Life

Where eagles dare

By Han Bingbin (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-10 07:57

Chinese fans are looking forward to what they are calling a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".

One of the most successful bands in history is coming to town, Han Bingbin takes a listen.

Beijingers have long been famous for their laid-back attitude in front of stars. Yet, when news broke that The Eagles were coming to town it caused a major stir: television programs, newspapers and micro blogs were awash with talk anticipating the arrival of what many are calling: "The world's only real megaband."

Many Chinese fans are calling the concert a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity", a chance to watch a live performance by their teenage idols.

Formed in 1971 by four young musicians - Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner - the group has won six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards. At the end of the 20th century, three of its albums, Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975), Hotel California, Eagles Greatest Hits Vol 2 were among the top best-selling albums in the United States.

Crowned as one of the world's most successful bands, The Eagles have also had a major influence in other parts of the world.

The musicians once claimed they know some countries better than US politicians do, as they've performed in almost every corner of the globe over the years. However, this year will be the first time they have played in the Chinese mainland.

"We're looking forward to seeing how it goes," the band told METRO in an e-mail.

The three-hour concert at Wukesong Arena is part of the band's Long Road Out of Eden world tour, and they promise to present a mixture of hits, including classics like Hotel California and Desperado, as well as relatively new singles such as Boys of Summer and Life in the Fast Lane.

Even for those who are not so familiar with the band, golden melodies like Hotel California, which is a staple in most KTV bars and which seemingly almost every adult in China can hum, are powerful enough to drag them into the arena to pay tribute to these living legends.

Tickets for the concert are selling as high as 2,580 yuan, breaking the record set by Chinese diva Faye Wong, whose long-awaited comeback show sold for up to 2,500 yuan.

Still, the band's previous concert in Taipei, where the average ticket price also surpassed that of Faye Wong's, got "the city boiling", said Kelly Cha, a famous Beijing DJ and singer who attended the concert.

Despite the passion already being displayed by Chinese fans of the band, the musicians still seem a little unsure about the reception they will receive in Beijing.

"We'll just do what we do, which is, play our songs," they said.

Moreover, knowing that Beijing is the center of the Chinese rock music scene, the band expressed their appreciation of having a chance to share ideas with the capital's rock musicians.

"That'll be very interesting," they said.