The Eagles’ most authentic tribute band electrifies Berkhamsted audience

As The Eagles – one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and country – were preparing for a concert at the Las Vegas Sphere on 28 February, a tribute band was electrifying audiences at the Centenary Theatre in Berkhamsted, watched by Lyn Drummond.

The tribute band, The Ultimate Eagles, which has been described world-wide as the most authentic band to The Eagles’ music played true to the rave reviews – recreating the harmonies and guitar solos of hits such as Hotel California, Life in the Fast Lane and Take it Easy.

All members of The Ultimate Eagles band, which began in 2010, are from the UK, half from South Wales and the others from London, Essex. Members are: Chris Wright: musical director, lead and backing vocals, lead guitar; Paul Ayres: lead and backing vocals, keyboards and guitar; Rhys Morgan: drums and backing vocals; Matthew Fry, lead and backing vocals and bass guitar, and Michael Lawrence, lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, piano and keyboards, Chris, who joined for the 2012 tour as musical director, has become a huge part of the production, according to Michael Lawrence.

Michael, founder and the only original member, explaining why The Eagles was chosen for a tribute band, said it personified what has now become the classic ‘California sound’, along with artists like Crosby, Stills and Nash, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and all of the others who cut their teeth at places like California’s Troubadour night club in the early ‘70s.

‘What started as a mix of country and rock, began to blend into its own unique genre, heavy on guitar arrangements and, most importantly, vocal harmonies, for which The Eagles became especially celebrated. Despite having what is considered the All American Classic Sound, their first two albums were recorded here in London with the world famous Glynn Johns,’ Michael continued.

‘We try to take the approach that The London Symphony Orchestra would take to recreating Beethoven or Mozart – we don’t mess with perfection. So we recreate the songs as closely as possible in a live setting, using as many authentic instruments and amp settings as we can.

‘We have extensively researched what instruments The Eagles used on their records, and we have matched our instruments and amplifiers as closely as possible. For instance, One Of These Nights guitar solo was played on a 1959 Les Paul (electric guitar used in jazz, country, and rock and roll music), so we make sure we use a 50s Les Paul with the correct pickups so the sound is as close as possible.

‘We use a genuine Alpine White Gibson SG double neck that Don Felder used on the 70s Hotel California Tour, and has done ever since. We also use Kemper Profilers, which profile classic amp and recreate the sounds almost exactly in a live setting. We can’t tour vintage amps any more, so this is a close as we can get. If the record uses a 60’s Blackface Fender, for instance, then that’s what we set the profilers to recreate.

‘We don’t play or sing anything that isn’t on the record or has been arranged live by The Eagles themselves; to do otherwise would be nothing but arrogance on our part, so we just relive the memories with the audiences as the songs were intended.’

The band  unexpectedly fulfilled that latter promise for my companion. A dedicated fan of The Eagles, she was  hoping the show’s encore would include Desperado, The Eagles classic song about isolation, pride and the cost of keeping others at a distance.

Instead a rousing Hotel California had the audience on their feet.

The band then appeared to be leaving.

But slowly returned.

My friend watched, entranced.

As Paul Ayres began to sing the first haunting line of Desperado:

‘Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?’……….