Glenn Frey on Letterman, July 26, 1984

Here's Glenn's complete appearance, including Paul's anticipatory comments early in the show, Glenn's performance of "Desperado," and, in his second segment, chat with Dave.

[@tamicoldiron4286]

In my opinion...One of the best bands ever RIP Glenn Frey Gone way to soon but never forgotten

[@kwb200]

Not just your opinion the world thinks so as well. If it wasn't for glenn I wouldn't have ever got into music. RIP glenn best musician to ever walk the earth

[@joycecottingham6438]

Tami, I totally agree with you Eagles best ever . Love, love love.❤❤

[@stephenfermoyle4578]

YES getting shivers

[@maryt6292]

Never heard Glenn do the vocal on this song. Thanks for sharing.

[@grantp4022]

Glenn Frey,indeed a musical genius, and perfectionist - RIP, Glenn, the world misses your music.

[@goofydog2]

This performance was 32 years to the day on July 26, 2016. And it only seems like yesterday. 10 years after this performance, Glenn would welcome back Eagles fans at the band's MTV live performance in Hollywood with the never forgotten quip; "WE DIDN'T BREAKUP - WE TOOK A 14 YEAR VACATION." ...I think of you Glenn every now and then, and I guess I always will. RIP...

[@dalepeto9620]

Good comment.

[@hollypotthoff8965]

I've got the "Hell Freezes Over" cassette (that's right--cassette, and it still plays great!). The title of course was the comment that was given when they broke up. Glenn says the classic "14 year vacation" on the recording, which includes their first live performance since the breakup. Absolutely ONE of the greatest bands of all time, and now there will be no more. Miss you like crazy, Glenn!

[@katgirlblue]

It's the same for me. Every now and then Glenn's face and voice just pop into my head, like a soundtrack to my life. Vivid images of where I was when one of the Eagles songs was playing, who I was with, etc., and it really seems like yesterday. It's overwhelming to me when I realize all over again that he's gone; not a break up, but actually gone. He left great music we will always remember. Still, when I try to watch The History of the Eagles, I don't last too long before the sadness overwhelms me. Even though the others are still here, and they're all great, there can never be the Eagles without Glenn.

[@afftongrown6445]

He was such a personable person.

[@Christopher-jk9bj]

me too

[@dalepeto9620]

There are The Eagles and then there is everybody else. They are for all time The Great American Band. Biggest selling album of the 20th Century " Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" 26 million copies . I consider myself to be their No. 1 fan on the planet, for the last 36 yrs. I'm not old, but with Glenn's passing, I guess I'm not young anymore.

[@mumausarbogast-fonck423]

that makes two of us ;-) - because of Don Felder, I learned to play the guitar. The Eagles are the ONLY music I listen to in my car, when I run, when I clean the house etc. ;-)

[@cynthiamackenzie2273]

Dale Peto I

[@bigeric1030]

I echo every sentiment you just uttered, like it’s my “inner voice” speaking.

[@taterlysaladman9377]

Thriller and several others sold more albums than greatest hits. Internet legend.

[@willmcdonald]

@@taterlysaladman9377 not according the the Recording Industry Association of America.

[@renatoreside2109]

Desperado - one of the best performances on a Letterman show ever.

[@marioparedes4936]

Awesome interview, didn't get into details, band was awesome, the look on their faces is priceless, they sang with Glenn Frey, something to tell their grandkids, Glenn was on point with the piano, just beautiful, RIP Glenn

[@annaguz3629]

I'm one of the biggest fans of the Eagles...thank you Glenn for the beautiful music.

[@skooby_doobie_doonkann3334]

Anna Guz love the eagles. Glenn Frey is great. Still can't believe he's gone

[@madeleinebaltazarromero1652]

Me too 😢

[@jjyy.4151]

I love Glen so much.. Genius creator.. Miss you...

