Ulster band prepares tribute to Eagles icon

Speaking after news of the death of the 67-year-old Eagles co-founder and guitarist Glenn Frey shocked fans across the nation, Paul Megahey – who sings and plays the guitar for popular tribute act The Illegals – said he and his bandmates would not let their upcoming gig at Belfast venue The MAC pass without paying homage to the late rock star.

It is understood that Mr Frey, who co-wrote huge hits like Hotel California, died on Monday in New York from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia.

The Illegals were formed in the mid-90s, following The Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over Tour, Mr Megahey revealed.

And yesterday he and his fellow bandmates Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Dean, Peter Cochrane, Joe Hanratty, Alyn Watson and Jim Sisk (member Shaun ‘Mudd’ Wallace recently passed away) were left shocked by the news of Mr Frey’s death, which he described as “truly tragic”.

“The Eagles are such a huge band, and they are like the Beatles in a way,” he said.

“With some bands, someone can leave it and they can carry on. But with the likes of The Eagles, Glenn Frey was such an intrinsic part of it, along with Don Henley.”

Mr Megahey saw Mr Frey perform at the Odyssey Arena gig in 2009 and said the performance was “fantastic”.

He added: “As a performer in the 1970s, they were one of the bands you looked up to.

“For me, seeing any member of the Eagles or the Beatles was just the epitome. Glenn Frey was a totally consummate performer.

“He was the guy who did most of the talking on the night, and he seemed to have a very wry sense of humour.

“The guy is a complete icon, especially within country rock music as a whole, as he didn’t just play with the Eagles, he played with bands in the 1980s when he was doing his own thing.

“His death will be such a tragic loss to west coast America country rock.”

Mr Megahey also compared Mr Frey’s death to that of the late David Bowie, and predicted an outpouring of shock and grief on a similar scale.

“There are some people who really do live their lives through their heroes,” he said.

“These recent deaths are in some ways a reminder of your own mortality. Sixty-seven is not very old. And it shows you that you can have everything in the world but it might not give you your health.”

As well as the memorable Belfast gig seven years ago, local fans also flocked to see the Eagles perform at their 2001 summer gig in the grounds of Stormont.

The June 29 concert, part of their Lifetime of Hits in One Night tour, represented their first ever visit to the Province.

In playing at the venue, they followed in the footsteps of acts such as Sir Elton John, Pavarotti and Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley.

However, it was one of their concerts in the Republic that brings back memories for local fan Dessie Blackadder.

The Ballymena man said: “I remember seeing them playing at the RDS in Dublin in the early 1990s.

“They were note perfect from start to finish – incredible musicians. Other people will say they were too smooth but not for their sound.

“It needed to be perfect and they could certainly deliver on stage.”

The Illegals will perform at The MAC on February 27.