The Eagles are playing the Classic East and Classic West music festivals this summer. While the late Glenn Frey can never be replaced, his son Deacon will be joining the band in his place.

Don Henley confirmed the news during an interview on KTCK. Over the last year and a half, Henley had suggested that Deacon Frey would be part of the band, but then said he wouldn’t.

Henley admitted that he wasn’t supposed to announce anything, but decided to let the cat out of the bag. “There’s going to be an official announcement in a few days but let’s just do it here. Glenn’s son Deacon is a very talented young man, and he seems to be up for the task. He’s enthusiastic about it and he’s been working real hard on it, and he’s gonna do it with us. I think that’s appropriate.”

Henley then clarified his decision by citing “an old system both in Eastern and Western culture called the guild system, where the father is the master and the son is the apprentice. The trade, the craft, the business is handed down from father to son. I think it’s the only appropriate way to carry on. I don’t think I’d do it otherwise. Since it’s Glenn’s blood, it’s his son, I think that’s appropriate. There’ll be one more musician along for the ride too, but I’m not gonna say who that is.”

After going back and forth on what would happen with the band after Glenn Frey’s death in January of 2016, Henley explained why they have decided to pursue on.

“I never planned on it coming out this way, but it’s my responsibility to carry on this legacy and to keep these songs alive,” Henley told Rhyner. “Apparently people still want to hear them. I thought we were done when Glenn passed away and I said as much, but I was in a state of shock at the time. But we have gotten a lot of messages from people all over the world from people who would like to see things continue.”