Difference between revisions of "Eagles" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{other uses|Eagles (disambiguation)}}
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{{redirect|The Eagles|other uses|The Eagles (disambiguation)}}
 
 
{{Infobox musical artist
 
{{Infobox musical artist
 
| Name                = Eagles
 
| Name                = Eagles
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| Img                =
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| Img                = Eagles-onstage.jpg
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| Img_capt            = Eagles
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| size                = 300px
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| Img_capt            = The Eagles onstage in 2008
 
| Background          = group_or_band
 
| Background          = group_or_band
 
| Origin              = [[Los Angeles, California]], [[USA]]
 
| Origin              = [[Los Angeles, California]], [[USA]]
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| Associated_acts    = [[Poco]], [[J.D. Souther]], [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Jackson Browne]]
 
| Associated_acts    = [[Poco]], [[J.D. Souther]], [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Jackson Browne]]
 
| URL                = [http://www.eaglesband.com/ www.eaglesband.com]
 
| URL                = [http://www.eaglesband.com/ www.eaglesband.com]
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| Current_members    = [[Glenn Frey]]<br />[[Don Henley]]<br />[[Joe Walsh]]<br />[[Timothy B. Schmit]]
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| Current_members    = [[Don Henley]]<br />[[Joe Walsh]]<br />[[Timothy B. Schmit]]
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| Past_members        = [[Don Felder]]<br />[[Randy Meisner]]<br />[[Bernie Leadon]]
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| Past_members        = [[Glenn Frey]]<br />[[Don Felder]]<br />[[Randy Meisner]]<br />[[Bernie Leadon]]
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Eagles''' are an [[United States|American]] [[rock music|rock]] band that was formed in [[Los Angeles, California]], during the early 1970s. With five number one singles and six number one albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful recording acts of the decade. They are also the best-selling American group in history.
  
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The '''Eagles''' are an [[United States|American]] [[rock music| rock]] band that was formed in [[Los Angeles, California]] during the early 1970s. With five Number 1 singles and six Number 1 albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful recording artists of the decade. At the end of the 20th century, two of their albums, ''[[Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)|Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975]]'' and ''[[Hotel California]]'', ranked among the ten best-selling albums according to the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. The best-selling studio album ''Hotel California'' is rated as the thirty-seventh album in the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' list "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]," and the band was ranked number 75 on [[Rolling Stone Magazine|Rolling Stone]]'s 2004 list of the [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty/ 100 Greatest Artists of All Time].<ref>{{cite journal  | title = The Immortals: The First Fifty  | journal = [[Rolling Stone]]  | issue = 946  | publisher = Wenner Publishing  | date = 2004-04-15  | url =http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref> They are also the best-selling American group ever, with ''Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975'' being the best-selling album in the U.S. to date.<ref name="riaatopalbums">{{cite web  | title = RIAA Top 100 Albums  | publisher = Recording Industry Association of America  | url = http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTop100  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news  | title = Eagles hits album named best-selling of century  | publisher = [[CNN]]  | date = 1999-12-08  | url = http://archives.cnn.com/1999/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/08/eagles/  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref>
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At the end of the twentieth century, two of their albums, ''[[Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)|Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975]]'' and ''[[Hotel California]],'' ranked among the ten best-selling albums of all time according to the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. Their studio album, ''Hotel California,'' is rated as thirty-seventh on the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' list "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]."  
  
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The Eagles broke up in 1980, but reunited in 1994 for ''[[Hell Freezes Over]]'', a mix of live and new studio tracks. They have toured intermittently since then, and were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1998.
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The Eagles broke up in 1980, but reunited in 1994 for ''[[Hell Freezes Over]],'' a mix of live and new studio tracks. They have toured intermittently since then, and were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1998.
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{{toc}}
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In 2007, the Eagles released ''[[Long Road out of Eden]],'' their first full studio album in 28 years. In 2013, they began the extended History of the Eagles Tour in conjunction with the band's documentary release, ''History of the Eagles''. The tour concluded in the summer of 2015. They were chosen for the 2015 [[Kennedy Center Honors]] to be held on December 6 of that year, but postponed their appearance due to Glenn Frey's poor health. Frey died a month later in January 2016.
  
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In 2007, the Eagles released ''[[Long Road out of Eden]]'', their first full studio album in 28 years.
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==Formation==
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[[Image:Don Henley (cropped).jpg|thumb|300px|Don Henley]]
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[[File:The Eagles in concert - 2010 Australia - Glenn Frey.jpg|thumb|300px|Glenn Frey]]
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The seeds for the Eagles were planted when [[Linda Ronstadt]]'s then-manager [[John Boylan (record producer)|John Boylan]] recruited session musicians [[Glenn Frey]], [[Bernie Leadon]], and [[Randy Meisner]] to back Ronstadt. They were missing a drummer until Frey telephoned [[Don Henley]], whom he had met at the [[Troubadour (nightclub)|Troubadour]] club in [[Los Angeles]]. The group auditioned for Ronstadt, and the band backed her on a two-month tour and on her 1970 album, ''[[Silk Purse]]''. After their tenure with Ronstadt, and with her encouragement, they decided to form their own band, signing with [[Asylum Records]], the new label started by [[David Geffen]]. Geffen and partner Elliot Roberts also initially managed the band. The group chose the name Eagles as a nod to [[The Byrds]]. Leadon had been in [[Dillard & Clark]] with former Byrds singer [[Gene Clark]] and in [[The Flying Burrito Brothers]] with former Byrds [[Gram Parsons]], [[Chris Hillman]], and [[Michael Clarke (musician)|Michael Clarke]].
  
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== Formation ==
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==History, by album==
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The seeds for the Eagles were planted when [[Linda Ronstadt]]'s then-manager [[John Boylan (record producer)|John Boylan]] recruited session musicians [[Glenn Frey]], [[Bernie Leadon]], and [[Randy Meisner]] to back Ronstadt. They were missing a drummer until Frey telephoned [[Don Henley]], whom he had met at the [[Troubadour (nightclub)|Troubadour]] club in [[Los Angeles]]. The group auditioned for Ronstadt, she approved and the band backed her on a two-month tour and on her 1970 album ''[[Silk Purse]]''. After their tenure with Ronstadt and with her encouragement, they decided to form their own band, signing with [[Asylum Records]], the new label started by [[David Geffen]]. Geffen and partner Elliot Roberts also initially managed the band. The group chose the name Eagles as a nod to [[The Byrds]] (Leadon had been in [[Dillard & Clark]] with former Byrds singer [[Gene Clark]] and in [[The Flying Burrito Brothers]] with former Byrds [[Gram Parsons]], [[Chris Hillman]], and [[Michael Clarke (musician)|Michael Clarke]]).
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===''Eagles''===
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The Eagles' self-titled debut album was quickly recorded and released in June 1972. ''[[Eagles (album)|Eagles]]'' was filled with natural, sometimes innocent country rock, and yielded three [[Top 40]] singles. The first single and lead track, "[[Take It Easy]]," was a song written with Frey's help by his neighbor and fellow country-folk rocker [[Jackson Browne]]. Frey heard Browne recording the song, contributed two lines to it (for which he got co-writing credit), and asked if the Eagles could use it. The song reached number 12 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] and propelled the Eagles to stardom. The single was followed by the bluesy "[[Witchy Woman]]" and the soft country rock ballad, "[[Peaceful Easy Feeling]]," charting at number nine and number 22 respectively. The Eagles soon became a major force in popularizing the Southern California [[country rock]] sound around the nation. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" ranked ''Eagles'' at number 374.
  