[@Christopher-jk9bj]

I watched this that night stayed up late just for that reason 19 at the time Miss you Glenn ,,,The Man With the plan ..and it worked

[@sergiotomasoni6847]

Wonderful interpretation! Beautiful song! Musician above average! What remains is the longing for good times. Rest in peace Glenn

[@bennyshaversmusic590]

So much talent! Glen Frey will always be missed. Rest in peace 🕊

[@mumausarbogast-fonck423]

I love this voice.......RIP my friend.

[@ccsheringmoktan4801]

Rip bro........

[@maccaholmes4854]

What a voice...love Glenn

[@mikestevenson576]

There was a total consensus in the Eagles, including Frey, that Henley was the far superior voice. I assume they know what they're talking about. But I don't really get it myself.

[@nickrmz6443]

@@mikestevenson576The way Glenn sings is priceless…

[@frommetoyou1981]

Stunning. What a great song "it may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you" fantastic writing.

[@geraldineshaw290]

Such a beautiful voice and talented Man ❤️ Never forgotten miss him

[@williamhenry1934]

Eagles ! One of my favorite bands of all time! Thank you glen Tim, don, joe ,randy ,Bernie, thank you !thank you !thank you! I am so glad to have grown up in this time period to have had the privilege of hearing the Eagles music! To grow up as a kid with there hits on the charts and to seen them in concert is a blessing! P I p glen you rock your are rock god!

[@reganmyers8160]

@@The_Komzik he co-wrote it. He did the guitar and don Henley and Glenn did the lyrics

[@angelamason3526]

Eagles brilliant. loved Glenn's voice R.I.P. great artist great handsome man.xx

[@lweinstein5]

This is special! We lost him way too soon.

[@jasonstilnovich7060]

Len Weinstein not soon enough! He died early because of karma- he treated everyone around him especially the crew like dirt. Karma caught up to him. Just listen to the way he talks.

[@lysechrist1947]

Yes, much too soon from the side effects of the pharmaceuticals for his rheumatoid arthritis.

[@sandyconnie77]

I saw Glenn in concert after the Eagle's weren't together..he was wonderful as he is here. Miss him & there'll never be another band as perfect as the Eagles.

[@mumausarbogast-fonck423]

true....

[@robertashumway8656]

sandy connie l

[@robertashumway8656]

m

[@DreamsongsProductions]

Sucks real bad that Glenn left us. He had so much more to give! RIP ....

[@s21k21]

i allways loved your voice, mister frey. just cant listen to this for very long without crying. i miss you bro ! :(

[@barbarawalsh2875]

What a great song I love Linda’s version of it, I love Don‘s version of it, but Glenn‘s version of it just breaks my heart all that talent gone so soon. I am a lifelong Eagles fan and I always will be and have seen them on this tour but it’s just not the same without Glenn.

[@GeeBee909]

Notice that when Paul and co. were playing the outro (Heartache Tonight), Glenn immediately jumped back behind the piano to join in. Once an Eagle.....

[@gimzoso]

I don't recall Glenn doing many interviews. This was special and interesting to watch.

[@fifthbusiness1678]

No? He did tons of them. KZbin will fill you up.

[@edmadrid1776]

Thanks for posting, this was awesome! We're going to see Don Henley tomorrow. 👍

[@jeffdawson2786]

As you get older songs like this become very relevant.

[@kentcrawford1435]

love this version..glenn very missed

[@user-nq9gz4xf7f]

Beautiful song, never sung better, like i heard for first time almost here,

[@Jgeneraledger23]

1:47, I'm welling-up now. I'll cry all day if I listen!! I don't have that kind of patience! haha! God Bless You Glenn, Thank You for all the wonderful music.

[@dalepeto9620]

Thanks for posting this.I remember this like it was last week. Two of my all time favorite people. This last year has been tough DL retires and GF checks out of The Hotel California

[@morgan72359]

DL?

[@dougreed9843]

Song written extraordinaire in America's best cross over band, Country Rock n Roll and Heavy Metal genres combined into The Eagles true to form they flew higher then most could.

