- Title: RUSSIA: ROCK BAND THE EAGLES PERFORM IN MOSCOW FOR THE FIRST TIME
- Date: 29th May 2001
- Summary: WIDE OF STAGE - BAND REHEARSING AT OLYMPIISKY STADIUM WIDE OF GLENN FREY PRACTISING ON GUITAR/SCHMIT WAVING TO THE CAMERA VARIOUS, OF THE EAGLES REHEARSING
- Embargoed: 13th June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAAH358CT9YGBSQU39DD53BXL0K
- Story Text: Thirty years after they began touring the world and entertaining millions, legendary rockers The Eagles have finally landed in Moscow for their first-ever concert in the Russian capital.
After five years apart, The Eagles have decided to reform for a seven-week tour of Europe. Reuters caught up with the group on the day that the tour kicked off.
It was a true case of east-meeting-west when the band of four who had never played in Moscow before, were finally able to perform live for their Russian fans.
But before they got down to the business of entertaining, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh did a spot of sightseeing, starting off in Moscow's most famous landmark, Red Square. Boy, were they impressed.
The last time the band toured was in 1996 when they embarked on a global tour which was set to last six months.
Due to demand combined with a certain wanderlust, The Eagles ended up being on the road for two and a half years. This time they say, it'll be different.
Thrilled to be in Moscow for their debut Russian concert, the band who have sold more than 100 million albums world-wide since they formed in 1971, revealed there was another purpose for the tour.
Although they insisted they didn't really want to discuss the subject, and wanted to just concentrate on having a blast on tour, one of the principle reasons for going back on tour again was so that the fifty-somethings, could adapt to playing together again in preparation for a new studio album.
When The Eagles end their tour in July, they're heading straight for Los Angeles where they're set to work on their first studio album of all-new material for 22 years.
And already, the pressure is mounting. The band is responsible for two of the best-selling albums in history.
Their 'Greatest Hits: 1971-75' currently tops the best-selling albums of all time chart having recently knocked Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' off the number one spot. It has sold a staggering 27 million albums alone. 'Hotel California' album released in 1976 currently holds the number 15 position with 15 million albums sold.
Expectations are bound to be high, but drummer/vocalist Don Henley refuses to be intimidated by the huge amount of interest the announcement has created.
After the spine-tingling performance in Moscow which saw the band performing old favourites like 'Hotel California and 'New Kid in Town' in front of an audience of 17,000 fans, The Eagles are heading for Scandinavia.
Next destination is Finland followed by Sweden and Norway and the band will then move on to Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italy.
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