This Day on the Green at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA was a two-day event. The Eagles headlined the all-star show and had their first appearance on Saturday, May 28, 1977. Then, the next day they played softball against Bill Graham (Day on the Green promoter) and several radio personnel. Unfortunately, the Eagles lost the game.
Monday, May 30, 1977 (Memorial Day) was the second concert, and they had a friendly volleyball game either before or after that day’s show. The other bands on the bill were:
- The Steve Miller Band
- Atlanta Rhythm Section
- Heart
- Foreigner
The Memorial Day weekend event was just a few days after the Eagles returned from their European tour.
The Eagles were also at Day on the Green in 1975 and 1976.
Richard McCaffrey, photographer
Saturday, May 28, 1977
Sunday, May 29, 1977
On May 29, between the two concert days, the Eagles played softball against Bill Graham (Day on the Green promoter) and various radio personnel.
Cash Box magazine – June 11, 1977
Randy & Bill Graham
Boz Scaggs
Radio & Records magazine – June 10, 1977
Monday, May 30, 1977 – Volleyball Game
Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Don Felder, Bill Graham, Don Henley, and Joe Walsh with Irving Azoff on his back
Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Don Felder, Bill Graham, Don Henley, and Joe Walsh with Irving Azoff on his back
Don Felder (wearing a Caribou Ranch Recording Studio shirt), Randy Meisner, Bill Graham, Joe Walsh, Irving Azoff, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey
Don Felder, Randy Meisner, Bill Graham, Joe Walsh, Irving Azoff, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey
Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, and Joe Walsh
Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Don Felder, and Joe Walsh
Randy Meisner (Harley Davidson shirt), Joe Walsh, Don Felder, Boz Scaggs, and Glenn Frey (in background in white Eagles t-shirt)
Boz played on the softball team for the Eagles the day before this concert.
Randy with Glenn’s cousin, Rebecca M.
Glenn Frey and Don Henley
Day on the Green Schedule for 1977
Wikipedia
Oakland Stadium concert poster
Radio & Records Magazine – June 10, 1977
“Some say they are now the most popular of all American rock bands; it would be a difficult statement to disprove.”
Napa Valley Register (Napa, CA) – Apr. 23, 1977
The Argus (Fremont, CA) – May 27, 1977
“There are suggestions of the Beach Boys, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and other bygone Southland bands in the Eagles, and their delightful guitar combinations, (there were 22 guitars on stage for four Eagles to choose from) with a number of keyboard sounds provides a mixed bag of music that no other group can match.”
Concert review in the San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) – May 29, 1977
“A stadium is a stadium is a stadium, but Bill Graham’s ‘Day on the Green’ concert series in Oakland is rapidly becoming known as the premier outdoor rock showcase in the country.”
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – May 31, 1977
“After being asked about his own current tour (Orbison’s first U.S. tour in 10 years), he then asked one of the Eagles ‘Do you work much?'”
San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) – June 5, 1977
Concert review in the California Aggie (student newspaper of University of California Davis) – June 8, 1977
Concert review in Billboard magazine – June 18, 1977
There are a few typos in this article, like “Motel California”.
Concert review in the San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) – June 19, 1977
“Kelton’s essay, which utilized a review of the Eagles’ performance at one of the Days on the Green earlier this year as a point of departure, focused on some of the more glaring contrasts between rock then and now.”
Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA) – July 14, 1977)
Thank you. This was great.
Awesome, totally awesome post of these historical concert events. I was fortunate enough to attend the Eagles first day show. They were amazing. Also attended the first Led Zeppelin show. Incredible concert as well. Thanks for posting this excellent information. Great Job!
Yes, you were definitely fortunate! You not only got to see the Eagles as headliners, but the other bands there that day aren’t too shabby, either. Thanks for taking a look at this site!