Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder was rushed off stage due to a medical emergency on Thursday, February 13. “[Don] is feeling much better,” his management team reassured fans in an Instagram Story posted on Friday, February 14.
Audience-captured footage from Thursday’s Rock Legends Cruise XII performance showed Felder, 77, dedicating a rendition of “Tequila Sunrise” to his late Eagles bandmate Glenn Frey. As he began strumming his guitar, he suddenly appeared disoriented, gripping the stage microphone for support.
A stagehand quickly came to his aid, while his bandmates assisted him backstage as concerned gasps echoed from the crowd. “We love you, Don,” a fan could be heard shouting as he was escorted away.
Following the alarming moment, Felder’s management released a statement via Instagram Story confirming that he was treated for dehydration.
“We appreciate everyone’s concern regarding Don Felder’s abrupt stop to his show last night on the Rock Legends Cruise,” the statement read. “After receiving medical attention, he was found to be suffering from dehydration. He was given fluids and is now feeling much better.”
Felder had been scheduled to perform several additional sets on the Rock Legends Cruise, including on Friday, but will be taking time to recover.
“We are working on rescheduling [Friday’s] shows and adjusting the remainder of the cruise schedule accordingly,” the statement continued. “Thank you for your understanding and remember, drink your water!”
Felder was among the many rock legends headlining the cruise, which departed from Miami on Wednesday, February 12, with a destination of CocoCay in the Bahamas.
Eagles Guitarist Don FelderOther notable acts performing on the Independence of the Seas cruise liner include Alice Cooper, Styx, John Waite, and Foghat, before the ship returns on Monday, February 17.
In related Eagles news, fans recently learned that the band’s longtime touring guitarist, Steuart Smith, who replaced Felder in 2001, announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Parkinsonism, a condition associated with Parkinson’s disease.
“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 told in January.
“It’s been a wonderful 25 years, and I had hoped to finish out this year with the band, but I must now do what’s best for everyone.”
Smith, 72, played with the Eagles during their Las Vegas residency at the Sphere from September 20 to December 14, 2024. However, he was absent from the band’s return to the venue in January. Serving as co-lead guitarist alongside Joe Walsh for 24 years, Smith played an integral role in the band’s live and studio performances.
The group’s drummer and vocalist, Don Henley, later confirmed that session guitarist Chris Holt would step in to complete the remaining Sphere shows.
“The Eagles will be forever grateful for the extraordinary talents that [Smith] contributed to our recordings and live performances,” Henley, 77, shared in a statement. “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.”
Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey passed away in January 2016 due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia. Frey had battled rheumatoid arthritis since 2000 and had to cancel a tribute to the Eagles at the Kennedy Center Honors event in December 2015, just weeks before his passing.
