Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey, who sang 'Take It Easy,' dies
By HILLEL ITALIE

NEW YORK (AP) — Glenn Frey, who co-founded the Eagles and with Don Henley became one of history's most successful songwriting teams with such hits as "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane," has died.

Frey, who was 67, died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, the band said on its website. He died on Monday in New York. He had fought the ailments for the past several weeks, the band said.

"The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery," a statement on the band's website said. "Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide."

Guitarist Frey and drummer Henley formed the Eagles in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, along with guitarist Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner. They would become a top act over the next decade, embodying the melodic California sound.

An Eagles greatest hits collection from the mid-1970s and "Hotel California" are among the best-selling albums in history.

Frey was born in Detroit and was raised in its suburbs. His solo hits include "The Heat Is On" and "Smuggler's Blues."

Frey was lead vocalist on the Eagles' breakthrough hit, "Take It Easy," a song mostly written by Jackson Browne that came out in 1972. His other showcases included "Peaceful Easy Feeling," ''Already Gone" and "New Kid in Town."

The Eagles split up in 1980 but reunited in 1994 and were one of the world's most popular concert acts. The band, which for years was made up of Frey, Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, was supposed to have been honored at the Kennedy Center last month. But the appearance was postponed because of Frey's health problems.

Frey, known for his oversized jaw, big grin and blunt personality, loved music, girls and the rock 'n' roll life. He would meet up with Henley, Meisner and Leadon while all were trying to catch on in the Los Angeles music scene, and for a time the four backed Linda Ronstadt. They also befriended such other Los Angeles-based musicians as Browne and J.D. Souther, who would collaborate on "New Kid in Town" and other Eagles songs.

They harmonized memorably on stage and on record but fought often otherwise. Leadon and Meisner departed after run-ins with Frey, and guitarist Don Felder, who had joined the group in 1974, ended up in legal action with the Eagles.

Frey and Henley also became estranged for years, their breach a key reason the band stayed apart in the 1980s. Henley had vowed the Eagles would reunite only when "hell freezes over," which became the name of the 1994 album they never imagined making.

Despite the occasional discord, Henley said Frey was like a brother to him.

"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," Henley said in a statement. "Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn't quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven."


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-19

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Eagles guitarist and co-founder Glenn Frey has died aged 67



NEW YORK: -- Tributes have poured in after the announcement that American guitarist Glenn Frey who was a founding member of the Southern California rock group, the Eagles, has died at the age of 67.

A message on the band’s website said he’d died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis and pneumonia.

The Detroit-born Frey and drummer and singer Don Henley co-founded the Eagles in 1971 in Los Angeles after playing as a backup band for rock singer Linda Ronstadt.

The Eagles became one of the most popular bands of the 1970s with their blend of rock with country music influences.

Frey co-wrote many of their seminal 1970s hits including “Take it Easy”, “Already Gone” and the unforgettable “Hotel California”.

The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-01-19

First David Bowie, now it's co founder of the Fabulous Eagles Glen frey ,what a sad week it's been.

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=hotel%20california%20eagles%20youtube

Take it easy Glenn ! ... Thanks for the music !!

Musical giant, one of the most successful group to come out of the US with music that still, and will

be relevant for many years to come.... Glen Fry has finally checked out of the hotel California.....

RIP

Another great musician of my generation bites the dust.

Saw the Eagles live at their Hell Freezes Over tour at the McAlpine stadium in Huddersfield, they were all great, RIP Glen.

Thanks for the good tunes Mr. Frey.

Kind of sad when so many people the same age as me pass....

A voice you just had to sing along with.

RIP

40 years on and still sounds fantastic.

R.I.P. Glen, you were one of the greats. Thanks for the tunes.

Poor guy. Suffered from rheumatoid arthritis which gave rise to acute ulcerative colitis. A painful end.

Rather impressive the tributes being offered by a wide range of his fellow musicians. I suppose that says it all. I'm going to miss his talent.

First David Bowie, now it's co founder of the Fabulous Eagles Glen frey ,what a sad week it's been.

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=hotel%20california%20eagles%20youtube

Don't forget Lemy and Natalie Cole.

They are dropping like Freys.

Natalie Cole: 65

David Bowie: 69

etc., etc., 20 years ago, everyone was saying the opposite, but today I guess your 60s are the new 80s.

http://rissrantsalot.blogspot.com/2014/07/celebrities-who-died-in-their-60s.html

R.I.P great tunes, great artist, the world is losing them too fast but the music will go on. You can check out, but you can never leave.

Saw the Eagles live at their Hell Freezes Over tour at the McAlpine stadium in Huddersfield, they were all great, RIP Glen.

They had an excellent show at the Joint, Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas. One of the better venues, small and intimate for such an esteemed band. RIP

Damn 2016...slow the #@$% down!

Lemmy, Bowie, Rickman, Cole, Frey...too many in too short a time!

You gave us all something great to listen to. Rock on.

A member of one of my all time favorite groups, the old rockers are dropping like fly's. Some of the greatest music ever! Glenn Frey was a Great musician, and great person. RIP

Just missed meeting him when I was in Los Angeles by five minutes. RIP.

I remember when I first came to Thailand you couldn't walk more than 20 yards without hearing hotel California happy days

In student bedsitter land in the UK The Eagles were king in the early 70s. Melodic country rock that blended in perfectly with life in flats and shared houses.

Many a person in their 40s to 60s has shed a tear over the last few days over the death of Bowie, a maestro of melody, image and charm, and now quite a few will feel the same way about Glenn Frey.

Whether alone in bedrooms or with friends their songs were the backcloth to our lives.

I saw them play in BKK in 2004...it was a great show.

Rip Glenn fry, your music filled our lives in the early to Mid 70's.

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I'm sorry, but i feel sadder about Glenn than David Bowie.

Eagles songs grew me up!!

When talking about music with fellow musicians, if somebody asks me for the top example of a great song: writing/ singing / clarity and superb arrangement, I pick "New Kid in Town."

I can remember exactly where I was when I heard my first Eagle song. I had just arrived in California in the early 1970's. I had met some guys in a garage band who wanted me to join. It was an actual large garage in the middle of a field in sunny northern California, 30 miles from the nearest town. We all still sported our hippie long hair and semi-bloodshot 1,000-mile-stare eyes then. It was Witchy Woman and I was an instant fan.

:That first album eagles by the eagles

Just in front of on the border is my fa and helped confirm my life long admiration of Mr Jackson brownes licks

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In fact I'm gonna listen to it in respect, and take the devil ,, yep. Ist time for a while still totally sets my hairs on my neck up .....and off i drift.

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Rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis are bad but I imagine that it was the pneumonia that killed him. I have a video DVD set of the Eagles performing. It's one of my prized possessions.

Pneumonia is nothing to fool around with! I got my pneumonia shot this year but still got pneumonia when I arrived in Bangkok in November. It took a heavy-duty antibiotic, Avelox, to knock it out. I suffered with the lung infection for about three weeks before I went to the doctor. The next time, I won't wait so long!

BTW, there's a tribute to Frey on the Eagles' website with the lyrics to one of his songs.