Yahoo Lifestyle Eagles Guitarist Reveals Major Health Diagnosis While Announcing He ‘Must Bow Out’ of the Band
Guitarist Steuart Smith announced this week that his time with The Eagles has come to an end.
The musician, who has been touring with the rock group since 2001, attributed his decision to step out of the position he has embraced for more than two decades to a recent health diagnosis.
“It is with profound regret that, due to performance issues associated with my recently diagnosed Parkinsonism, I find that I must bow out of my role with the Eagles while I can still do so gracefully,” Smith said in a statement shared with American Songwriter and Ultimate Classic Rock. Parkinsonism is defined as “a term used to describe a collection of movement symptoms associated with several conditions — including Parkinson’s disease (PD),” according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
“It's been a great quarter of a century, and I had hoped to be able to finish out this year with the band, but I must now do what's best for all concerned,” Smith concluded.
The band’s statement also included praise for Smith from Eagles founding member Don Henley, who said his band “will be forever grateful for the extraordinary talents that he brought to both our recordings and live performances.”
“Steuart will be greatly missed, but he will always be a part of our musical family. We know our many fans join us in wishing him well,” Henley added.
The band has decided to bring in Christopher Holt as its new guitarist, according to a statement released on Friday, Jan. 24, by Holt’s label, Idol Records. The Eagles recently brought Holt onstage during a concert at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nev., last week. Holt is expected to continue performing with the Eagles for the duration of the band’s Las Vegas residency, which is scheduled to run through April 12.
In a recent interview with The Dallas Morning News, Holt said he is “trying to fill the giant shoes” of Smith and the other Eagles guitarists who predated him. “It’s the highest honor for me to do it, and it’s my duty to get it right,” Holt added.
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