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=== ''Eagles'' ===
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===''Desperado''===
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The group's self-titled debut album was quickly recorded and was released in June 1972. ''[[Eagles (album)|Eagles]]'' was filled with natural, sometimes innocent country rock, and yielded three [[Top 40]] singles. The first single and lead track, "[[Take It Easy]]," was a song written by Glenn Frey and his neighbor and fellow country-folk rocker [[Jackson Browne]]. Frey heard Browne recording it, contributed two lines to it (for which he got co-writing credit) and asked if the Eagles could use it{{Fact|date=August 2008}}. The song reached number 12 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] and propelled the Eagles to stardom. The single was followed by the bluesy "[[Witchy Woman]]" and the soft country rock ballad "[[Peaceful Easy Feeling]]," charting at No. 9 and No. 22 respectively. The Eagles were a major force in popularizing the Southern California [[country rock]] sound around the nation. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" ranked ''Eagles'' at number 374.<ref name="rstop500">{{cite news  | title = 374) The Eagles  | work = [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]] | publisher = Rolling Stone  | date = 2003-11-18  | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6626170/374_the_eagles  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref>
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Their second album, ''[[Desperado (album)|Desperado]],'' with its [[Old West]] outlaw theme, drew comparisons between outlaw lifestyles and those of modern rock stars. It was during the recording sessions that [[Don Henley]] and [[Glenn Frey]] began collaborating as songwriters, co-writing eight of the album's 11 songs, including  "[[Tequila Sunrise (song)|Tequila Sunrise]]" and "[[Desperado (song)|Desperado]]." The bluegrass-oriented songs "Twenty-One" and "Doolin' Dalton," and the ballad "Saturday Night" showcased guitarist Bernie Leadon's abilities on the [[banjo]], [[fingerstyle guitar|fingerpicked guitar]], and [[mandolin]]. The album was less successful than the first, reaching number 41 on the U.S. [[pop album charts]]. Its two singles, "Tequila Sunrise," and "[[Outlaw Man]]," reached number 61 and number 59 on the pop charts, respectively. However, "Desperado" would become a concert favorite, which has been much covered.
  
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=== ''Desperado'' ===
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===''On the Border''===
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[[Image:Deperado3.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Eagles playing dead on back cover of ''[[Desperado (album)|Desperado]] photographed by [[Henry Diltz]] (The two additional "bodies" are those of J.D. Souther and Jackson Browne)]]
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For their next album, ''[[On the Border]],'' Henley and Frey wanted the band to break away from its [[country music|country]] style and move more toward [[hard rock]]. The the band turned to [[Bill Szymczyk]] to produce the most of the album, and Szymczyk brought in [[Don Felder]] to add [[slide guitar]] to some sessions. He appeared on only two songs on the album, but the band was so impressed with him that they invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle. The album yielded a number one single with "[[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]]," which hit the top of the charts on March 1, 1975, becoming the Eagles' first of five [[chart topper]]s.
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Their second album, ''[[Desperado (album)|Desperado]]'', was themed on [[Old West]] outlaws, drawing comparisons between their lifestyles and the lifestyles of modern rock stars. This album introduced the group's penchant for conceptual songwriting. It was during the recording sessions that [[Don Henley]] and [[Glenn Frey]] began writing with each other, co-writing eight of the album's eleven songs. Included are two of the Eagles' most popular songs: "[[Tequila Sunrise (song)|Tequila Sunrise]]" and "[[Desperado (song)|Desperado]]" were both written by Henley and Frey. The bluegrass songs "Twenty-One," "Doolin' Dalton" and the ballad "Saturday Night" showcased guitarist Bernie Leadon's abilities on the [[banjo]], [[fingerstyle guitar|fingerpicked guitar]] and [[mandolin]]. Throughout the album, the story of the notorious Wild West "Doolin-Dalton" gang was the main focus, featuring in the songs "Doolin-Dalton," "Bittercreek" and "Desperado." The album was less successful than the first, reaching only number 41 on the U.S. [[pop album charts]], and yielding only two singles, "Tequila Sunrise," which reached No. 61 on the [[Billboard charts]], and "[[Outlaw Man]]," which peaked at No. 59.
 
  
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The album marked a significant change to the band, with Henley and Frey co-writing the bulk of the album, a pattern that would continue for years to come. As a result, the pair began to dominate the band in terms of leadership and songwriting, turning the focus of the band away from Leadon and Meisner. Ironically, many had thought that it would be Leadon and Meisner who would be leading the band.<ref>{{cite news  | last = Hilburn  | first = Robert  | title = The Eagles&nbsp;—A Long Run Is Over  | publisher = [[Los Angeles Times]] | date = 1982-05-23  | url = http://www.eaglesfans.com/info/articles/the_long_run_is_over.html  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref>
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===''One of These Nights'' (Leadon leaves)===
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Their next album, ''[[One of These Nights]]'', had an aggressive, sinewy rock stance. The album further displayed the growing strength of the Henley/Frey songwriting team, particularly on the title track and the [[Grammy Award]] winning "[[Lyin' Eyes]]." "[[One of These Nights (song)|One of These Nights]]" hit number one on the ''Billboard'' chart on August 2, 1975. The song itself has often been cited by Frey as his all-time favorite Eagles' tune.
  
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=== ''On the Border'' ===
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By this time, however, relations among the members of the band had become strained. Between the release of ''One of These Nights'' and the subsequent tour, Bernie Leadon left the group, disillusioned with the direction the band's music was taking and his own diminished role after Felder was hired. Leadon was dating [[Patti Davis]], [[Ronald Reagan]]'s daughter which also created political tensions within the group. Leadon left the band in December 1975, famously announcing his resignation by pouring a beer over Frey's head. The group quickly replaced Leadon with veteran singer and guitarist [[Joe Walsh]].
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For their next album, ''[[On the Border]]'', Henley and Frey wanted the band to break away from the [[country music]] style they were known for, moving more towards [[hard rock]]. Initially, the Eagles started off with [[Glyn Johns]] producing, but he tended to emphasize the lush side of their double-edged music. After completing only two songs, the band turned to [[Bill Szymczyk]] to produce the rest of the album. Szymczyk brought in [[Don Felder]] to add [[slide guitar]] to a song called "[[Good Day in Hell]]," and the band was so impressed that two days later they invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle. He appeared on only one other song on the album, the uptempo breakup song "[[Already Gone]]," where he performed the guitar duet with Glenn Frey. ''On the Border'' yielded a No. 1 ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'' single with "[[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]]," which hit the top of the charts on March 1, 1975, becoming the Eagles' first of five [[chart topper]]s.
 