[@dugongmaharlika7426]

I grew up with The Eagles' songs. I felt sad when Glen died. I last saw their concert in Melbourne.

[@chrisfox2890]

I discovered Glenn around now (1984) - his songs and appearance on Miami Vice led to me buying The Allnighter LP which I adored. A great talent.

[@DKennett2013]

What a great performance. I love Glen Frey! His solo stuff is awesome also. Very sad when he was taken from us too early.

[@Scooby_Doobie_Doo]

Wow, crying my eyes out here. 😔 ♥

[@leannvlewis]

Night skiing with a wink ;) Rest Easy Glenn & thanks for the music

[@astrosjer822]

Never saw this before. Great treat and thanks... rip Glenn

[@elenaexconde3287]

I'll never forget this vocalist of Eagles.it sadden me.when he's gone.

[@jnadle1]

And Paul and the band pitched to break with Glenn's own "Heartache Tonight."

[@l.g.a.8930]

Desparado, my god, it never goes away. Thank you :)

[@-candacemoran8238]

Greatest Band and member ever,all of them.And Linda Ronstadt!!!!!!

[@BillGraper]

Don Henley sang it originally. Glenn sounds just as great. The whole band was nothing but super musicians & vocalists.

[@db3467]

A whole street is named after Glen Frey in Royal Oak,Michigan

[@sinjyn66]

OMG I recall when this aired, it was awesome, really moving.

[@sinjyn66]

Johnny looks thirsty.

[@fifthbusiness1678]

Paul Schaffer and the band were remarkable. Just about always.

[@wowojeejee]

A musical legend.

[@sararodriguezaguilar9572]

Thanks a God from this legend we willmissyou

[@frommetoyou1981]

Beautiful song. Great performance....

[@shelleyneely7602]

Thanks for the for memories you are t!THE best part of music

[@skooby_doobie_doonkann3334]

Glenn Frey could have been an actor. He had such a great sense of humor. Gosh he was a great guy and a great performer

[@r3d5ive87]

Brandon Crapo he literally was an actor. Miami vice, jerry McGuire

[@LogoMan7777]

@@r3d5ive87 Wiseguy, too.

[@morgan72359]

Timothy Schmit said Glenn was a belly laugher. 🙂

[@dominiquereplogle735]

So strange to hear Glenn singing a song Don always has. I think it would have been interesting if they had released an album of their greatest hits with none of the members singing their own songs. Don singing Life's Been Good, Joe singing Hotel California, Glenn singing I Can't Tell You Why, Randy singing Heartache Tonight, etc... I'm sure I'm far from the first person to have suggested it.

[@rwarren]

I've always thought it would be cool to hear Henley sing "New Kid In Town"

[@davidrice3337]

there's a reason - just listen to this version - compared to Henley - well no one in the can compare vocally - maybe miesner 30 yrs ago

[@stevephillips7884]

Joe's guitar contribution made Hotel epic.

[@mikestevenson576]

@@rwarren For the longest time I thought he did sing it.

[@mikestevenson576]

There is some good footage out there of Glenn doing Take It To The Limit surprisingly well.

[@nancyglem]

Still miss you, Glenn, every day 💔

[@bobbyvoltage7171]

Elliott Randall of Steely Dan fame! That must have been fun for Glenn considering he was a big Steely Dan fan.

[@mauimig380]

the line in Hotel California "they stab it with their Steely knives" was a shout out to Steely Dan

[@mauimig380]

Never heard that about Page, but I love it. Page has phenomenal taste

[@mkaizn]

it was more of an acknowledgment to steely dan's "everything you did" as they say "turn up the eagles the neighbours are listening"

[@barbarawalsh2875]

“Their steely knives “Was The Eagles paying homage to Steely Dan who had the lyrics in one of their tunes “turn up the Eagles the neighbors can hear us fighting.”

