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Eagles Tribute Bands And Other Iconic Rock Bands

By George Fox


The Eagles, an internationally acclaimed band from California, were one of the most influential musical groups in the 1970s. The band was composed of musicians Randy Meisner (bass player and vocalist), Bernie Leadon (guitar, steel guitar, banjo, dobro, and mandolin), Don Henley (producer, drummer, singer-songwriter), and the late Glenn Frey (piano, guitar, keyboard, vocals). Over the years, they racked up numerous number one albums and singles, not to mention various awards, including American Music and Grammy awards. As might be expected, their success spawned a variety of Eagles tribute bands. Other influential and successful musical groups from the 60s and 70s include Boston, Derek and the Dominoes, Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, and the Allman Brothers.

Known since 1968 as Led Zeppelin, the band originated in 1963 under the name, The Yardbirds. Then, it consisted of Jim McCarty, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf and Chris Dreja. The group also helped launch the career of the legendary guitarist, Eric Clapton. Beck, Clapton and Page are all among the top five on the Rolling Stone list of Top 100 Guitarists.

Although they released only one album, Derek and the Dominoes remain one of the most influential bands of all time. The title track to the album, Layla, was based on a poem from fifth century Arabia. The song was about unrequited love and mirrored Clapton's love for the unavailable Pattie Boyd, who was then married to Clapton's friend and Beatle, George Harrison. Boyd's marriage to Harrison eventually fizzled out and she married Clapton in 1979.

The Allman Brothers formed in 1969, a product of Florida sunshine. Dubbed the fathers of Southern Rock, the band drew inspiration from elements of jazz, blues and country. Duane Allman, arguably the leader of the group, perished in a motorcycle accident in 1971. The following year, fellow band member Berry Oakley was also killed in an accident involving a motorcycle. Some friends believed that Oaklely's depression at the loss of Allman led to the crash.

Fleetwood Mac got together in London in 1967. The Anglo-American male/female quartet launched an album, Rumours. The album sold more than 40,000,000 copies and went down in history as the 8th best-selling album ever. From Rumours came four singles that soared to the American Top Ten.

Pink Floyd was another English rock band, having formed in London in 1965. One of their best known albums was "Dark Side of the Moon, " with the memorable track, "Careful with that Axe, Eugene." Their single, "The Wall, " formed the inspiration for a feature-length film.

British purveyors of heavy metal and hard rock, Deep Purple established themselves in 1968 in a town called Hertford. Hertfordshire County lies to the north of Greater London. The Rising Sun, a pub on the Herts and Essex border, is a haven for real ale drinkers.

Maintaining the London-California-Florida triangle of rock superstars, Lynyrd Skynyrd hail from Jacksonville. They experimented with a string of band names, including My Backyard, Noble Five and One Percent, before finally calling themselves Lynyrd Skynyrd. They are best known for their hits, "Free Bird, " and "Sweet Home Alabama."




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