  
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=== ''One of These Nights'' (Leadon leaves) ===
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Meanwhile, in early 1976, ''[[Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)]]'' was released. It went on to become the best-selling album in U.S. history, selling over 29 million copies in the United States to date.
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Their next album, ''[[One of These Nights]]'', had an aggressive, sinewy rock stance. The album further displayed the growing strength of the Henley/Frey songwriting team, particularly on the album's title track and the [[Grammy Award]] winning "[[Lyin' Eyes]]." "[[One of These Nights (song)|One of These Nights]]" hit No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' chart on August 2, 1975. The song itself has often been cited by Frey as his all-time favorite Eagles tune.<ref>{{cite news  | title = A Peaceful Easy Feeling  | publisher = [[Detroit Free Press]]  | date = 2003-10-14  | accessdate = 2008-05-20  }}</ref> The album also contains the futuristic sounding instrumental "Journey of the Sorcerer," which is known to many as the theme to ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''.
 
  
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By this time, members of the band had started to fight with each other. Recording and touring had been strained since the eponymous debut album; tempers were boiling over, and egos were clashing. Between the release of ''One of These Nights'' and the subsequent tour, Bernie Leadon left the group, disillusioned with the direction the band's music was taking. They were no longer concentrating on the country rock in which Leadon excelled and the hiring of Don Felder meant that Leadon's role had been significantly diminished. Leadon  was also dating [[Patti Davis]], [[Ronald Reagan]]'s daughter, at the time&nbsp;– the two of them had co-written "I Wish You Peace" on the album&nbsp;– which created political tensions within the group. Leadon left the band in December 1975, famously announcing his resignation by pouring a beer over Frey's head. In order to continue with their tour schedule, the group quickly replaced Leadon with [[Joe Walsh]], a veteran of such groups as the [[James Gang]] and [[Barnstorm (group)|Barnstorm]] and a solo artist in his own right, who (like the Eagles) was produced by Szymczyk and managed by [[Irving Azoff]].
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===''Hotel California'' (Meisner leaves)===
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The group's next album, ''[[Hotel California]],'' came out in December 1976. "[[New Kid in Town]]" was a number one hit in February 1977, and the title track hit number one in May. Told during a ''[[60 Minutes]]'' interview in 2007 about the meaning of surrealistic "Hotel California," Don Henley replied, "It's a song about the dark underbelly of the American Dream, and about excess in America."  "[[Life in the Fast Lane]]" was also a major success, establishing Joe Walsh's position in the band with its more hard rock sound. The album concluded with "[[The Last Resort (song)|The Last Resort]]," a song Frey refers to as Don Henley's greatest work.
  
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Meanwhile, in early 1976, ''[[Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)]]'' was released. It went on to become the best-selling album in U.S. history, selling over 29 million copies in the United States to date.<ref name="riaatopalbums"/>
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''Hotel California'' has appeared on several lists of the best albums of all time. It is the Eagles' best-selling studio album, with over 16 million copies sold to date in the [[United States]].
  
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=== ''Hotel California'' (Meisner leaves) ===
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After the tour, Randy Meisner left the band and moved back to his native [[Nebraska]], where he began a solo career. The band replaced Meisner with the man who had succeeded him in [[Poco]], [[Timothy B. Schmit]].
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[[Image:htelcal.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Band photo on inner sleeve of ''[[Hotel California]]'' album]]
 
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The group's next album, ''[[Hotel California]]'', came out in December 1976. "[[New Kid in Town]]" was a No. 1 hit in ''Billboard'' on February 26, 1977, and the title track on May 7, 1977. Told during a ''[[60 Minutes]]'' interview (November 25, 2007) that "everyone wants to know what this song [Hotel California] means," Don Henley replied, "I know, it's so boring... It's a song about the dark underbelly of the American Dream, and about excess in America, which was something we knew about."  "[[Life in the Fast Lane]]" was also a major success, becoming a [[catchphrase]] in the process and established Joe Walsh's position in the band with its more hard rock sound. The ballad "Wasted Time" closed the first side of the album, while an instrumental reprise of it opened the second side. The album concluded with "[[The Last Resort (song)|The Last Resort]]," the song Frey, to this day, refers to as Don Henley's greatest work.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The run out groove on side two has the words "V.O.L. Is Five-Piece Live," this means that the song "[[Victim of Love]]" was recorded live, with just the band and no overdubbing. Don Henley confirms this on the inner booklet of ''[[The Very Best of the Eagles (2003)|The Very Best of the Eagles]]''. ''Hotel California'' has appeared on several lists of the best albums of all time.<ref name="rstop500"/> It is also their best-selling studio album, with over 16 million copies sold to date in the [[United States]].
 
  
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[[Image:hocalitour.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Glenn Frey, Don Felder and Joe Walsh during ''[[Hotel California]]'' tour]]
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===''The Long Run'' (break-up)===
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After the tour, Randy Meisner left the band and moved back to his native [[Nebraska]], where he began a solo career. The band replaced Meisner with the man who had succeeded him in [[Poco]], [[Timothy B. Schmit]]. In 1977, the group, minus Don Felder, performed some instrumental work and backing vocals for [[Randy Newman]]'s album ''[[Little Criminals]]''.
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In 1977, the Eagles began to produce their next studio album, ''[[The Long Run]]''. The album took two years to make, but yielded the group's fifth and last number one single, "[[Heartache Tonight]]" (November 10, 1979).
  
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=== ''The Long Run'' (break-up) ===
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On July 31, 1980, in [[Long Beach]], [[California]], hard feelings among the band, tempers flaired, especially between Frey and Felder, and boiled over publicly on stage. The band appeared ready to split up, but it still owed [[Warner Bros.]] a live record from the tour. ''[[Eagles Live]]'' (released in November 1980) was mixed by Frey and Henley on opposite coasts. With credits that listed no fewer than five attorneys, the album's liner notes simply said, "Thank you and goodnight."
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In 1977, the Eagles went into a recording studio to produce their next studio album, ''[[The Long Run]]''. The album took two years to make, but yielded the group's fifth and last No. 1 single in ''Billboard'', "[[Heartache Tonight]]" (November 10, 1979).
 
  
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On July 31, 1980, in [[Long Beach]], [[California]], tempers boiled over into what has been described as "Long Night at Wrong Beach."<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-05-20|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2638985.ece|title=How The Eagles took it to the limits|publisher=[[The Times]]|date=2007-10-12}}</ref> Frey and Felder spent the entire show describing to each other the beating each planned to administer backstage. "Only three more songs until I kick your ass, pal," Frey recalls Felder telling him near the end of the band's set. Felder recalls Frey making a similar threat to him just as they began to sing "The Best Of My Love."
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==Reunion==
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[[Image:Eagles-onstage2.jpg |thumb|400px|The Eagles onstage]]
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===''Hell Freezes Over''===
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Fourteen years after the breakup, a country tribute album titled ''[[Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles]]'' was released in 1993, featuring country artists singing Eagles' songs. The following year, after years of public speculation, the band finally formally reunited. The lineup comprised the five ''Long Run''-era members—Frey, Henley, Walsh, Felder, and Schmit—supplemented by additional musicians: [[Scott Crago]] (drums), [[John Corey]] (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), [[Timothy Drury]] (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), and [[Al Garth]] (sax, violin) on stage. "For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation," announced Frey at their first live performance in April 1994.  
  
