On This Day in 1973, Decades of Tension Between the Everly Brothers Came to a Head During Their Disastrous Final Concert

On this day (July 14) in 1973, the Everly Brothers were ready to retire after decades of music, substance abuse, and behind-the-scenes tension. The duo announced their final performance would take place at the John Wayne Theater at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. What should have been a joyous sendoff for the duo ended with a smashed guitar and an angry audience.

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The Everly Brothers saw crossover success in the early days of their career. Songs like “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” and “Bird Dog” were big hits on the country and pop charts in the late 1950s. By the 1970s, the duo moved away from country music and continued launching hits to the top of the pop charts. “Cathy’s Clown,” “Crying in the Rain,” and “Walk Right Back” were all top 10 hits for them in the 1960s.

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However, their chart success started to dry up by the middle of the 1960s as their wholesome image went out of style and popular music became the realm of the likes of Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, and other representatives of the budding counterculture. The end of the decade saw them return to country-rock, but they never regained their early success.

This lack of chart success, substance abuse, and some good, old-fashioned family tension led the Everly Brothers to choose to call it quits in 1973. Little did they know, their farewell show would be a disaster.

The Everly Brothers Implode on Stage

Brothers Don and Phil Everly both had substance abuse issues. However, they retained a clean-cut image in public. In fact, many fans would likely be shocked to learn that their lives were full of alcohol and uppers when they weren’t in the public eye. However, Don would destroy the illusion of the wholesome family duo during their final show.

According to Far Out Magazine, Don Everly stumbled onto the stage of the John Wayne Theater, clearly drunk. He slurred his way through a few songs as his brother became increasingly frustrated. Phil tried to restart songs a handful of times, hoping Don would miraculously fall in line and finish the show. The crowd, expecting an unforgettable night of classic tunes from the iconic duo, booed Don. He lashed out at them in response.

This turned out to be the final straw for Phil. He smashed his guitar in frustration and stormed off the stage. While the obviously drunken Don tried to continue the show, Phil refused to return to the stage.

That night, Warren Zevon was playing piano for the Everly Brothers. “I’d seen Don perform with the flu and a temperature of 103. I’d never heard him hit a sour note or be anything short of professional in front of an audience,” he recalled. “This night, he walked onstage dead drunk, he was stumbling and off-key,” he added.

“I knew it was the last night, and on the way out I drank some tequila, drank some champagne–started celebrating the demise,” Don told Rolling Stone. “The press hadn’t paid attention to us in ten years, but they jumped on that. It was the saddest day of my life,” he added.

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