The Day Glenn Frey and Jimmy Buffett Sat Down and Wrote a Classic

Jimmy Buffett’s lifelong friendship with the Eagles began on August 3, 1975, when he opened for the band at a concert in Columbia, South Carolina. Reflecting after Glenn Frey’s passing in 2016, Buffett recalled the nervous anticipation before going onstage. “Waiting to perform felt endless,” he said, “and my mind was filled with fear, excitement, and countless ‘what ifs.’ Then the door opened, and Glenn Frey walked in.”

That moment marked Buffett’s first meeting with Frey, who immediately put him at ease. “Glenn welcomed me and the band warmly, thanked us for being there, and told me how much he enjoyed my song ‘A Pirate Looks at 40,’” Buffett shared. “He wished us luck and then left. That simple gesture marked the start of a deep and lasting friendship.”

Career Crossroads and Collaborations

Buffett rose to fame in 1977 with the album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes and its hit single “Margaritaville.” That same year, he began the year opening for the Eagles during their Hotel California tour. Later on, the Eagles invited him to provide backing vocals on “The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks,” a track from their sixth album The Long Run, penned by Frey and Don Henley.

Buffett credits the Eagles—and especially Frey, Henley, and their manager Irving Azoff—with playing a pivotal role in his rise in the music world. “Not many know how much Glenn, Don, Irving, and the band influenced my journey toward success,” Buffett said. When the Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Buffett was honored to deliver their induction speech. “Glenn was a true friend and professional, an inspiration with a mischievous side. I treasure the memories and his kindness that night so many years ago.”

Mad Dog Ranch and Lasting Legacy

Their friendship deepened over the years, with Frey and Buffett becoming neighbors in Aspen, Colorado, by the mid-1980s. In 1986, Frey bought Buffett’s Mad Dog Ranch in Old Snowmass and transformed it into a recording studio. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, it became Frey’s go-to creative space and the site where he recorded his 1992 solo album Strange Weather.

The ranch also inspired their only direct musical collaboration: “Gypsies in the Palace,” featured on Buffett’s 1985 album Last Mango in Paris. The song is a playful tribute to the wild parties they threw with the ranch’s caretakers, capturing the spirit of their friendship and the colorful life they shared.