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It appeared to be the end of the Eagles, although the band still owed [[Warner Bros.]] a live record from the tour. ''[[Eagles Live]]'' (released in November 1980) was mixed by Frey and Henley on opposite coasts; the two decided they couldn't bear to be in the same state, let alone the same studio, and as Bill Szymczyk put it,"The record's perfect three-part harmonies were fixed courtesy of Federal Express."{{Fact|date=February 2007}}  With credits that listed no fewer than five attorneys, the album's liner notes simply said, "Thank you and goodnight."
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The ensuing tour spawned a live album titled ''[[Hell Freezes Over]],'' named for Henley's recurring statement that the group would get back together "when Hell freezes over." The album debuted at number one on the [[Billboard]] album char, and included four new studio songs, with "[[Get Over It (Eagles song)|Get Over It]]" and "[[Love Will Keep Us Alive]]" both becoming top-40 hits. The album itself proved as successful as the reunion tour, selling 6 million copies in the United States alone. The tour was interrupted in September 1994, due to Frey's recurrence of [[diverticulitis]], but it resumed in 1995 and continued into 1996.
  
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== After the Eagles ==
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In 1998, the Eagles were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. During the induction ceremony, [[Glenn Frey|Frey]], [[Don Henley|Henley]], [[Don Felder|Felder]], [[Joe Walsh|Walsh]], and [[Timothy B. Schmit|Schmit]] performed together, and former members [[Bernie Leadon]] and [[Randy Meisner]] rejoined the band for the performance for "[[Take It Easy]]" and "[[Hotel California]]." Several subsequent reunion tours followed (without Leadon or Meisner), notable for their record-setting ticket prices.
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After the breakup of the Eagles, each ex-member tried his hand in a solo career. Joe Walsh had already established himself as a solo artist in the 1970s before and during his time with the Eagles, but it was uncharted waters for the others.
 
  
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Walsh tried continuing his solo career, which included the hits, 1973's "[[Rocky Mountain Way]]" and 1978's "[[Life's Been Good]]," but found hits hard to come by after the breakup. 1981's album, ''[[There Goes the Neighborhood]]'' was considerably successful, but successive albums throughout the 1980s, such as ''[[Got Any Gum?]]'' proved to be mediocre. During this time he also performed as a session musician for [[Dan Fogelberg]], [[Steve Winwood]] and [[Emerson, Lake and Palmer]], among others, and produced and co-wrote [[Ringo Starr]]'s "[[Old Wave]]" album.
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===The new millennium===
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The Eagles performed a Millennium Eve's concert at the [[Staples Center]] in Los Angeles on December 31, 1999, marking the last time [[Don Felder]] played with the band. The concert was released on [[compact disc|CD]] as part of the four-disc ''[[Selected Works: 1972-1999]]'' box set in November 2000.
  
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Don Henley turned out to have the greatest solo success of the five during this period. In 1982, he released the well-received ''[[I Can't Stand Still]]'', featuring the hit "[[Dirty Laundry]]." The first album paled in comparison, though, to his next release, 1984's smash, ''[[Building the Perfect Beast]]''. Off of this album came the ''Billboard'' No. 5 hit and classic rock radio staple, "[[Boys of Summer (song)|Boys of Summer]]." It also yielded the No. 9 hit "[[All She Wants to Do Is Dance]]," "Not Enough Love In The World" (#34) and "[[Sunset Grill (song)|Sunset Grill]]" (#22). He would not release another album for five years until 1989's ''[[The End of the Innocence]]''. This album was also a major success and included the hits "[[The End of the Innocence (song)|The End of the Innocence]]," "[[The Last Worthless Evening]]" and "[[The Heart of the Matter (song)|The Heart of the Matter]]." His solo career was cut short however because of a contract dispute with his record company which was not resolved until the Eagles reunited in 1994.
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The group resumed touring once more in 2001 with a lineup consisting of Frey, Henley, Walsh, and Schmit, along with [[Steuart Smith]], who unofficially replaced Don Felder. Other musicians included Michael Thompson (keyboards, trombone), Will Hollis (keyboards, backing vocals), [[Scott Crago]] (drums, percussion), Bill Armstrong (Horns), Al Garth (sax, violin), Christian Mostert (sax), and Greg Smith (sax, percussion).
  
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Glenn Frey also found solo success in the 1980s. In 1982, he released his first album, ''[[No Fun Aloud]]'', which spawned the No. 15 hit, "The One You Love."  He followed this album with 1984's ''[[The Allnighter (album)|The Allnighter]]'', which featured the No. 20 hit "Sexy Girl."  He reached No. 2 on the charts with "''[[The Heat Is On]]''" from the ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]'' soundtrack. He had another No. 2 single in 1985 with "[[You Belong to the City]]" from the ''[[Miami Vice]]'' soundtrack, which featured another Frey song, "Smuggler's Blues."  He also contributed the songs "Flip City" to the ''[[Ghostbusters II]]'' soundtrack and "Part of Me, Part of You" to the soundtrack for ''[[Thelma and Louise]]''.
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===''Hole in the World''===
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In 1982, former music writer turned filmmaker, [[Cameron Crowe]], saw his first screenplay turn into a feature length movie, ''[[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]''. Crowe was a fan and had written about the Eagles in one of his articles, and as a result, Henley, Walsh, Schmit, and Felder all contributed solo songs to the film's soundtrack. In addition, the band playing the dance toward the end of the movie covers ''[[Life in the Fast Lane]]''.
 
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Don Felder also released a solo album, and contributed  2 songs to the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Heavy Metal (film)|Heavy Metal]]'': "Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride)" (with Henley and Schmit providing backing vocals) and "All of You."
 
−
 
 
−
Timothy B. Schmit had a top-40 hit in 1987 with "Boys' Night Out."
 
−
 
 
−
== Reunion ==
 
−
=== ''Hell Freezes Over'' ===
 
−
Fourteen years after the breakup, an Eagles country tribute album titled ''[[Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles]]'' was released in 1993. [[Travis Tritt]] insisted on having the ''Long Run''-era Eagles in his video for "Take It Easy" and they agreed. After the "Take It Easy" video was completed the following year, and following years of public speculation, the band finally formally reunited. The lineup comprised the five ''Long Run''-era members&nbsp;– Frey, Henley, Walsh, Felder and Schmit&nbsp;– supplemented by additional musicians: [[Scott Crago]](drums), [[John Corey]] (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), [[Timothy Drury]] (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) and [[Al Garth]] (sax, violin) on stage. "For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation," announced Frey at their first live performance in April 1994. The ensuing tour spawned a live album titled ''[[Hell Freezes Over]]'' (named for Henley's recurring statement that the group would get back together "when hell freezes over") which debuted at No. 1 on the [[Billboard]] album chart, and included four new studio songs, with "[[Get Over It (Eagles song)|Get Over It]]" and "[[Love Will Keep Us Alive]]" both becoming top forty hits. The album itself proved as successful as the reunion tour, selling 6 million copies in the United States alone. While the tour was briefly interrupted in September 1994 due to Frey's serious recurrence of [[diverticulitis]], it resumed in 1995 and continued into 1996.<ref>{{cite web  | title = The Great Gastro-Intestinal Saga of Glenn Frey (1994–95)  | publisher = Eagles Online Central  | url = http://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/articles/illness.htm  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
In 1998, the Eagles were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. During the induction ceremony, [[Glenn Frey|Frey]], [[Don Henley|Henley]], [[Don Felder|Felder]], [[Joe Walsh|Walsh]] and [[Timothy B. Schmit|Schmit]] performed together, and former members [[Bernie Leadon]] and [[Randy Meisner]] rejoined the band for the performance, where the band played "[[Take It Easy]]" and "[[Hotel California]]." Several subsequent reunion tours followed (without Leadon or Meisner), notable for their record-setting ticket prices.
 
