Yahoo Lifestyle Eagles Guitar Sideman Steuart Smith Retires From Band After 24 Years, Due to Parkinson’s Diagnosis
The sideman who served for 24 years as a co-lead guitarist in the touring version of the Eagles, Steuart Smith, has officially retired, taking his leave midway through the group’s stint at Sphere in Las Vegas. He attributed the need to drop out to the effects of Parkinson’s disease on his playing.
“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. “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.”
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Said Don Henley: “Steuart Smith has retired from touring. The Eagles 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.”
Smith joined the group in 2001, effectively taking over many of Don Felder’s responsibilities after an acrimonious split between that instrumental mainstay of the band and the other members. Although never officially a member of the group, Smith was a familiar sight to anyone who saw the band over the last quarter-century, often seen playing a twin-necked guitar and standing alongside Walsh in doing dual leads on signature numbers like “Hotel California.”
Smith has been replaced in the Eagles’ touring lineup by session guitarist Chris Holt, who first took the stage with the band on Jan. 17, when the group resumed its Sphere residency after a holiday break. Smith had been on board for the first part of the residency, from Sept. 20 through Dec 14 of last year.
Even before joining the Eagles, Smith was a well-known player in Americana circles, frequently seen and heard on record and in concert with Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, Wynonna Judd and others. He participated in Henley’s tours outside of the Eagles as a solo artist, as well.
Smith co-wrote six songs on the one full studio album the Eagles recorded after their initial 1970s run, 2007’s “Long Road Out of Eden,” and was also credited as a co-producer on the album.
Holt and Smith are friends, having played together on some of those Henley solo dates in the past. He was most recently a member of Heartbreaker Mike Campbell’s Dirty Knobs. Holt is also a veteran of the Dallas-area bands Bastards of Soul, the Slack and Sorta.
In an interview with hometown paper the Dallas Morning News, Holt said, “I’m trying to fill the giant shoes of all three that came before me” — meaning Smith, Felder and Bernie Leadon. “It’s some of the most beautiful guitar work ever recorded, in my opinion. It’s the highest honor for me to do it, and it’s my duty to get it right.”
The Eagles’ residency at Sphere next picks up on Feb. 14, with dates scheduled to run through April 12. Prior to the residency, the band was on a “Long Goodbye” farewell tour. No further dates have yet been announced for the tour after the Las Vegas run ends.
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