Every legendary band has a cringe-worthy origin story, and the Eagles’ early days were no exception. Fresh off their debut, the country-rock quartet found themselves oddly paired with British prog-rock giants Jethro Tull during a 1972 U.S. tour. As Don Henley later put it: “We didn’t really talk to them. I don’t think they liked us, and we didn’t really like them that much either.”
The mismatch was glaring. With only one hit to their name—Take It Easy—the Eagles’ laid-back harmonies stood in stark contrast to Tull’s elaborate and theatrical sound. Audiences, baked into the prog aesthetic, remained cold and distant.
Fortunately, the touring gods were kinder in the following month. The Eagles moved on to open for Yes and Procol Harum, experiences that felt far more welcoming. Henley recalled how, after performing with Yes, they were treated warmly—and even helped decode German reviews with the aid of Procol Harum’s patient spouses.
These early tour lessons underscored a truth pivotal to the Eagles’ rise: sometimes, breaking through means enduring the wrong stages before finding the right fit.
—
Photo Credit: Bruce C. Murray / Shutterstock.com