−
 
 
−
=== The new millennium ===
 
−
The Eagles performed at the [[Staples Center]] in Los Angeles on December 31, 1999. This concert marked the last time [[Don Felder]] played with the band and these shows (including a planned release of the video) would form a part of the lawsuit that Felder later filed against his former band mates.
 
−
 
 
−
The concert was released on [[compact disc|CD]] as part of the four-disc ''[[Selected Works: 1972-1999]]'' box set in November 2000. Along with the millennium concert, this set included the band's hit singles, album tracks, as well as outtakes from ''[[The Long Run]]'' sessions. ''Selected Works'' sold approximately 267,000 copies at about $60 a unit.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
 
−
 
 
−
The group resumed touring once more in 2001 with a line up consisting of Frey, Henley, Walsh, and Schmit, along with [[Steuart Smith]] (guitars, mandolin, keyboards, backing vocals; who unofficially replaced Don Felder who was fired from the Eagles in early 2001), Michael Thompson (keyboards, trombone), Will Hollis (keyboards, backing vocals), [[Scott Crago]] (drums, percussion), Bill Armstrong (Horns) Al Garth (sax, violin), Christian Mostert (sax) and Greg Smith (sax, percussion)
 
−
 
 
−
=== Don Felder sues the Eagles ===
 
−
On February 6, 2001, [[Don Felder]] was fired from the Eagles. Felder responded by filing two lawsuits against "Eagles, Ltd., a California corporation; Don Henley, an individual; Glenn Frey, an individual; and "[[John Doe|Does]] 1-50," alleging wrongful termination, breach of implied-in-fact contract, and breach of fiduciary duty, reportedly seeking $50,000,000 in damages.<ref name="times">{{cite news  | last = Leeds  | first = Jeff  | title = Reborn Eagles Lose Peaceful, Easy Feeling  | pages = C-1  | publisher = [[Los Angeles Times]]  | date = 2002-12-08  | url = http://articles.latimes.com/2002/dec/08/business/fi-eagles  | accessdate = 2008-07-24  }}</ref><ref name="yahoo">{{cite news  | last = Attwood  | first = Brett  | title = Eagles Sued by Don Felder Over Dismissal  | publisher = [[Yahoo! Music]]  | date = 2001-02-12  | url = http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12033366  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
In his latter complaint, Felder alleged that from the 1994 ''[[Hell Freezes Over]]'' tour onward, Henley and Frey had "...insisted that they each receive a higher percentage of the band's profits...," whereas the money had previously been split in five equal portions. Felder also accused them of coercing him into signing an agreement under which Henley and Frey would receive three times as much of the ''[[Selected Works: 1972-1999]]'' proceeds than Felder.
 
−
 
 
−
On behalf of his clients Henley and Frey, attorney [[Daniel M. Petrocelli]] stated:
 
−
{{"|[Henley and Frey] felt&nbsp;—creatively, chemistry-wise and performance-wise&nbsp;—that he should no longer be part of the band.... They removed him, and they had every legal right to do so. This has been happening with rock 'n' roll bands since day one.<ref name="times"/>}} It was also reported that Don Felder usually did not agree with the rest of the band concerning touring or recording schedules. The rest of the band members wanted the freedom to tour or record as they wanted on their own terms.
 
−
 
 
−
Henley and Frey then counter-sued Felder for [[breach of contract]], alleging that Felder had written and attempted to sell the rights to a "tell-all" book. The book, ''Heaven and Hell'', was published in the [[United Kingdom]] on November 1, 2007, but the initial American release was originally canceled after publisher [[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]] elected to back out, in September, when an entire print run of the book had to be recalled for further cuts and changes.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-05-20|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2733019.ece|title=Hell may have frozen over, but the Eagles are still feuding|publisher=[[The Times]]|date=2007-10-28}}</ref> The American edition of ''Heaven and Hell'' is now slated for publication by [[John Wiley & Sons]] on April 28, 2008,<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-05-20|url=http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470289066.html|title=Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]}}</ref> with Felder embarking on a full publicity campaign surrounding its release.
 
−
 
 
−
On January 23, 2002, the Los Angeles County Court consolidated the two complaints. The case was dismissed on May 8, 2007 after being settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
 
−
 
 
−
=== "Hole in the World" ===
 
 
In 2003, the Eagles released a new greatest hits album ''[[The Very Best of the Eagles (2003)|The Very Best of the Eagles]]''. The two-disc compilation was the first that encompassed their entire career, from ''[[Eagles (album)|Eagles]]'' to ''[[The Long Run]]''. The album also included a new single, the [[September 11, 2001, attacks|September 11]]-themed ''[[Hole in the World]]''. The album debuted at number three on the [[Billboard charts]] and eventually gained triple platinum status.
 
In 2003, the Eagles released a new greatest hits album ''[[The Very Best of the Eagles (2003)|The Very Best of the Eagles]]''. The two-disc compilation was the first that encompassed their entire career, from ''[[Eagles (album)|Eagles]]'' to ''[[The Long Run]]''. The album also included a new single, the [[September 11, 2001, attacks|September 11]]-themed ''[[Hole in the World]]''. The album debuted at number three on the [[Billboard charts]] and eventually gained triple platinum status.
  
−
Also in 2003, [[Warren Zevon]], a friend of the Eagles, began work on his final album, ''[[The Wind (album)|The Wind]]'', with the assistance of Henley, Walsh, and Schmit.
+
On June 14, 2005, the Eagles released a new two-[[DVD]] set titled ''[[Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne]]'' featuring two new songs: Glenn Frey's "[[No More Cloudy Days]]" and Joe Walsh's "One Day at a Time." A special edition 2006 release exclusive to [[Wal-Mart]] and affiliated stores also included a bonus audio CD with three new songs: A studio version of "No More Cloudy Days" plus "Fast Company" and "Do Something."
  
