Joe Walsh, legendary guitarist of The Eagles, is mourning the loss of his longtime road manager and close friend, Richard “Smokey” Wendell, who passed away on March 2 at age 80. Wendell, once a bodyguard for former U.S. President Richard Nixon and an ex-Secret Service agent, played a crucial role in Walsh’s life, helping the rockstar overcome his battles with addiction.

“I Lost My Buddy”

Taking to Instagram last Friday (March 7), the five-time Grammy winner, 77, paid tribute to Wendell, sharing a photo of the two with a Smokey the Bear cutout. “There are some losses so profound that words seem meaningless,” Walsh wrote. “I hope to have some better ones later. I lost my buddy. RIP Richard ‘Smokey’ Wendell.”

Wendell, who previously helped John Belushi in his fight against addiction, took on a similar role for Walsh in the ‘90s, becoming what the guitarist once called his “drug enforcer.” Over the next three decades, Wendell remained a key figure in Walsh’s life, with their relationship growing beyond work into a deep friendship.

Honoring Smokey on Stage

Walsh dedicated his March 7 performance at The Sphere in Las Vegas to Wendell, saying, “Better than the way we had. It always was with you by my side. Night #25 is for Smokey.”

The Eagles, currently in their Las Vegas residency, have extended their run at The Sphere with four additional dates, closing out on April 12.