Columnist Spencer Patterson: Eagles take ‘Farewell’ tours to limit

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 21, 2004 | 8:32 a.m.

In 1982, Don Henley said the Eagles would tour again "when hell freezes over."

Now you've got to wonder what it might take to get the band off the road once and for all.

Since 1994 the Eagles have insisted each successive tour would be their last. It's become something of a joke of late, with the group naming its latest outing, "Farewell I."

Problem is, the once-proud Rock & Roll Hall of Famers are now in danger of becoming a joke themselves.

Ask anyone who ponied up the cash for a recent Eagles show, believing it might be their final chance to see the band. Whether they enjoyed the concert or not, they must feel a little taken advantage of.

Marketing something as the last of its kind is certainly a crafty way to fill arenas. But when the odds are good that it might not even be the second- or third-to-last, it seems a bit disingenuous.

The Eagles return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night, and (surprise, surprise) good seats remain available.

Not that the Eagles are alone in this regard. Kiss, Simon & Garfunkel and the Sex Pistols are just a few other acts in recent years that have publicly stated their intentions not to return to the road, only to reunite for another comeback tour.

For Simon & Garfunkel, the move took some of the luster off the duo's once-pristine reputation. For the Sex Pistols, it was a death blow, causing many longtime fans to tag the punk pioneers with the dreaded "sellout" label.

As for Kiss, the makeup-wearing metal band's followers are so rabid, each "farewell" tour is greeted more enthusiastically than the last.

Only time will tell how much damage the Eagles' legend will suffer. The guess here is that they'll be remembered as much for their series of comebacks as for penning "Hotel California" and "Desperado."

Music notes

Ch-Check it out: The Beastie Boys will play the Huntridge Theatre on June 9, part of MTV2's "2$Bill" concert series.

A limited number of tickets will be available the day of the show. Fans are invited to begin lining up at the Huntridge at 7 a.m. Wristbands will be handed out at 9 a.m. Ticket prices have yet to be announced.

The Beastie Boys are preparing to release their seventh studio album (and first in five years), "To the 5 Buroughs," on June 15. A sample of first cut "Ch-Check it Out" is available in streaming audio on official Web site www.beastieboys.com.

Musical aid: The Huntridge hosts "Peeing in Our Own Backyard," a five-band bill benefitting local musician Cody Chloe, at 7 tonight.

Chloe, frontman for Time Spent Burning, suffers from Crohn's Disease. Tonight's show will help offset his growing medical expenses.

On the bill: the Ill Figures, Kid Deposit Triumph, Rich Tradition, Brown Eyed Deception and Plumm. Tickets are $5.

On sale

Britney Spears returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Aug. 14. Tickets are $48.50, $78.50, and $98.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the MGM Grand box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Marc Anthony stops at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 24. Tickets are $40, $50 and $85 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mandalay Bay box office and through TicketMaster.

Two concerts in the Mandalay Bay Beach series go on sale at noon on Saturday: the "Reggae Beach Party" featuring Burning Spear on Aug. 13 ($22-$27.50) and REO Speedwagon on Sept. 4 ($38.50-$44). Tickets will be available through the Mandalay Bay box office and TicketMaster.

Norah Jones plays a pair of shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on May 21-22. Tickets are $63 and were to go sale at noon today at the Hard Rock box office and through TicketMaster.

Blink 182 and Motion City Soundtrack team for a May 22 concert at The Joint. Tickets are $40 and go on sale at 1 p.m. Saturday through the Hard Rock box office and TicketMaster.

Crosby, Stills & Nash land at The Joint on Sept. 10. Tickets are $53, $63 and $78 and go on sale at noon Saturday through the Hard Rock box office and TicketMaster.

The String Cheese Incident plays two shows at The Joint May 24-25. Tickets are $37 and are on sale now through the Hard Rock box office and TicketMaster.

Tickets are available now for a June 23 Orleans Arena concert featuring 311 and the Roots. Tickets are $37 and are on sale at Coast Casino box offices, by phone at 284-7777 and at www.orleansarena.com.