Eagles

Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1971. The original line-up included Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, with later key members including Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit. Their music blends rock with country and soft rock influences. Eagles became one of the most commercially successful bands of the 1970s, best known for albums such as Hotel California and a series of enduring hit singles.

The group formed after several members had worked as backing musicians and became associated with the Southern California rock scene of the early 1970s. Their debut album Eagles (1972) established their sound and produced early hits including “Take It Easy” and “Witchy Woman”. Continued success followed with albums such as Desperado (1973) and On the Border (1974), with the band’s profile expanding through US touring and radio play.

Eagles reached their peak with One of These Nights (1975), which produced major singles and helped confirm their mainstream dominance. Their compilation Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) (1976) became one of the best-selling albums in the United States, and Hotel California (1976) further defined their legacy with the title track and “New Kid in Town”. The Long Run (1979) extended their run of hits with songs including “Heartache Tonight”, and the band won Grammy Awards during this period, reflecting both commercial and industry recognition.

Internal tensions contributed to a split in 1980, and the band’s members pursued solo and session work throughout the 1980s. Eagles reunited in 1994 for the Hell Freezes Over project and returned to large-scale touring. They released the double album Long Road Out of Eden in 2007 and continued as a major live act, although the death of Glenn Frey in 2016 led to a revised touring line-up that included Deacon Frey and Vince Gill alongside long-standing members.

Eagles have sold over 200 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Their songs remain staples of classic rock broadcasting and have continued cultural visibility through film, television and cover versions. The band’s influence is commonly cited in the development of American soft rock and country-rock, and their 1970s catalogue remains central to the history of mainstream rock music.