Rhino Historic Tours: Get Tough on Toxics

The Get Tough on Toxics benefit concert was a pretty big deal in 1986. It was an event which was designed to both draw attention to and raise money in order to support two environmental initiatives in California: Proposition 65, which dealt with safe drinking water in California, and Proposition U, a measure which was to set limits on commercial buildings and traffic in Los Angeles. If that doesn’t sound like a big deal to you, well, there’s not much we can do about that, but even so, you should still be able to tell just how big a deal it was by taking a look at the star power that was on the bill:

•    Warren Zevon
•    Neil Young
•    Joni Mitchell
•    J.D. Souther
•    Lindsey Buckingham
•    Jimmy Buffett
•    Stevie Nicks
•    Cheech Marin
•    Mike Campbell
•    Don Henley
•    Don Felder
•    Glenn Frey
•    Timothy B. Schmidt

As you look at that list of characters, particularly the ones at the very end, you’re probably thinking, “So, wait, why was this only mostly an Eagles reunion?”

That’s because Glenn Frey wasn’t actually present, although he did appear via film. Despite having been more than willing to participate, Frey ultimately wasn’t able to do so: he was laid up due to an intestinal disorder, so his participation ended up being limited to a solo acoustic performance of the opening notes of “Best of My Love,” after which the members of Eagles who were actually present at the concert took over.

By most reports, the show was a solid one, but it was also an incredibly lengthy one, lasting for five hours, with way too much of that time being spent on moving from act to act. In the end, though , it was worth it: the show raised approximately $300,000 for its cause.