Don Felder is revealing what led to his recent mid-show medical emergency. One week after the former Eagles guitarist had to cut his set on the Rock Legends Cruise short due to illness, he spoke out about what went down in a new interview.
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“I have always said that I’m going to rock till I drop. I never knew it would be in the middle of Tequila Sunrise, instead of like [Life in the Fast] Lane or Hotel [California] or something really fun,” Felder, 77, told Heartland Radio’s Sal Cirrincione.
Leading up to the show, Felder said he was “feeling fine,” even rating himself at “naturally my 100 percent or my 99.9 percent.” That all changed when he went on stage, though.
“I started the introduction for Tequila Sunrise. I stepped back from the microphone, and I just was like, ‘Whoa, wait a minute. This feels like acid,’” he said. “I just felt like I’m leaving my body.”
Felder, who fumbled and appeared to look uneasy, turned to his girlfriend who was standing off-stage and she knew something was amiss.
“She came right out on stage, grabbed me and had to get me offstage,” he said. “She saved me from one of the most embarrassing things, which would have been to fall down onstage by myself. So I owe her big time.”
Felder was thoroughly checked over backstage, only to find out that he was simply dehydrated.
“They put me on an I.V.,” he said. “Thirty minutes later, I was back making bad jokes, and everybody in the place was laughing.”
Don Felder’s Medical Emergency
The day after the incident, Felder’s manager, Charlie Brusco, released a statement.
“Don experienced a medical episode last night during the show. He received medical attention and was deemed to be suffering from dehydration,” Brusco said. “By medical rules of the cruise, he’ll be in quarantine for the next 24 hours to rest. Arrangements are being made for him to play on Saturday and Sunday.”
Shortly thereafter, Felder posted a video of himself addressing those on the cruise in the wake of his medical emergency.
“Hey guys, I just wanted to tell you all I am back 100 percent,” he said. “I had a wonderful time down in the little medical facility getting an I.V. last night. I feel fantastic, so I appreciate all your concern, but I am back and ready to rock.”
Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images
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