Eagles

The original members of country / rock band the Eagles first met as four backing musicians when playing with Linda Ronstadt in the spring of 1971. After the tour was completed, the members – Don Henley (drums / vocals), Glenn Frey (guitar/ vocals), Bernie Leadon (guitar / vocals) and Randy Meisner (bass / vocals) – formed their own group, the Eagles, and began writing, performing, and looking for a record deal of their own. Signing with Asylum Records, they released their self-titled album in 1972 and it was commercially successful, producing three Top 40 singles including “Take It Easy” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” Hot on its heels came their sophomore album Desperado (1973), which included the hit “Tequila Sunrise.” Don Henley and Glenn Frey emerged as the leaders of the group, co-writing much of the album and leading the way to a break from country music on the albums On The Border (1974) and One Of These Nights (1975). Next came Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975), which went on to become the best-selling album of the 20th century in the US. 1976's Hotel California was released and certified platinum in just one week. The album has become the Eagles’ defining rock moment and remains their top selling album. Personnel changes and turmoil within the band affected the music on The Long Run (1979), which was not as successful as Hotel California. In 1980, the group released the album Eagles Live but split up acrimoniously in 1982. Each band member pursued a solo career with Don Henley achieving the most success. After twelve years apart, the Eagles surprised the music industry by reforming and playing live for an MTV special entitled Hell Freezes Over (1996). The line-up of the band was The Long Run line-up – Henley, Frey, and Felder with Timothy B. Schmit (bass / vocals), and Joe Walsh (guitar / vocals) – but Felder was soon expelled from the band and the remaining quartet continued with guest musicians in the studio and live. The Eagles released their seventh album, Long Road Out of Eden, in 2007 and have continued to tour sporadically since then. The group was dealt a massive blow in 2016 when founding member and co-leader Glenn Frey died on January 18, 2016. After a break, it was announced that his son Deacon Frey and multi-instrumentalist Vince Gill would be replacing him in the band’s touring line-up. Former bassist Randy Meisner, who had left the group after the commercial success of Hotel California, died on July 26, 2023.

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