Glenn Frey’s Legacy And Attention To Detail Remembered By Many
Glenn Frey, longtime founder and guitarist of the classic rock band The Eagles made an impact on the world of rock and roll. The longtime singer and guitarist passed away at the age of 67 after dealing with illness.
A statement released by The Eagles says the following.. A statement released by The Eagles says the following.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016. Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia.”
In a separate statement released by Eagles member Don Henley via Rolling Stone, he said the following.
“He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved. We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry — and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed. But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan.”
Henley also praised Frey, stating that his knowledge of popular music was “encyclopedic” and that he had “a work ethic that wouldn’t stop.”
Born in Detroit, Frey had performed with numerous groups in the Motor City before relocating to Los Angeles in the late ’60s. It was there he met J.D. Souther and the two formed the short-lived Longbranch Pennywhistle. Souther introduced Frey to then girlfriend and Rock and Roll Famer Linda Ronstadt, and encouraged her to hire Frey and other founding members of The Eagles – drummer Don Henley, bassist Randy Meisner, and guitarist Bernie Leadon to serve as Ronstadt’s backing band.
In 1972, The Eagles released their self-titled LP, featuring “Take it Easy,” written by both Frey and Jackson Browne, and “Peaceful Easy Feeling” also sung by Frey. The album was listed on Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The band called it quits in 1979 after a falling out between Frey and lead guitarist Don Felder. They reformed in 1994 for an MTV special titled “Hell Freezes Over,” in reference to a comment Henley made when asked if the band would ever play together again.
Frey would go on to mount a successful solo career, which featured a string of hits, including “The Heat Is On,” featured in the hit comedy film, Beverly Hills Cop. His biggest success would come via the hit television show Miami Vice, where Frey had his biggest hit, “You Belong to the City.” The song took on a second life, thanks to the New York Mets adopting the song during their World Series winning year in 1986. Frey also penned “Smugglers Blues” for Miami Vice, in which he also guest starred in the episode of the same title.
Director Cameron Crowe interviewed The Eagles for a Rolling Stone cover story in 1975, which also served as inspiration for Crowes’ 2000 film, Almost Famous.
In 2007, Frey, Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit released Road Out of Eden, the band’s first album of original material since 1979’s The Long Run. The album produced two singles on the Hot Country Songs and netted the band two Grammy awards. The album also became their sixth No. 1 album.
It would also serve as Frey’s last album
[Header photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images]
