At 5,430 feet, CU Boulder’s stunning campus—framed by red rooftops and the Flatirons—earned a place in rock history when Glenn Frey of the Eagles proudly wore its shirts on stage.

The University of Colorado has had its fair share of celebrity fans—but few wore their Buffs pride quite as loudly, or as often, as Glenn Frey of the Eagles. From sold-out arenas to iconic album tours, Frey could frequently be seen repping CU Boulder with his signature T-shirts. But what’s the story behind the shirts? It’s a tale woven into rock history—and into Boulder’s cultural DNA.

The Early Days: Eagles Fly into Colorado

In 1971, the Eagles were still finding their wings. Fresh off a stint backing Linda Ronstadt, they were ready to strike out on their own. That’s when music mogul David Geffen arranged a one-month gig for the band at The Gallery Club in Aspen, Colorado. It was there—among the mountains and thin air—that the band’s chemistry started to gel.

The Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado—where Glenn Frey and the Eagles found early inspiration in 1971, shaping their sound amid the serene peaks that echoed through rock history.

Glenn Frey would later say, “After the shows at the Gallery, I swore if I ever made a dime in the music business, I wanted to have a house there. It’s a good place to practice. If you can sing in Aspen’s thin air, you can sing anywhere.”

From Aspen to Boulder: Tulagi Nights and CU Ties

Their next stop? Boulder. In December 1971, the Eagles played a five-night run at Tulagi, the legendary club on University Hill. Each night they played for just $100, to small crowds of students in the middle of finals week.

Tulagi on The Hill in Boulder, Colorado—once a legendary live music venue where rising stars like the Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, and Linda Ronstadt played intimate shows before hitting it big.

Booking the shows was Chuck Morris, a CU student and budding music promoter. Morris would later become one of Colorado’s top concert executives as CEO of AEG Live Rocky Mountains—but back then, he was just a student helping launch a band that would one day define classic rock.

These early Boulder performances forged a bond between the Eagles and CU Boulder that never faded.

Trading Shirts for Backstage Passes

So, how did Glenn Frey end up with so many CU shirts?

According to David Plati, CU’s longtime sports information director, the band used to trade backstage passes and concert tickets in exchange for CU-branded gear. It was a win-win: the band got cool shirts to wear on tour, and CU got a shout-out on some of the world’s biggest stages.

Soon, Frey was rocking CU gear everywhere—on album covers, in interviews, and during performances seen by millions. What started as a simple trade turned into a personal badge of honor, a nod to the place that helped shape the Eagles’ early days.

More Than a Shirt—A Symbol of Boulder Roots

To the casual fan, it might’ve just looked like a cool college tee. But to those in the know, Glenn Frey’s CU shirts told a deeper story. They were a tribute to the friendships, gigs, and memories made during the band’s formative Colorado chapter.

They were a reminder that even global rock stars remember where they came from—and that for the Eagles, Boulder and CU were part of their origin story.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, CU students still hear whispers of those Tulagi nights and Glenn Frey’s unmistakable presence in Boulder’s music lore. His shirts now feel like vintage rock heirlooms—threads connecting one of America’s most legendary bands with one of its most iconic college towns.

So next time you throw on a CU tee, remember: You’re not just repping the Buffs. You’re wearing the same colors Glenn Frey wore when the Eagles were still learning to fly.

AboutBoulder-admin