Remembering Glenn Frey, from 'California to 'Hell'
From Hotel California to Hell Freezes Over, here's a quick look back at Glenn Frey's career. The singer and songwriter achieved fame with both The Eagles and as a solo artist. He passed away in New York at age 67.
Frey co-founded The Eagles with Don Henley in 1971
Originally a back-up singer for rock star Linda Ronstadt, Glenn Frey joined forces with Don Henley in Los Angeles in 1971 to form the band, The Eagles, which combined elements of rock, pop and country to create a unique sound. "We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream, to make our mark in the music industry," said Henley.
The Eagles make their mark with 'Hotel California'
"Hotel California," released in 1976, shot the group to fame as the song went on to sell more than 20 million copies, making the Eagles the best-selling American group of all time. They subsequently had a number of hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including "Heartache Tonight" and "Best of My Love," which also went on to number one.
Glenn Frey's solo success
After a series of heated arguments that included guitarist Bernie Leadon pouring beer over Frey's head, The Eagles broke up in 1980. Glenn Frey went on to record solo albums that included such hits as "You Belong to the City" and "The Heat Is On," which hit number two on the Billboard charts after being heard on the "Beverly Hills Cop" movie soundtrack.
'Hell Freezes Over' reunifies the band
Fourteen years after their unceremonious split, The Eagles came back together for their "Hell Freezes Over" tour, a humorous take on the vow they'd once made to not reunite until, well, "hell freezes over." The nearly two-year long tour was a huge success, with the accompanying live album selling more than six million copies.
Frey dies in New York at 67
Glenn Frey's died in New York on Monday (18.1.2016) as a result of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. The band announced their loss online. Co-founder Don Henley released a statement saying that Frey had been like a brother to him and the bond they forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the time The Eagles were dissolved.