−
On June 14, 2005, the Eagles released a new two-[[DVD]] set titled ''[[Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne]]'' featuring two new songs: Glenn Frey's "[[No More Cloudy Days]]" and Joe Walsh's "One Day at a Time." A special edition 2006 release exclusive to [[Wal-Mart]] and affiliated stores also included a bonus audio CD with three new songs: a studio version of "No More Cloudy Days" plus "Fast Company" and "Do Something."<ref>{{cite web  | title =  The Eagles package new music with Australian DVD  | publisher = TheROCKradio  | date = 2006-12-01  | url = http://www.therockradio.com/2006/12/eagles-package-new-music-with.html  | accessdate = 2007-10-27 }}</ref>
+
===''Long Road out of Eden''===
 +
On October 30, 2007, the Eagles released ''[[Long Road out of Eden]],'' their first album of all-new material since 1979. The album debuted at number one in the United States, the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Netherlands]], and [[Norway]]. The Eagles made their awards show debut on November 7, 2007, when they performed "How Long" live at the [[Country Music Association Awards]].
  
−
=== ''Long Road out of Eden'' ===
+
On March 20, 2008, the Eagles launched their world tour in support of ''Long Road out of Eden'' at [[The O2 arena (London)|The O2 Arena]] in [[London]], [[England]].
−
In 2007, the Eagles consisted of Frey, Henley, Walsh, and Schmit. On August 20, 2007, "[[How Long (J. D. Souther song)|How Long]]," written by [[J.D. Souther]]&nbsp;– who had previously worked with the Eagles co-writing some of their biggest hits including "[[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]]," "Victim of Love," "[[Heartache Tonight]]" and "[[New Kid in Town]]"&nbsp;– was released as a single to radio with an accompanying online video at [[Yahoo! Music]] and debuted on television on [[Country Music Television|CMT]] during the [[Top Twenty Countdown|Top 20 Countdown]] on August 23, 2007. The band performed the song as part of their live sets in the early to mid 1970s, but did not record it at the time due to J.D. Souther's desire to use it on his first solo album.
 
  
−
On October 30, 2007, the Eagles released ''[[Long Road out of Eden]]'', their first album of all-new material since 1979. For the first year after the album's initial release, it will be available in the United States exclusively via the band's website, [[Wal-Mart]] and [[Sam's Club]] stores, and commercially available through traditional retail outlets in other countries. The album debuted at No. 1 in the United States<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-05-20|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003668840|title=Revised Chart Policy Lands Eagles At No. 1|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=2007-11-06|author=Peters, Mitchell}}</ref>, the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Netherlands]] and [[Norway]]. It subsequently became their third studio album, seventh release overall, to be certified at least seven times platinum.
+
===''History of the Eagles''===
 +
In February 2013, the Eagles released a career-spanning documentary called ''History of the Eagles'' and began the supporting tour with 11 US arena dates from July 6 to 25. Original Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon also appeared on the tour. The tour expanded internationally and continued until July 29, 2015.
  
−
In an interview with [[CNN]], Don Henley declared, "This is probably the last Eagles album that we'll ever make."<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-05-20|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/16/don.henley/|title= Don Henley: 'Let the chips fall where they may'|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=2007-11-19|author=Quan, Denise}}</ref>
+
The Eagles (Frey, Henley, Walsh, and Schmit) were slated to receive [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2015, but this was deferred to 2016 due to Frey's health problems. On January 18, 2016, founding member Glenn Frey died at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City at the age of 67.  
  
−
The Eagles made their awards show debut on November 7, 2007, when they performed "How Long" live at the [[Country Music Association Awards]].
+
At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in February, the Eagles, joined by Leadon, touring guitarist Steuart Smith, and co-writer Jackson Browne, performed "Take It Easy" in honor of Frey. In subsequent interviews, Henley stated that he didn't think the band would perform again. However, the band continued on and headlined the Classic West and Classic East concert in July 2017. Glenn Frey's son Deacon performed in his father's place, along with country musician [[Vince Gill]].
  
−
On January 28, 2008, the second single off ''Long Road out of Eden'' was released. "[[Busy Being Fabulous]]" peaked at number 30 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart and at number 18 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
+
The band performed their 1976 album ''Hotel California'' in its entirety during three concerts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in [[Las Vegas]], Nevada in September and October 2019. The shows also included another set of the band's greatest hits. The line-up included a 46-piece orchestra and a 22-voice choir. They continued the tour, interrupted in 2020 by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], through 2022 with dates in both the U.S. and Europe.
  
−
On February 10, 2008, the Eagles won the [[Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] for "How Long."  It was the band's fifth Grammy Award.
+
==Legacy==
 +
{{readout||right|250px|The Eagles are the highest-selling American band in U.S. history}}
 +
The Eagles were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1998 and into the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2001. On December 7, 1999, the Recording Industry of America honored the group with the Best Selling Album of the Century for ''[[Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)]]''.
  
−
On March 20, 2008, the Eagles launched their world tour in support of ''Long Road out of Eden'' at [[The O2 arena (London)|The O2 Arena]] in [[London]], [[England]].
+
The group ranked number 34 on ''[[CMT]]'s [[40 Greatest Men of Country Music]]'' in 2003. They were one of only four acts who were either a duo or a group on the list, the others being [[Alabama (band)|Alabama]] at number 11, [[Flatt & Scruggs]] at number 24, and [[Brooks & Dunn]] at number 25. On May 16, 2008, the Eagles were featured on the front cover of the ''[[Rolling Stone Magazine]].''
  
−
On May 16, 2008 the Eagles were featured on the front cover of the [[Rolling Stone Magazine]].
+
*The Eagles have won six [[Grammy]] awards:
−
 
 
−
The Eagles, along with three other bands, will be included in the upcoming video game [[Guitar Hero World Tour]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/52650|title=Guitar Hero 4|last=Faylor|first=Chris|date=2008-05-12|work=[[Shacknews]]|accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
== Awards ==
 
−
*Eagles have won five [[Grammy]] awards:
 
 
**(1975) Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus:  "[[Lyin' Eyes]]"
 
**(1975) Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus:  "[[Lyin' Eyes]]"
 
**(1977) [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]:  "[[Hotel California (song)|Hotel California]]" (single)
 
**(1977) [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]:  "[[Hotel California (song)|Hotel California]]" (single)
−
**(1977) Best Arrangement for Voices: "[[New Kid in Town]]"
+
**(1977) Best Arrangement for Voices: "[[New Kid in Town]]"
 
**(1979) Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group:  "[[Heartache Tonight]]"
 
**(1979) Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group:  "[[Heartache Tonight]]"
 
**(2008) Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals:  "[[How Long (J. D. Souther song)|"How Long]]"
 
**(2008) Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals:  "[[How Long (J. D. Souther song)|"How Long]]"
−
*The group was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1998.
+
**(2009) Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "I Dreamed There Was No War"
−
*On December 7, 1999 the Recording Industry of America honored the group with the Best Selling Album of the Century for ''[[Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)]]''.
 
−
*Eagles were inducted into the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2001.
 
−
*The group ranked number 34 on ''[[CMT]]'s [[40 Greatest Men of Country Music]]'' in 2003. They were one of four artists who were either a duo or a group on the list with the others being [[Alabama (band)|Alabama]] at number eleven, [[Flatt & Scruggs]] at number 24, and [[Brooks & Dunn]] at number 25.
 
