Holiday Jam at the Miami Orange Bowl was on July 7, 1974. The Orange Bowl Stadium opened its gates for the first time ever for a rock concert. Leon Russell was the headliner, and six bands played, including the Eagles. There was attendance of 18,000. The six bands were:
- Leon Russell
- The Band
- Eagles
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Sons of Champlin
- Isis
According to John Gellman, photographer, for the Miami Orange Bowl concert:
This was a day-long concert, and the Eagles were the highlight of the day. After the Eagles played, Alan Walden, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s manager, was extremely upset backstage yelling “I’m NEVER gonna let one of my bands follow that band ever again.” Alan was right to be upset. Following the Eagles onstage was not a good place to be. Skynyrd played well, but never even got close.
Holiday Jam at the Miami Orange Bowl
Bernie Leadon, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Don Felder
Glenn Frey and Don Felder
Miami Orange Bowl Stadium
Holiday Jam concert poster
$10 all-day ticket, backstage pass, and t-shirt
“Isis will open the show, followed by California’s Sons of Champlin and Lynyrd Skynyrd, the new southern sensation. The Eagles and the Band will lead up to Leon Russell’s show-closing set, scheduled to begin at approximately 9 p.m. The city has put an 11 p.m. finish deadline on the show.”
“The Eagles have taken the best ideas of groups like the Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco and other country-oriented rock groups to form their sound. Don Felder recently joined the group on lead guitar and the most recent album by the band has pushed it over the top as a big seller.”
The Miami Herald (Miami, FL) – July 5, 1974
The Miami News photographer snapped Randy on the stage from behind.
Miami News (Miami, FL) – July 8, 1974
“The concert, which featured Leon Russell and The Band lasted from 2 pm when the burning sun was oppressive until past 11 pm which the city had mandated as closing time.”
Concert review in The Miami Herald (Miami, FL) – July 8, 1974
Concert review in The Tampa Times (Tampa, FL) – July 8, 1974
“Eagles is the first of the evening’s big three, starting strong with ‘Take It Easy,’ and then working through a relatively gentle, disarmingly melodic set that eventually takes a sharp turn into rock-country.”
Concert review in The Miami Herald (Miami, FL) – July 9, 1974
Salary was $15,000 for the Eagles.
Orange Bowl Stadium opened its gates to rock for the first time.
Billboard magazine – July 20, 1974