect better.

As for the rider regarding backstage food. Everyone's different--take Van Halen and their no green M & M's, they said they put that there just to make sure that the venues were reading the whole thing because if they were missing that, then they could be missing something that could potentially be dangerous or deadly while on stage.

The Foo Fighters road manager has always done some ridiculous stuff in their rider also but basically just for entertainment. This years tour rider is a 52 page coloring book. David Grohl says yes they ask for steak and potatoes but not for them, but for the road crew who work 18 hour days. He says the band would just as soon eat bologna sandwiches.

I feel that when you are asking for "grapes that don't fall off the stem", you're pretty much acting like a prima donna-I don't care if it's something they've been doing for 35 years or more, it's still ridiculous.... Like the old saying says, "if he jumps off a bridge, would you do it also?". Just because there's other bands doing it, doesn't make it right and I feel it's ridiculous for those bands also to act like that. You're a flippin' rock star making millions--be thankful and stop acting like spoiled brats!

Lame? Yes. Deal-breaker for my fandom? Heck no.

I agree--I have been a fan for decades now and I don't plan on jumping ship now. I simply love their music and that's what really counts. But I have every right to say I will no longer put more money from concerts in their pockets until they wisen up and realize that the common person, while paying for groceries, mortgages, car payments, college educations, has better things to spend hundreds of dollars on. I wish I could, but it just isn't realistic to me or millions of others fan I feel safe to say. I will, however, drop $20.00 for a new cd or dvd but for a $200.00-$1,500.00 concert ticket... hell no!!

[sodascouts]

About the grapes thing... I know it sounds diva. In fact, when I first read about it, I laughed out loud. However, upon further consideration, perhaps it's not so ridiculous after all if they've had bad grape experiences in the past. Maybe they had a tray of mushy, nasty grapes and were told "Well, they seemed fresh to us." This is an objective way to ensure they will always get super-fresh grapes. After all...

"The easiest and best way to pick the freshest grapes in your local market is to hold a bunch by the stem. Shake gently - if grapes drop off the stem, they have been in storage for too long. If the grapes are firmly attached, are plump and bright, they are fresh."

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf672835.tip.html

If it's just a way to make sure all the grapes undergo a "freshness test," it's similar to Van Halen's "no green M&Ms" stipulation mentioned by Willie in that there's more to it than meets the eye... only the "Grape Test" is much less silly and wasteful. I mourn all the trashed green M&Ms! lol

I razzed the guys about the grapes as much as anyone when that story broke, but still, it's not like they're asking for their grapes to be peeled.

[Freypower]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is disillusioned with current events.

However my disillusionment dates from last November-December when I saw them and DID see the full show for which I am grateful. Since then it has all been downhill for me personally. It isn't PEW - it's worse than that.

I was hoping the Asian & European tours would revive my interests but it got off to a bad start in Taiwan with that appalling press conference. I can't help feeling Glenn should have put a stop to it. He wasn't happy & I felt it. And since then... not even any photos.

And now in Europe it's worse. A shortened Don & Joe heavy setlist. I know how superficial this is going to sound but there are STILL hardly any photos. I just looked at the Berlin thread & again there is a photo of Don. There have hardly been any photos of Glenn & not one of them is even good enough to make into an avatar (the one LTL admired notwithstanding; Wiesbaden was the exception). I said this was superficial. But I'm disconnected enough, knowing what has happened to the setlist, without there not even being photos to make me feel better. Glenn sings most of How Long, for heaven's sake. Shouldn't he be in some photos? This is back to the days of the F1 tour when TLR was the first song so of course Don was in the photos. Again I am sorry for this; this is MY problem, not anyone else's.

So what is there to hang on to and beyond that what is there to look forward to? The answer is, I don't know.

I appreciate EK's enthusiasm & desire to see them again no matter what; but I can't see them coming down here again & I will not pay $500 plus for that setlist.

As far as their behaviour & demands; as I think LTL said they've always had the demands; it's only now the press have made them public. They are entitled to their comfort & needs at their age, I suppose. I wasn't that bothered by Don giving the finger. He sometimes is not a very nice person, let's be honest. Neither is Glenn, I am sure, but Glenn usually turns on the charm; except for that press conference.

I wish they had released a DVD in 2008 or 2009 when all the new songs were still fresh & still in the setlist & I would have had that to cherish. As it was by the time I got to see those songs I already knew them & the band were already playing around with them & dropping them whenever they saw fit. And what are we left with now? How Long, a 70s throwback, & the title track, which I LOVE, but guess what: it's a showcase for Don & Joe and that's why it remains in the setlist (never mind that Glenn does some great singing in it which is always overlooked). I know that some people here would prefer WITW which although Don dominates it also features the band's harmonies & more introspective side. Some people prefer that to the polemics. I still like Dirty Laundry, but you know, I get the point. As for Tim... well... it's sad. That's all.

I could go on here but it would mainly be about some of my personal feelings, specifically about Glenn, and I am not going to derail the topic. Excuse the rant but I had to say some of that.

NB: I still love the band. I still love Glenn, if I can say that. But I think they (and I) are coming to the end.

[luvthelighthouse]

FP, I'm sorry you feel you may be coming to an end w/the guys. I wanted to tell you this...

I was a fan of the Eagles before I knew who they were. (We've discussed that before) However, a few years ago, I watching/listening to youtube of them and fell in love! I read everything I could on them, joined the boards, posted like crazy etc.

My very first show was Chicago 2008. It was magical! BBF, WITW, Somebody... it was, well...WOW! I long show, full of new material!!! I couldn't get enough Eagles.

Then a year ago my CD player in my car broke... which is where I mainly listened to them. I wasn't coming here participating as much, because life was just full w/family things. I fell away from the boys for a while. I was a little bored of the same old set list and nothing really new happening from show to show... the big excitement was wondering which jokes Glenn would or wouldn't say that night. The set list changed by dropping too many LROOE songs and I felt they were doing what they didn't want to do... only playing the oldies.

My point is, when you are fan of the Eagles, you always find your way back! They become a part of you and their songs evoke memories and feelings you didn't even know were there. They may do things we are not fond of... but that's okay, they are human. You may not feel the same way and it's okay to step back from them... but they'll always have a part of you.

[WalshFan88]

My point is, when you are fan of the Eagles, you always find your way back! They become a part of you and their songs evoke memories and feelings you didn't even know were there. They may do things we are not fond of... but that's okay, they are human. You may not feel the same way and it's okay to step back from them... but they'll always have a part of you.

Absolutely agreed! They are the soundtrack of my life. Chicago 2008 was my first show as well and I have only grown as a fan since then. I might not always like what they do or go to a show, but I'll always be an Eagles fan. But I can't help but to be disappointed by recent events. But that's just me. I love the Eagles though. Don Henley is my favorite songwriter, singer, and lyricist of all time. He may not be the most humble guy or nicest person, but putting that aside he's always been my favorite singer (of all time and definitely in the Eagles) and always will be. And Joe Walsh is my favorite guitarist of all time and in the Eagles (I also admire Don Felder too). Joe is the reason I started playing guitar. His playing on the HC album is how it all started for me. He's my biggest hero and inspiration and the reason I'm here.

[EaglesKiwi]

One more comment on the grapes/tour demands: they may not be coming from the band members themselves. They could be coming from either Irving's team OR from the local promoter.

[Annabel]

One more comment on the grapes/tour demands: they may not be coming from the band members themselves. They could be coming from either Irving's team OR from the local promoter.

or it could be to check people are reading the rider.