  
 +
The Eagles, along with three other bands, were included in the popular 2008 video game, ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour]].''
  
−
 
+
The group was chosen for the 2015 [[Kennedy Center Honors]] to be held on December 6 of that year, but postponed the award for a year because of Glenn Frey's poor health. Frey died a month later.
−
== Notes ==
 
−
{{reflist|2}}
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
*Eliot, Marc. ''To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles''. Boston: Little, Brown, 1997.  
+
* Eliot, Marc. ''To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles''. Boston: Little, Brown, 1997. ISBN 978-0316233705
−
ISBN 978-0316233705  
+
* Felder, Don, and Wendy Holden. ''Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)''. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. ISBN 978-0470289068
−
*Felder, Don, and Holden, Wendy. ''Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001)''. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. ISBN 978-0470289068  
+
* Jackson, Laura. ''The Eagles: Flying High''. London: Portrait, 2005. ISBN 978-0749950712
−
*Jackson, Laura. ''The Eagles: Flying High''. London: Portrait, 2005. ISBN: 978-0749950712  
+
* Swenson, John. ''Headliners, Eagles''. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1981. ISBN 0448171740
−
*Swenson, John. ''Headliners, Eagles''. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1981. ISBN 978-0448171746
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
*[http://www.eaglesband.com Eagles] official website
+
All links retrieved February 12, 2024.
−
* {{MySpace|eaglesmusic|Eagles}}
 
−
*[http://donhenley.com Don Henley] official website
 
−
*[http://joewalsh.com Joe Walsh] official website
 
−
*[http://www.timothybschmit.com Timothy B. Schmit] official website
 
−
*[http://bernieleadon.com Bernie Leadon] official website
 
−
 
 
  
−
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eagles}}
+
*[https://eagles.com/ Eagles] official website
 +
*[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eagles-mn0000144847/biography Eagles] ''All Music''
 +
*[https://www.grammy.com/artists/eagles/8213 Eagles] ''Grammy Awards''
 +
*[https://www.billboard.com/artist/eagles/chart-history/hsi/ Eagles] ''Billboard''
  
 
[[Category:Musicians]]
 
[[Category:Musicians]]

Latest revision as of 17:32, 12 February 2024

Eagles
The Eagles onstage in 2008
The Eagles onstage in 2008
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre(s) Rock, country rock, soft rock
Years active 1971–1980
1994–present
Label(s) Asylum, Geffen, Lost Highway
Associated acts Poco, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne
Website www.eaglesband.com
Members
Don Henley
Joe Walsh
Timothy B. Schmit
Former members
Glenn Frey
Don Felder
Randy Meisner
Bernie Leadon

The Eagles are an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1970s. With five number one singles and six number one albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful recording acts of the decade. They are also the best-selling American group in history.

At the end of the twentieth century, two of their albums, Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975 and Hotel California, ranked among the ten best-selling albums of all time according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Their studio album, Hotel California, is rated as thirty-seventh on the Rolling Stone list "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."

The Eagles broke up in 1980, but reunited in 1994 for Hell Freezes Over, a mix of live and new studio tracks. They have toured intermittently since then, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

In 2007, the Eagles released Long Road out of Eden, their first full studio album in 28 years. In 2013, they began the extended History of the Eagles Tour in conjunction with the band's documentary release, History of the Eagles. The tour concluded in the summer of 2015. They were chosen for the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors to be held on December 6 of that year, but postponed their appearance due to Glenn Frey's poor health. Frey died a month later in January 2016.

Formation

Don Henley
Glenn Frey

The seeds for the Eagles were planted when Linda Ronstadt's then-manager John Boylan recruited session musicians Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner to back Ronstadt. They were missing a drummer until Frey telephoned Don Henley, whom he had met at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles. The group auditioned for Ronstadt, and the band backed her on a two-month tour and on her 1970 album, Silk Purse. After their tenure with Ronstadt, and with her encouragement, they decided to form their own band, signing with Asylum Records, the new label started by David Geffen. Geffen and partner Elliot Roberts also initially managed the band. The group chose the name Eagles as a nod to The Byrds. Leadon had been in Dillard & Clark with former Byrds singer Gene Clark and in The Flying Burrito Brothers with former Byrds Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke.

History, by album

Eagles

The Eagles' self-titled debut album was quickly recorded and released in June 1972. Eagles was filled with natural, sometimes innocent country rock, and yielded three Top 40 singles. The first single and lead track, "Take It Easy," was a song written with Frey's help by his neighbor and fellow country-folk rocker Jackson Browne. Frey heard Browne recording the song, contributed two lines to it (for which he got co-writing credit), and asked if the Eagles could use it. The song reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and propelled the Eagles to stardom. The single was followed by the bluesy "Witchy Woman" and the soft country rock ballad, "Peaceful Easy Feeling," charting at number nine and number 22 respectively. The Eagles soon became a major force in popularizing the Southern California country rock sound around the nation. Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" ranked Eagles at number 374.

Desperado

Their second album, Desperado, with its Old West outlaw theme, drew comparisons between outlaw lifestyles and those of modern rock stars. It was during the recording sessions that Don Henley and Glenn Frey began collaborating as songwriters, co-writing eight of the album's 11 songs, including "Tequila Sunrise" and "Desperado." The bluegrass-oriented songs "Twenty-One" and "Doolin' Dalton," and the ballad "Saturday Night" showcased guitarist Bernie Leadon's abilities on the banjo, fingerpicked guitar, and mandolin. The album was less successful than the first, reaching number 41 on the U.S. pop album charts. Its two singles, "Tequila Sunrise," and "Outlaw Man," reached number 61 and number 59 on the pop charts, respectively. However, "Desperado" would become a concert favorite, which has been much covered.

On the Border

For their next album, On the Border, Henley and Frey wanted the band to break away from its country style and move more toward hard rock. The the band turned to Bill Szymczyk to produce the most of the album, and Szymczyk brought in Don Felder to add slide guitar to some sessions. He appeared on only two songs on the album, but the band was so impressed with him that they invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle. The album yielded a number one single with "Best of My Love," which hit the top of the charts on March 1, 1975, becoming the Eagles' first of five chart toppers.

One of These Nights (Leadon leaves)

Their next album, One of These Nights, had an aggressive, sinewy rock stance. The album further displayed the growing strength of the Henley/Frey songwriting team, particularly on the title track and the Grammy Award winning "Lyin' Eyes." "One of These Nights" hit number one on the Billboard chart on August 2, 1975. The song itself has often been cited by Frey as his all-time favorite Eagles' tune.

By this time, however, relations among the members of the band had become strained. Between the release of One of These Nights and the subsequent tour, Bernie Leadon left the group, disillusioned with the direction the band's music was taking and his own diminished role after Felder was hired. Leadon was dating Patti Davis, Ronald Reagan's daughter which also created political tensions within the group. Leadon left the band in December 1975, famously announcing his resignation by pouring a beer over Frey's head. The group quickly replaced Leadon with veteran singer and guitarist Joe Walsh.

Meanwhile, in early 1976, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) was released. It went on to become the best-selling album in U.S. history, selling over 29 million copies in the United States to date.

