MACC 75th Anniversary Flashback: The Eagles

Concert by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees was subject of controversy

*Information for this article was drawn from contemporary accounts in the Daily Kent Stater, published April 9, 1975; April 15, 1975; April 17, 1975; and May 2, 1975.

In May 1975, the Eagles' performance at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (then known as Memorial Gym) represented one of the most high-profile concerts held at Kent State University and drew particular attention because of its timing on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the May 4 shootings.

Logo for the 75th anniversary of the MACC at Kent State, showing the years 1950 and 2025 with an illustration of the arena.

The concert, scheduled for May 3, 1975, generated considerable discussion among campus groups. More than 1,000 people camped outside the Kent Student Center in April to purchase tickets, and approximately 3,500 to 4,000 tickets sold on the first day, according to Todd Clements, chairperson of the All-Campus Programming Board's concerts committee.

Members of the May 4 Memorial Committee initially expressed concern about the scheduling. Amey Shaw, chairperson of the committee, said at the time that she considered the concert "rude and insensitive." Professor Jerry M. Lewis, Ph.D., a witness to the events of May 4, 1970, and also a committee member, termed the decision "incredulously insensitive."

However, Clements noted that Shaw had agreed to the concert on two separate occasions before spring break, provided it ended before the 10:30 p.m. candlelight vigil. The Eagles began their set at 7:30 p.m.

The Eagles, rising to prominence in the early 1970s with their debut single "Take It Easy," had assembled a five-member lineup by 1975. The band included Glenn Frey on guitar and piano, Don Henley on drums, Randy Meisner on bass, Bernie Leadon on guitar, mandolin and banjo, and Don Felder on slide guitar. Dan Fogelberg served as the opening act.

Poster for the Eagles One of These Nights Tour ’75 with special guest Dan Fogelberg in concert at Kent State Memorial Gym on Saturday, May 3, 1975 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices listed as $5.50 general admission and $6.00 reserved. Poster features a black-and-white photo of the Eagles band members.

The significance of the concert lay partly in the band's decision to perform a special arrangement of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Ohio," written to commemorate the deaths of four students during the May 4, 1970 shootings. The Eagles also performed material including "Already Gone," "Outlaw Man," "Desperado," and "Midnight Flyer."

Technical difficulties occurred during the performance when the entire stage-left amplification system failed during one segment.

The Eagles concluded their main set with "Take It Easy" and performed encores of "James Dean" and "Tequila Sunrise" before ending the show out of respect for the vigil.

Following the concert, approximately 4,000 people participated in a memorial march around campus. A new memorial marker, presented by Kent State faculty, was dedicated at 11 p.m. prior to the candlelight service.

The vigil, which lasted through the early morning hours of May 4, honored Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, William Schroeder and Sandy Scheuer, the four students killed during the 1970 incident.

Kent State alumnus Joe Walsh would join the band later that year, replacing Leadon.

The Eagles went on to become one of the most successful rock bands in history. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Their 1976 album "Hotel California" became one of the best-selling albums of all time, and their harmonies and musicianship influenced generations of artists who followed.

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POSTED: Monday, October 20, 2025 10:16 AM
Updated: Monday, October 20, 2025 12:40 PM