When Joe Walsh stepped onto the stage with Vince Gill at the VetsAid 2024 INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita, Kansas, the crowd didn’t just hear two legendary guitarists—they felt the quiet, electric tension between them. Walsh later called it "terrifying," and not in the way you’d expect. "Well, between you and me—it’s terrifying," he told Guitar Player magazine. "And he tells me I make him nervous, too, so it works out really good." That mutual awe? It’s the secret sauce keeping The Eagles alive, even after the loss of co-founder Glenn Frey in 2016.
The Unlikely Rebirth of The Eagles
Vince Gill didn’t set out to join The Eagles. At 67, he’d already won 21 Grammys, fronted the Time Jumpers, and played with legends from Rodney Crowell to Dolly Parton. But when Frey passed, the band faced an impossible question: Who could fill his voice, his presence, his soul? The answer came in the form of a man who’d known them for decades. "It’s something you couldn’t have dreamed up," Gill admitted. "Sadly it came about through the passing of Glenn, and he was an old friend. I actually knew all those guys fairly well over the years... so it does make a lot of sense." Joe Walsh, the rock-and-roll wildcard who joined the band in 1975 after the James Gang and before the Eagles became a cultural institution, found himself in an odd position: mentoring a country icon who played like he’d been raised on Hotel California. "I’ve spent my whole career trying to sound like nobody else," Walsh said. "And now I’m playing with someone who makes me feel like I’m the imposter." Their chemistry isn’t just musical—it’s emotional. The band’s current lineup—Walsh, Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Gill, and Deacon Frey (Glenn’s son)—hasn’t just survived grief. It’s turned it into something enduring. "I know we’re not done yet," Walsh said, hinting at tours beyond their upcoming Sphere residency Las Vegas in early 2026.VetsAid: Where Rock Meets Heartland
While the world watches The Eagles headline stadiums, Walsh has quietly built something far more personal: VetsAid. Co-founded in 2017 with his wife Marjorie Bach, the nonprofit isn’t a fundraiser with a rock concert tacked on—it’s the other way around. The music? Just the vehicle. The mission? Direct, local, and deeply human. On November 15, 2024, over 5,000 people packed the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita. Not for the nostalgia. Not for the guitar solos. But to honor veterans who, as Walsh put it, "came home and were forgotten." The night featured full sets from Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen, Gill with Nathaniel Rateliff, and Walsh joined by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks—a surprise, since Trucks’ grandfather once lived in Wichita. "Derek shares family roots here," Walsh said. "That’s not a coincidence. This isn’t a tour. It’s a traveling circus of love and community." Proceeds from the 2024 event supported local groups like the Wichita Police and Fire Foundation, Wichita Kansas Intertribal Warrior Society, and KanVet United Organization. Since its start, VetsAid has raised over $4 million—not in big-city donor halls, but in places where veterans live, work, and sometimes struggle in silence.
What’s Next: VetsAid 2025 and Beyond
The 2025 edition is already locked in: Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Central, back at the INTRUST Bank Arena. Tickets go on sale August 8, 2025, at www.selectaseat.com (all-in starting at $50). The lineup? Full sets from Vince Gill, Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen, and a super-set from Joe Walsh with Tedeschi, Trucks, and Rateliff. Walsh doesn’t see this as a one-off. He’s planning future events in cities where veterans need support most. "We go where the vets are," he said. "And we find out what they need. Not what we think they need. What they tell us." Meanwhile, The Eagles will return to Las Vegas for their Sphere residency Las Vegas in January 2026. Gill, who’ll receive the Country Music Association’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award Nashville just days before the VetsAid 2025 Wichita concert, has no plans to slow down.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about legacy. Glenn Frey is gone, but his spirit lives through the music, the family, and the cause. Joe Walsh and Vince Gill aren’t just filling roles—they’re redefining what it means to carry a band forward after tragedy. And in Wichita, they’re doing it in a way that reminds us: the best rock and roll isn’t the loudest. It’s the most human.Frequently Asked Questions
How has Vince Gill’s role changed The Eagles’ sound?
Gill’s voice and guitar work have added a richer, more nuanced layer to The Eagles’ harmonies, especially on songs like "Hotel California" and "Take It Easy," where his country-inflected phrasing contrasts yet complements Walsh’s gritty rock tone. His ability to sing Glenn Frey’s parts with emotional precision—without imitation—has helped the band feel both authentic and alive, not nostalgic.
What percentage of VetsAid funds go directly to veterans’ organizations?
VetsAid operates with near-zero overhead; 100% of ticket sales and donations go directly to local veteran groups in each host city. Administrative costs are covered by personal contributions from Joe Walsh and Marjorie Bach, ensuring every dollar raised supports services like housing, mental health care, and job training for veterans in Wichita, Columbus, San Diego, and beyond.
Why is Wichita chosen as the VetsAid home base?
Joe Walsh is a native of Wichita, and he’s made it his mission to give back where he grew up. But more than that, Kansas has one of the highest per-capita veteran populations in the Midwest, with many struggling to access services. VetsAid targets underserved areas—not just big cities—making Wichita a symbolic and practical anchor for the nonprofit’s mission.
Will Joe Walsh and Vince Gill perform together outside of VetsAid and The Eagles?
So far, their joint performances are limited to VetsAid and Eagles shows. But Walsh has hinted at a possible side project—perhaps a stripped-down acoustic tour focusing on classic country-rock duets. With Gill’s voice and Walsh’s signature slide work, fans are already speculating about a live album from their 2025 collaboration.
How does VetsAid differ from other veteran charities?
Unlike national charities that funnel money through headquarters, VetsAid partners directly with local veteran groups—often small, grassroots organizations that can’t access big grants. The band’s performances are curated around community needs: one year it’s housing, another it’s PTSD therapy dogs. The music draws crowds; the local focus ensures real impact.
What’s the significance of Derek Trucks playing in VetsAid 2025?
Trucks’ grandfather lived in Wichita, and his family has deep roots in the region’s musical history. His inclusion isn’t just a celebrity cameo—it’s a homecoming. Trucks, known for his soulful slide guitar and ties to the Allman Brothers legacy, represents the bridge between Southern rock, blues, and the heartland values VetsAid celebrates. His presence adds generational depth to the event.
Caleb Nathanson
Hi, I'm Caleb Nathanson, a passionate blogger with expertise in creating engaging content for forums. With years of experience in the blogging world, I have developed a knack for identifying trending topics and crafting compelling discussions. My goal is to inspire conversations and bring people together through my love for writing. I'm always eager to learn and grow as a writer, and I'm excited to share my knowledge with others.
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