Hotel California (Meisner leaves)

The group's next album, Hotel California, came out in December 1976. "New Kid in Town" was a number one hit in February 1977, and the title track hit number one in May. Told during a 60 Minutes interview in 2007 about the meaning of surrealistic "Hotel California," Don Henley replied, "It's a song about the dark underbelly of the American Dream, and about excess in America." "Life in the Fast Lane" was also a major success, establishing Joe Walsh's position in the band with its more hard rock sound. The album concluded with "The Last Resort," a song Frey refers to as Don Henley's greatest work.

Hotel California has appeared on several lists of the best albums of all time. It is the Eagles' best-selling studio album, with over 16 million copies sold to date in the United States.

After the tour, Randy Meisner left the band and moved back to his native Nebraska, where he began a solo career. The band replaced Meisner with the man who had succeeded him in Poco, Timothy B. Schmit.

The Long Run (break-up)

In 1977, the Eagles began to produce their next studio album, The Long Run. The album took two years to make, but yielded the group's fifth and last number one single, "Heartache Tonight" (November 10, 1979).

On July 31, 1980, in Long Beach, California, hard feelings among the band, tempers flaired, especially between Frey and Felder, and boiled over publicly on stage. The band appeared ready to split up, but it still owed Warner Bros. a live record from the tour. Eagles Live (released in November 1980) was mixed by Frey and Henley on opposite coasts. With credits that listed no fewer than five attorneys, the album's liner notes simply said, "Thank you and goodnight."

Reunion

The Eagles onstage

Hell Freezes Over

Fourteen years after the breakup, a country tribute album titled Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles was released in 1993, featuring country artists singing Eagles' songs. The following year, after years of public speculation, the band finally formally reunited. The lineup comprised the five Long Run-era members—Frey, Henley, Walsh, Felder, and Schmit—supplemented by additional musicians: Scott Crago (drums), John Corey (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), Timothy Drury (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), and Al Garth (sax, violin) on stage. "For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation," announced Frey at their first live performance in April 1994.

The ensuing tour spawned a live album titled Hell Freezes Over, named for Henley's recurring statement that the group would get back together "when Hell freezes over." The album debuted at number one on the Billboard album char, and included four new studio songs, with "Get Over It" and "Love Will Keep Us Alive" both becoming top-40 hits. The album itself proved as successful as the reunion tour, selling 6 million copies in the United States alone. The tour was interrupted in September 1994, due to Frey's recurrence of diverticulitis, but it resumed in 1995 and continued into 1996.

In 1998, the Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the induction ceremony, Frey, Henley, Felder, Walsh, and Schmit performed together, and former members Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner rejoined the band for the performance for "Take It Easy" and "Hotel California." Several subsequent reunion tours followed (without Leadon or Meisner), notable for their record-setting ticket prices.

The new millennium

The Eagles performed a Millennium Eve's concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on December 31, 1999, marking the last time Don Felder played with the band. The concert was released on CD as part of the four-disc Selected Works: 1972-1999 box set in November 2000.

The group resumed touring once more in 2001 with a lineup consisting of Frey, Henley, Walsh, and Schmit, along with Steuart Smith, who unofficially replaced Don Felder. Other musicians included Michael Thompson (keyboards, trombone), Will Hollis (keyboards, backing vocals), Scott Crago (drums, percussion), Bill Armstrong (Horns), Al Garth (sax, violin), Christian Mostert (sax), and Greg Smith (sax, percussion).

Hole in the World

In 2003, the Eagles released a new greatest hits album The Very Best of the Eagles. The two-disc compilation was the first that encompassed their entire career, from Eagles to The Long Run. The album also included a new single, the September 11-themed Hole in the World. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard charts and eventually gained triple platinum status.

On June 14, 2005, the Eagles released a new two-DVD set titled Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne featuring two new songs: Glenn Frey's "No More Cloudy Days" and Joe Walsh's "One Day at a Time." A special edition 2006 release exclusive to Wal-Mart and affiliated stores also included a bonus audio CD with three new songs: A studio version of "No More Cloudy Days" plus "Fast Company" and "Do Something."

Long Road out of Eden

On October 30, 2007, the Eagles released Long Road out of Eden, their first album of all-new material since 1979. The album debuted at number one in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, and Norway. The Eagles made their awards show debut on November 7, 2007, when they performed "How Long" live at the Country Music Association Awards.

On March 20, 2008, the Eagles launched their world tour in support of Long Road out of Eden at The O2 Arena in London, England.

History of the Eagles

In February 2013, the Eagles released a career-spanning documentary called History of the Eagles and began the supporting tour with 11 US arena dates from July 6 to 25. Original Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon also appeared on the tour. The tour expanded internationally and continued until July 29, 2015.

The Eagles (Frey, Henley, Walsh, and Schmit) were slated to receive Kennedy Center Honors in 2015, but this was deferred to 2016 due to Frey's health problems. On January 18, 2016, founding member Glenn Frey died at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City at the age of 67.

At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in February, the Eagles, joined by Leadon, touring guitarist Steuart Smith, and co-writer Jackson Browne, performed "Take It Easy" in honor of Frey. In subsequent interviews, Henley stated that he didn't think the band would perform again. However, the band continued on and headlined the Classic West and Classic East concert in July 2017. Glenn Frey's son Deacon performed in his father's place, along with country musician Vince Gill.

The band performed their 1976 album Hotel California in its entirety during three concerts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in September and October 2019. The shows also included another set of the band's greatest hits. The line-up included a 46-piece orchestra and a 22-voice choir. They continued the tour, interrupted in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, through 2022 with dates in both the U.S. and Europe.

Legacy

Did you know?
The Eagles are the highest-selling American band in U.S. history

The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. On December 7, 1999, the Recording Industry of America honored the group with the Best Selling Album of the Century for Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975).

The group ranked number 34 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003. They were one of only four acts who were either a duo or a group on the list, the others being Alabama at number 11, Flatt & Scruggs at number 24, and Brooks & Dunn at number 25. On May 16, 2008, the Eagles were featured on the front cover of the Rolling Stone Magazine.

  • The Eagles have won six Grammy awards:
    • (1975) Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: "Lyin' Eyes"
    • (1977) Record of the Year: "Hotel California" (single)
    • (1977) Best Arrangement for Voices: "New Kid in Town"
    • (1979) Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group: "Heartache Tonight"
    • (2008) Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: ""How Long"
    • (2009) Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "I Dreamed There Was No War"

The Eagles, along with three other bands, were included in the popular 2008 video game, Guitar Hero World Tour.

The group was chosen for the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors to be held on December 6 of that year, but postponed the award for a year because of Glenn Frey's poor health. Frey died a month later.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Eliot, Marc. To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles. Boston: Little, Brown, 1997. ISBN 978-0316233705
  • Felder, Don, and Wendy Holden. Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. ISBN 978-0470289068
  • Jackson, Laura. The Eagles: Flying High. London: Portrait, 2005. ISBN 978-0749950712
  • Swenson, John. Headliners, Eagles. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1981. ISBN 0448171740

External links

All links retrieved February 12, 2024.

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