Don Felder Bringing Eagles Classics to Kansas City September 11
The former Eagles guitarist and “Hotel California” co-writer heads to Ameristar Kansas City on September 11, giving local classic-rock fans a chance to hear one of rock’s most recognizable guitar catalogs up close.
Kansas City has a packed September concert calendar, and one of the month’s most interesting shows for classic-rock fans comes from a musician whose career stretches from the Eagles’ biggest records into an often-overlooked 1980s solo chapter.
Don Felder will perform Friday, September 11, at the Star Pavilion at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City. The show begins at 8:30 p.m., with doors at 7:30 p.m. Ameristar’s official event listing confirms the performance and says audiences can expect Eagles favorites including “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Already Gone.”
Felder’s Kansas City appearance also arrives during a notable period for the guitarist’s recorded legacy. Last year he released The Vault – Fifty Years of Music, his fourth solo album, featuring newly recorded versions of songs originating from demos created across five decades. The project includes musicians such as Steve Lukather, David Paich, Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes and Lenny Castro.
For ’80s listeners, one track is especially significant: a newly recorded version of “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride).”
Felder’s ’80s Connection Runs Deeper Than the Eagles
Don Felder will forever be associated with the Eagles, particularly because he co-wrote “Hotel California” and helped create the band’s harder-edged guitar sound. But his connection to 1980s radio extends beyond his years with the group.
After the Eagles initially split in 1980, Felder contributed “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” to the soundtrack of the 1981 animated film Heavy Metal. The song became an enduring part of his solo identity and remains, according to Felder’s official biography, one of the most requested songs in his live repertoire.
In 1983, Felder released his first solo album, Airborne. His official biography continues to highlight the album as an important part of the solo career that followed his original Eagles tenure.
That makes the September 11 Kansas City show a particularly good fit for 80s Music Radio listeners. Felder’s concerts aren’t simply Eagles retrospectives; they connect the massive guitar-rock sound of the 1970s with his solo work from the early MTV era and the music he continues to record today.
A Guitar Part Heard Around the World
Of course, there’s one song audiences will be waiting for.
Felder’s role in creating “Hotel California” remains central to his musical identity. He developed the song’s original music and shared writing credit with Don Henley and Glenn Frey, then performed its famous dual-guitar finale with Joe Walsh.
The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, with Felder joining his former bandmates for the induction performance.
Fifty years after the Hotel California album era, interest in that music remains enormous. The Eagles’ catalog continues reaching sales milestones, while Felder keeps the guitar-driven side of those songs alive on his own concert stages.
Kansas City Concert Details
Don Felder — formerly of the Eagles
Friday, September 11, 2026
Star Pavilion at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City
Doors: 7:30 p.m. | Show: 8:30 p.m.
Why ’80s Fans Should Care
For ’80s fans, Felder occupies an interesting crossroads. He helped build one of the biggest classic-rock catalogs in history, then entered the new decade with “Heavy Metal” and Airborne as a solo artist.
Kansas City’s September 11 show offers the chance to hear both sides of that story — from Eagles classics to the guitar work that carried Felder into the 1980s and beyond.
And when that double-neck guitar comes out, there’s little doubt what song everyone will be waiting to hear.
Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Felder
