“Hotel California” is easily one of the Eagles’ most iconic songs, and it’s easy to see why. The storytelling, the breezy groove, the duetting guitars: the 1977 track is synonymous with the West Coast rock band (and that era of rock ‘n’ roll in general). While some might be quick to write off this Eagles hit as over-played or overdone, we’d argue that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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After all, there’s a reason that so many rock lovers hold “Hotel California” in such high regard. It’s not just a great song. “Hotel California” is a stunning snapshot of the Eagles at their best, and nothing captures this supergroup’s magic quite like their live performances.
MTV Unplugged, 1994
We’ll start our list of the greatest live performances of the Eagles’ “Hotel California” with a rendition that’s the least like the version on their album of the same name. This stripped-down version of “Hotel California” came from the Eagles’ 1994 MTV Unplugged series, and something about the starkness of the acoustic setup elevates the song to a whole new level. Featuring a beautiful Spanish-style guitar intro and Afro-Cuban percussion, this acoustic version of “Hotel California” instantly transports you to that dark desert highway, cool wind in your hair, warm smell of colitas rising up through the air.
The Forum (Los Angeles, CA), 1976
While it’s hard to imagine a world in which “Hotel California” didn’t exist, that’s the only world most concertgoers knew when they walked into The Forum in Los Angeles one fateful night in 1976. The Eagles performed their now-iconic song across their string of concerts months before they would release their Hotel California album, meaning this live version was as fresh as could be at the time. The live Forum version of “Hotel California” captures the Eagles at their musical peak as they find their footing for what would later become a concert staple in real-time.
Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland), 1977
If you’re ever in need of proof that the Eagles were one of the greatest, most well-oiled rock machines of the late 1970s, look no further than their live rendition of “Hotel California” at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The 1977 show features Don Felder on his distinct white double-neck guitar, which he plays masterfully alongside Joe Walsh’s electric lead. (Their duet at the end of the song is particularly tasty in this version as well.) Moreover, drummer and singer Don Henley’s voice has a certain kind of grit that can only come from adrenaline cutting through a road-weary voice box.
Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns
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