When it comes to the Eagles’ epic Sphere residency in Las Vegas, one former member is keeping his expectations grounded. Don Felder, the guitar wizard behind some of the band’s biggest hits, isn’t betting on a surprise reunion—though he wouldn’t say no if it came calling.
“I’ll tell you this, I’m not holding my breath,” Felder recently told SiriusXM’s Eddie Trunk when asked about a possible appearance at the Vegas shows. Despite the absence of an invite, Felder made it clear he’d “absolutely” accept if Don Henley reached out. “But no, I haven’t been asked,” he added.
Felder, who joined the Eagles in 1974 and contributed to iconic albums like Hotel California, parted ways with the band in 2001 following a heated legal battle. Accusations over unfair pay structures and contract breaches sent him packing, and it wasn’t exactly a peaceful, easy feeling.
However, time—and a bestselling memoir—has helped the guitarist let go of past grudges. “I really kind of buried all the hatchets in 2000,” he explained. “Writing my book Heaven and Hell was cathartic. I don’t want to carry that stuff with me… I can either be happy or lug that stuff around with me. So I decided I’m just going to be happy.”
While Felder remains unsure whether the current Eagles lineup—which now includes Vince Gill and longtime staples like Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, and Joe Walsh—feels the same, he’s made peace with the past. “We’re very cordial,” he said of his occasional encounters with former bandmates. “I’m living my life and being as happy as I can be doing what I do.”
That includes a summer tour alongside Styx and REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin. And just in time for the nostalgia surge, Felder is set to release The Vault – 50 Years of Music on May 23, a retrospective album celebrating his enduring legacy.
So, while Felder might not be gracing the Sphere’s stage with the Eagles, he’s still rocking plenty hard on his own terms.