[@patriciawatson6172]

Beautiful music

[@geraldineshaw290]

A beautiful man RIP Thank you prayers for Glenn Frey s family

[@petewoodroffemusic]

Legendary Steely Dan guitarist Elliott Randall!

[@cheaptricked]

Reeling in the Years is my FAVORITE guitar solo/fills of all time.😎🍺

[@fifthbusiness1678]

Someone noticed! Thank you

[@jasoncavitt2043]

Masterful chord progressions.

[@iamyuson785]

LOL naughty band of the Eagles! Love these guys, specially Glenn & Don, they are like the tandem of Lennon & McCartney in composing songs, not so noisy, their music were /are just cool, rock & country songs! Even you turn the volume louder my neighbors are not closing their windows and doors :)

[@gwncih1]

I saw him perform this live when he toured with Joe Walsh in Dallas in 1993

[@OWR0406]

great performance

[@deblyn0123]

God, I loved me some Glenn Frey! ❤️

[@jjyy.4151]

Me too!

[@jjyy.4151]

I do too.. Ohhh.. There's no one else like him..

[@christianpaguaga5661]

He shold"ve sang take it easy or the new kid in town

[@barbarawalsh2875]

No he was perfect

[@terencehennegan1439]

Lot of feeling in his voice.

[@brianambrosemcmahon8531]

In my opinion his rendition is even better than DonnHenleys version . R.I.P. Glen you are sadly missed to the world every day .🙏🏼💙

[@pedenmk]

dave letterman use to be a weather man on one of the news channels. look where he ended up.....I miss his late night show

[@wowojeejee]

A musical legend. He is #3 on my top 10 list behind McCartney and Paul Simon.

[@jerrygeist1677]

We miss you Glenn RIP.

[@tomn1307]

"Did we argue? Yeah... I wanted to kick the living sh*t out of Felder..."

[@hollypotthoff8965]

Henley spoke of Frey's mercurial temper in his remarks after his death. Oh well, with great talent there is often some unpleasant side effects.

[@Kedeas]

So glad to hear that they all kicked their extra curricular habits that were so prevalent back in the day. I have heard Felder is still battling his addiction to the Reality/Conspiracy/Bitter Undertones pills he was strung out on. He appeared to have them beat in 94 when He'll Froze Over but in a short time you could see he was Popping the shit out of them once again.

[@taterlysaladman9377]

He has a right to he was the most talented Eagle ever.

[@detlevdoedel7472]

Kicks

[@sarahleach9997]

love love love him

[@husky450s]

So talented 😭😭😭😭

[@babydoronii832]

Sad voice, we miss you Glen Frey!

[@POSNER001]

glenn knew his numbers.

[@hjeannemears6789]

That was fun. !! 💕😊

[@susanwasserott]

So talented, gone too soon.

[@joyceallsep95]

One of the best

[@stephenfermoyle4578]

WOW he should have been a movie star

[@carolinavidal7355]

Lindo guapo regio estupendo lo amo 😍😍😍😍😍😍😘

[@robertobravo7714]

Wowwww legend #respect

[@paulachannell4296]

Best singer ever! That voice omg.

[@artprince9163]

Seriously? Raul Malo. Roy Orbison. Elvis. Many others.

[@artprince9163]

Oh yeah. Don Henley. Glenn admitted Don was their greatest asset vocally.

[@njp2020]

Ray Charles did not write this song. Don Henley started writing this song even before they formed the Eagles band, and Glenn Frey and Don finished the song later on.

[@bigeric1030]

N.J. Patton Henley says somewhere that the original idea of the song or the refrain to the song was something like, “Leo, My God, Why Don’t You Come To Your Senses?”.....to a friend he had.

[@sandrabrown1532]

Rest in peace Glen Frey.

[@halwarner3326]

Knew of the great songs of all time.

