The Eagle Don Henley called “one of the best musicians ever”
Anyone who was even thinking about getting a job with Eagles needed to know what they were getting themselves into. Outside of being in one of the biggest bands in America, the years of touring and being able to play everything note-perfect every time they played onstage were always going to be a daunting task for anyone. And while Don Henley ran a tight ship when working at the centre of it all, he knew that some people could go above and beyond anything that he could ever do.
But Henley’s job as the frontman was no small task, either. He had spent years trying to emulate his heroes whenever he started singing, but whenever he opened his mouth, that golden voice was enough for anyone to stand up and pay attention whenever ‘Hotel California’ came on the radio. For all of the gold laced throughout Henley’s throat, it always came from the chemistry between the band members.
Sure, Henley sounded fantastic by himself and even in his solo career, but there was some magic to how everyone harmonised when they started songs like ‘Desperado’ that made them sound angelic. Even on their most recent tours, hearing them tear through ‘Seven Bridges Road’ with no instruments at the show’s start is one of the most awe-inspiring moments every time they take the stage.
If the vocals are the main draw every time they are heard over loudspeakers, the guitar playing is usually a close second. As much as people like the idea of working on their vocal chops, the telepathy between Don Felder and Joe Walsh whenever they played together made for the greatest guitar duo in rock history when they started doing those descending harmonies at the end of ‘Hotel California’. So when one of them was silenced, what the hell were they supposed to do?
Granted, it wasn’t a big secret why Felder left the fold. Everyone had settled their differences by the time they reunited, but since Felder wasn’t happy with the amount of money he was making, it wasn’t long before Henley and Frey decided it would be better to bring in someone new rather than have to deal with someone whose heart wasn’t in it. They needed someone with passion, and they had the answer to their prayers when Steuart Smith walked through the door.
“Steuart Smith is one of the best musicians I’ve ever worked with in my life, and he is also very well known and respected here in Nashville. I’m fortunate enough to have him as my lead guitarist in my touring band.”
Don Henley
Compared to every other guitarist, Henley felt that Smith was the finest musician in the band and his solo career, saying, “Steuart Smith is one of the best musicians I’ve ever worked with in my life, and he is also very well known and respected here in Nashville. I’m fortunate enough to have him as my lead guitarist in my touring band, and he contributed a lot. He contributed to the songwriting and a lot of the arrangements, played not only guitar, but played piano on a couple of tunes.”
And while it’s hard to pick out which parts Smith contributed to the songs he’s credited on, a lot of what he does is incredibly subtle. He can lock in and be a hired gun when needed, but there are also a few moments where the simplest lick imaginable can end up working well in the right context when collaborating with Henley.
Now that the band also has people like Vince Gill among their ranks, they have more than a rock and roll duo to contend with. It’s practically a six-string militia onstage now, and had they not been confined to their classics, each of them could put on a clinic on how to make their guitar sing.
