Hell froze over in 1994 inspiring the Eagles to reunite for the first time in over fourteen years. The reunion produced a tour, a new album, and a concert video, which was aptly named Hell Freezes Over. The DVD version of this video, released in 1999, is still considered to be one of the definitive DTS surround soundtracks for a concert video. Only a handful of others have even come close to its marvelous surround sound mix.
Ten years later we have the Eagles Farewell I Tour, whose name both mocks many of their fellow elder statesmen who always seem to have that one last tour in them (hello Ozzy...hello Kiss), and also lets you know that this is most likely not their final farewell tour. I only found Hell Freezes Over to be an average performance, and my expectations for this one were a little higher. My real curiosity was whether this DVD would live up to the superior production quality of Hell Freezes Over. Damn if it doesn't!
The Eagles Farewell I Tour is a sprawling two-disk package featuring a career spanning 30-song set - matched only by Rush's 30-song Rush In Rio set. And they have all of those epic 15-minute prog numbers too. If only every concert DVD was this generous. This "first" Eagles farewell tour was recorded at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia on November 14, 2004, and you may have already caught most of it on PBS during their pledge week a while back.
The four remaining Eagles looked pretty good for their ages, although a small army of stylists and makeup artists backstage probably helped their cause. They started the show dressed in some very dapper suits, sans the ties of course, and then changed into some jeans and other more casual attire during the first set intermission. Joe Walsh's casual attire included a pair of his trademark eyesore pajama bottoms (or are they those baggy bodybuilders pants?) he seems to enjoy wearing so much. He looked rather conservative here compared to the fluorescent yellow shirt, matching sneakers, and black beret he wore at the Crossroads Guitar Festival last year. But, hell, he can get away with it, because he nearly stole that show from about 30 of the worlds greatest guitarists, and he was certainly the best thing going at this Eagles show.
Article comments
1 - The Proprietor
I enjoyed this DVD mostly, however, I have to admit to being disappointed with the versions of the James Gang songs, as they were completely toothless to my ears. An excellent review!
2 - David Humphrey
I wondered if anyone has been able to find the subtitles on the DVD. On the case it says that there are some, but there is no mention of them on disc one, and although there is on disc two, none are shown. Is is just me or are there no subtitles ? Other wise a great DVD, have watched it 3 times already !
3 - Gezer Gamadi
Are you sure 46160 of this?!?
4 - Wayne
I lived the generation with these guys ..a simply fantastic dvd ..uncompromising quality ..just wonderful viewing.I highly recommend it.
5 - Howard
This is a great DVD. The music was wonderful, however, it would have been better to have more sound from the audience. There was very little camera shots of the audience and virtually no sound. It was like a studio recording at a concert. I know those people in the crowd were singing along and it would have been nice to hear them also.