Underrated Eagles Solo Albums: Deep Dive Into Member Projects

The years between the release of 1979’s The Long Run and 1994’s Hell Freezes Over marked a major period of separation for the Eagles. During this time and beyond, band anchors Glenn Frey and Don Henley experimented heavily with new sounds—displaying unexpected penchants for saxophones and synthesizers respectively—while trying to connect with new audiences. Meanwhile, members like Joe Walsh, Bernie Leadon, and Timothy B. Schmit brought their own unique resumes to the table, though not every side project found lasting mainstream traction.

The original four Eagles — Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner & Glenn Frey

Why Some Solo Projects Slipped Through the Cracks

Several solo records arrived at inopportune times in the music industry. Glenn Frey’s most underrated LP followed three straight gold-selling Top 40 hits, but ultimately failed to chart amid major industry shifts. Other members struggled to get their solo output moving while the band was still active.

Don Felder scored an early 1981 radio favorite with “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride),” but he didn’t truly focus on his solo career until the 2010s long past the group’s heyday. Similarly, early roots contributor Bernie Leadon—an alumnus of the Flying Burrito Brothers—did not release his most complete solo project until 2025’s well-received Too Late To Be Cool.

Timothy B. Schmit brought his experience from country-rock pioneers Poco to the fold, yet his most underrated solo album failed to chart. In fact, it was just one of five Schmit solo releases to meet a tough commercial fate. Schmit’s career best-seller remains 1987’s synth-driven Timothy B, which reached No. 106.

Don Henley live concert — Don Henley, Photo: Alan Light, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shadowed By Massive Success

The label of “underrated” does not always point to commercial failure. In some cases, strong LPs were simply cast aside by far greater blockbusters that followed.

Don Henley earned a gold-selling, Top 25 release featuring the No. 3 breakthrough single “Dirty Laundry.” However, that record became somewhat overlooked once his next two albums combined for nearly 10 million sales in the U.S. alone, overshadowing everything outside of 1984’s Building the Perfect Beast and 1989’s End of the Innocence.

Randy Meisner followed an undistinguished solo debut with an underrated album boasting a No. 19 hit single, alongside another release that just missed the Top 20. Despite those relative peaks, the music largely faded from public memory before Meisner ultimately stepped away from solo recordings prior to his death in 2023.

Joe Walsh managed a respectable chart run with an LP that went gold and peaked at No. 11—besting Henley’s chart position at the time—even though its top-charting single stalled out at No. 93. Walsh later hit a platinum peak with 1978’s But Seriously, Folks…, leaving earlier efforts sitting in the shadows.

It was only a matter of time before the biggest band in metal decided to plant their flag in the most advanced venue on the planet. Metallica is preparing to bring their high-octane live show to the technologically advanced Las Vegas Sphere this fall, a move drummer Lars Ulrich admits feels both “overwhelming” and “fucking intimidating.” The residency, titled Life Burns Faster—a nod to a lyric from the band’s landmark track “Master of Puppets”—is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026, and will run through March 13, 2027.

Photo: markwainwright, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Metallica Expands Sphere Residency to 24 Shows

The band initially announced eight dates for the residency, but due to high demand, the run has since been expanded to 24 performances. The schedule consists of 12 “No Repeat Weekends,” with the band playing distinct, unique sets each Thursday and Saturday night. During a recent appearance on U2 guitarist The Edge’s SiriusXM show, Close To The Edge, Ulrich shared that he was present for the opening night of U2’s inaugural Sphere residency in 2023, an experience he credited as a major source of inspiration for the band’s decision to take on the venue.

Why the Sphere Is a New Challenge for Metallica

Photo: Alberto Cabello, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“I was there opening night and was so just fucking awestruck, inspired, energized—all of it,” Ulrich told The Edge. “It was just, like, ‘Holy shit, this is somehow another frontier.’” Ulrich noted that while the band is known for maintaining complete control over their production environments, the move to the Sphere serves as a purposeful challenge. “It’s a place maybe we don’t end up in often enough, because we have a tendency to put ourselves in environments that we completely control and know. And so I think it’s really good to be able to throw yourself for a loop like that.”

Metallica Discusses Filming the Sphere Residency

The band has confirmed they are in talks to film the residency, leveraging the venue’s massive 16K wraparound screens and specialized sound system to offer fans a new way to experience their catalog. As Metallica prepares for the opening night, they join a growing list of major acts to occupy the venue, including the Eagles, Phish, Dead & Company, and No Doubt. Despite the technical pressure, Ulrich remains focused on the opportunity: “It’s gonna be challenging. But hopefully when we step out on stage that first night, we’ll have it somewhat together.”