As a member of the band, Felder wrote the music for the iconic "Hotel California."
There are rock'n'roll rumblings coming from the West Springfield fairgrounds even though the Big E is five months away.
The first announced show for next fall’s fair is Eagles alum Don Felder who will bring his “A Night at Hotel California” tour to the Comcast Arena on Saturday, Sept. 15.
Felder joined the Eagles in 1974, performing slide guitar on the “Good Day in Hell.” As a member of the band, Felder wrote the music for the iconic “Hotel California,” and his signature opening lick on his Gibson double-neck guitar is one of the most recognizable guitar lines in all of rock. He also co-wrote five others songs for the band, including "Visions."
“You hear the first couple lines of that guitar lick and you know it,” says John Juliano, entertainment buyer for New England’s great state fair. “He was part of the Eagles, and he was part of all those songs.”
Felder was with the band from 1974 through the 1980 hiatus and returned with the band for reunions from 1994 to 2001. His tumultuous relationship with Don Henley resulted in his release of the best-selling tell-all book “Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001).”
His stint with the Eagles is not his only contribution to rock’ n’ roll as Felder has worked with everyone from Barbra Streisand to Stevie Nicks and has released two solo albums including 2012’s “Road to Forever.”
Felder will play a free show at the Big E although a limited number of reserved seating tickets will go on sale in the next couple of weeks.
“We are obviously thrilled to have someone of his caliber and pedigree playing the Big E,” Juliano said. “In the next few weeks we will have more announcements about entertainment at the fair.”
With Hard Rock International having submitted an application to develop a resort casino on land adjacent to the fairgrounds, there is still the possibility of the organization getting involved in entertainment at the Big E.
Juliano said there has been an “open dialogue” with Hard Rock about potential shows.
For updates on entertainment for the Big E and all events at the Eastern State Exposition, check out thebige.com