[@sam_uelson]

Fast forward to letterman not being allowed to play Eagles music

[@energyasylum997]

You read my mind.😉👌🏽

[@robertcavalier6133]

WOW! GREAT TUNE! * CAV *

[@Bigstarvideos]

Nice to hear Frey sing it but I think Henley had the better vocal tone that fit the lyrics and melody. Would love to have heard guest Elliot Randell put a guitar solo on it. Elliot Randell is the studio pro that put down one of the all time greatest lead guitar solos in history. I'm talking about Reelin in the Years by Steely Dan of course!

[@harley092355]

Reason they were good was they could actually sing and harmonize-also they were very very careful with interviews.

[@markhinerman4048]

No other band can ever even come close to the talent the Eagles had.... and still have !

[@Mark-sd7fc]

Just Made an old man cry

[@MrNannynooch]

@3:53 Guitarist "Duuuuuuude I'm playing with the Eagles!!

[@rzrbckmz23]

Mot artists would want to play and plug their new song but Glenn opted to do something different. He had a great voice and even a cool look once he cut his hair and cleaned up. His first solo album "No Fun Aloud" is my favorite Eagle solo record.

[@abbykendrick5748]

❤️‍🔥

[@joe7346]

Gee I wonder what he meant by night skiing....wink, wink.

[@patrickreagan6443]

Miss him

[@anthonymarino4260]

pure talent. w ow

[@scottnewman2082]

He has been doing a nutty job.

[@stevefowler5970]

11:30 "lot of night skiing"....I guess that means "cocaine", judging from his wink

[@sklthedful]

Oh, that makes sense. I think you’re right.

[@rclamb04]

I dont know why so many think Henley was the better vocalist, I personally like Glenn a lot more.

[@notsoos12]

I was raised on Eagles, and I love both Henley and Frey’s voices, but Glenn just adds something so powerful to the songs that he sings.

[@theelf152]

Henley is the only real vocalist in that band. This is not even close to how good Don sings it. Together they are awesome though

[@dadduorp]

@@theelf152 If I could rate The Eagles singers (best or most distinctive being first), it would be: 1. Henley 2. Meisner 3. Tie between Frey and Schmidt 4. Walsh 5. Leadon

[@theelf152]

@@dadduorp Without any doubt whatsoever. Henley, Schmidt/Meisner, Frey/Leadon, Walsh. Glenn R I P has a really flat mid range voice - it just blends and adds body to Don's higher smoother register. I think "I can't tell you why" is one of the most beautiful romantic songs ever written and Timothy's voice just like on "Love will keep us alive" is brilliant, that's why I can't split him from Randy's performance of take it to the limit and his epic background vocals on so many songs...Unsurprising given they both came from POCO. Bernie and Glenn both have that flat full bodied tone that works perfectly with Folk/Country.& Joe bless him would even answer "I'm a good guitarist if asked".Ohh & Felder like Joe but even less seasoned. But the Eagles IMO would be absolutely nothing without Henley not just his voice and style of singing but his lyrical genius and stickler for perfection was exactly why those songs are timeless classics. His body of solo work, duets and collaborations are extraordinary in his own right.

[@freestanding1000]

Damn!!! Glen's pipes are incredible for this song! Nothing wrong with the great Don Henley but Glen should have cut this song. Wow! Wow!

[@fabrix7907]

Glenn was much more prolific than Don Henley musically but he had to start singing less and less due to the fact that Don was writing most of the material and his voice was much better. between the two. Randy Meisner and Timothy were the best voices in the band but they could not sing lead otherwise they would have get all the attention and people had to known who was the leader(s). R. I. P. Glenn.

[@MrX-jw5yw]

Glenn Frey's voice was every bit as good as Henley's. No way Henley could've pulled off some of the songs Frey did.

[@bluesboy8237]

It's weird hearing Glenn Frey sing Desperado when it was Don Henley who sung it on the studio version.

[@dadaevan]

Although Don Henley sang that on the record, Frey sounded awesome!