Originally Posted by
thelastresort
I can understand Scott Crago given Don's gradual phasing out of drumming duties (he has moved away from drums on RMW, Wasted Time, Desperado, LITFL and In the City in stages since 2001 for example), and one of Michael Thompson or Will Hollis given Glenn's arthritis (I am presuming Joe has long given up piano), and Steuart Smith since Felder left, but some things do bother me with their use: as much as I can appreciate it has become a preservation act in the last few years, it did look a bit off having four rhythm guitarists on Take It to the Limit; and I do think things like Glenn and Don H. playing their studio instruments on Desperado was iconic and should have been the last song to fall.
I never cared for the Mighty Horns by and large, though I am partial to the violin Al Garth added to songs like Lyin' Eyes and Already Gone, and I absolutely adore the trumpet solo in Tequila Sunrise and prelude to HC that they used to do. Similarly, I actually like how much at the fore the grand piano is in songs like Lyin' Eyes and Peaceful Easy Feeling, it adds a lot of depth to them for me.
Scott is the only perpetual member of their back-up since 1994 - the keyboardists on the HFO tour were different, and I believe doubled up on guitar too for the likes of Already Gone and Get Over it. There was also another percussionist (see some of the acoustic stuff on the MTV special).
As others have said, whilst the quantity of them may be, the Eagles using backing musicians isn't anything new - they had the wonderful (I still miss him in the band!) Joe Vitale on keyboards and drums on TLR tour, and a mystery man called Vince Melahmed (?) on keyboards during the HC tour - I wonder if he is the bloke you can see standing at Glenn's keyboard on the Washington '77 version of New Kid in Town. Further, I believe the guitar tech (Jage Jackson) used to play Hotel California off stage too.
Let's not all forget the most sparingly-used back-up too - their drum tech used to play percussion (and maybe still does) on Those Shoes and Life in the Fast Lane. I forget his name, but he was with Glenn's solo band IIRC.