Steuart Smith has announced his retirement as the Eagles’ lead guitarist after being diagnosed with Parkinsonism.
Smith, 72, served as the band’s touring co-lead guitarist for 24 years alongside Joe Walsh. Smith joined the Eagles for the first part of their Las Vegas residency at the Sphere from September 20 to December 14, 2024. He announced his departure on Monday, January 27.
“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,” he said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “It’s been a great quarter of a century, and I had hoped to be able to finish out this year with the band, but I must now do what’s best for all concerned.”
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation website, Parkinsonism is “a term used to describe a collection of movement symptoms associated with several conditions,” which includes Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms of Parkinsonism can include stiffness, walking and balance issues as well as tremors. Smith did not specify the type of Parkinsonism he was diagnosed with.
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Don Henley, co-lead vocalist and founding member of the Eagles, confirmed that Smith had “retired from touring” in a separate statement.
“The Eagles will be forever grateful for the extraordinary talents that he brought to both our recordings and live performances,” Henley, 77, stated. “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.”
Smith, known for shredding a double-neck guitar, will be replaced by session guitarist Chris Holt, who first joined the band on stage at the Sphere on January 17. Holt and Smith are already friends and have previously toured together as part of Henley’s solo band.
“I’m trying to fill the giant shoes of all three that came before me,” Holt told the Dallas Morning News on Thursday, January 27, referring to Smith as well as previous lead guitarists Don Felder and Bernie Leadon.
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“It’s some of the most beautiful guitar work ever recorded, in my opinion,” Holt continued. “It’s the highest honor for me to do it, and it’s my duty to get it right.” The musician, who also sings harmony along with playing guitar, noted that it is “definitely challenging” playing with the Eagles.
“There’s a ton of iconic lead guitar to play — solos that people know every note of — so you wanna make sure you get the tones and the phrasing just right,” he told the outlet. “The Eagles are legendary perfectionists and the parts are tricky, so it’s no easy feat to nail it, every time.”
The Eagles’ Las Vegas residency will pick up again at the Sphere on Friday, February 14, and will run through Saturday, April 12.
