Eagles benefit at Cuesta College around August 1977

[Pawmuk]

Checking out a CNY (no Stills) torrent at dime-a-dozen (Crosby, Nash & Young United Farm Workers Benefit
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, California 1977 Aug. 12 ) some comments referred to an Eagles benefit show where they backed Neil Young.

anyone know anything about the Eagles benefit at Cuesta College around this time?

Two shows, early and late, with the Eagles headlining.  Rumors abounding early on that Neil Young was going to play, never confirmed until close to showtime.  Eagles had their third album finished but not in stores yet.  Bernie Leadon was still in the band, no Joe Walsh yet.  They played full sets at both shows and, rather than play an encore, brought out Neil, who played a set with the Eagles as his band.  Mostly 'On The Beach' stuff, very depressing material.  Neil was messed up, looking scary, but played well.  I was there, but have never heard of any recordings of the unique event.  I didn't even take photos - no camera yet!  Both shows were benefits for the Red Wind Foundation, raising money for Chumash indians.

Walsh was most definitely an Eagle by 1977 and surely they were too big by then to be a "messed up" Neil Young's backing band

Does anybody know the true story? Maybe it happened a few years earlier.

[Amy]

No idea whether this actually happened, but if it did, it couldn't have been 1977.  Leadon left at the end of 1975.  "Hotel California" was released in Dec. 1976.  The Eagles third album was "On the Border" which was released in 1974.  So if their third album was not released yet, that would have been late 1973 or early 1974.  I'd have to check on the exact release date of OTB, but I know it was early 1974. 

As to whether they were "too big" to be Neil Young's backing band, the comment states they played a full set and then brought out Young for the encore.  That's not the same thing as just being his backing band.  I have no clue now likely such a scenario is, but it was a benefit and not a regular Eagles show, so who knows what they might have done.  The Eagles did something similar for an RAC benefit in 2003.  The Dixie Chicks opened, then the Eagles played a shortened version of their regular show, then the Dixie Chicks came back out for the encore and they played several songs together.

[Pawmuk]

Thanks Amy.

The first time I saw the Eagles live (HFO) I was so impressed at how well they nailed all the various solo tracks they included in the set. The Heat Is On, Boys Of Summer & You Belong To The City et al were all fabulously performed when I thought they'd be outside the Eagles performing territory.

They were famously Linda Ronstadt's backing band (only for one night apparently ), they were awesome with Linda and Jackson Browne in 1974 on the Don Kirshner show. It just never occurred top me that they could've backed other performers.

[1lostinspace]

The concert was in March 1974. I was there. Other than that the original reply that listed the material Young Played is accurate.

[Pawmuk]

Well thanks (and welcome) 1lostinspace.

To be honest I can't even remember posting this question.

It's just a little evidence of the influence of a good manager. The Eagles backing a "messed up" Neil Young, as great as he is, could surely only happen pre Irving, benefit or not.

Nowadays, the Eagles themselves have their own backing band