Remembering Glenn Frey of the Eagles (1948-2016)

It is with sadness & deep regret that centerfieldmaz reports the death of another legendary Rock & Roll artist. Glenn Frey a founding member of the Eagles, one of the most popular & successful American rock bands ever, has died at the age of 67.

Frey passed away in New York City of pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis & acute colitis while recovering from intestinal surgery.

Grey was a versatile musician, singer, song writer whose contributions to classic rock & roll is astounding. Frey will be missed but never forgotten.

Glenn Lewis Frey was born on November 6th, 1948 in Detroit Michigan. Frey began his musical career during the sixties Detroit music scene, getting a break to play guitar for Bob Seger. He eventually moved west to California where things were really happening.

He & his girlfriend lived in an apartment above Jackson Browne & he would hear Browne writing songs below him. Frey always said he learned a lot about writing songs from Browne. Frey's girlfriend at the time introduced him to J.D.Souther who was dating Linda Ronstadt.

Eventually Souther suggested Frey to Ronstadt when she was looking for a back up band.

Glenn Frey with Linda Ronstadt

This famous back up band would soon become the Eagles. That year Frey met drummer Don Henley who would become his friend, musical partner & collaborator forming one of the most successful rock acts of all time. 

The two backed up Linda Ronstadt on her tour in 1971. This also met to the meeting of band members Bernie Leadon & Randy Meisner, who all became the original Eagles.

The Eagles went on to become one of the most successful American band ever, selling over 150 million albums & are the fifth largest selling music act of all time overall. Their albums Greatest Hits (1971-1975) has sold 42 million copies & Hotel California has sold 32 million copies. Both are among the top 20 albums EVER sold. The Eagle have only recorded seven studio albums, two reaching number one. Overall they have charted five number one singles

Their debut album, a mellower country rock style, in 1972 spawned three top ten songs- Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling (both sung by Frey) & Witchy Woman.

After the less successful Desperado album they released On the Border in 1974, which featured Don Felder on guitar as well,  gave them two more top ten hits- Already Gone (Frey) & Best of My Love. This album featured a Frey sung classic- James Dean a great rocker & a staple back in 1970s rock radio. It was co written with Jackson Browne.

The EAGLES 1974

In 1975 they reached an even higher level with the One of These Nights album. It had three more top ten hits- Lying Eyes (Frey) Take It To The Limit & the number one title track.

Glenn Frey & Don Henley

By 1976 they added Joe Walsh to the band, replacing Bernie Leadon. This led to a more harder rock sound & got them even further away from their earlier country sound. The Hotel California album took over a year & half to record but when it was released in December 1976 put the Eagles in the superstar legendary stratosphere.

The album was number one for eight weeks in 1977 & won two Grammys. The only thing that kept it from being even bigger was Fleetwood Macs Rumors album. Hotel California charted three top twenty songs, two of which were number one's- New Kid In Town (Frey vocal) & Hotel California.

the EAGLES 1976

The other hit was Life In the Fast Lane, a definite classic rocker, maybe my favorite Eagles song & a soundtrack to my life in a certain time period as well. The song shows a wilder side of the Eagles that featured drug use, drinking binges & wild sex tales that were a big part of the band, but something many of the more casual fans were surprised to know.

The album is certainly one of the best albums ever released by anyone & was major staple of radio in the late seventies as well as today. Who hasn't broke up with a girlfriend & listened to Wasted Time 100 times????

A grueling but successful tour followed & all the stresses of super stardom was also leading to problems within the band.

 In 1977 the band went in to the studio to record a double album but only came up with enough songs for a single album. It took two years to complete the Long Run, although not as good as the master piece  Hotel California was, it was another huge seller.

It sold seven million copies & spawned three more top ten hits. The Long Run & Timothy B. Schmidt's (now also a member) I Cant Tell You Why both reached #8, while Heartache Tonight (Frey vocal) became the groups last number One. The song was co written by Frey, Henley, Bob Seger & J.D. Souther.

That year they also released the classic Christmas record- Please Come Home For Christmas which also charted reaching #18.

In 1980 tempers flared between Frey & Felder backstage at a Long Beach California concert. The two were threatening to beat each other up during the show. Legend has it- Felder told Frey "Only three more songs until I kick your ass, pal", he said near the end of the band's set.  Felder said Frey told him during "Best of My Love", "I'm gonna kick your ass when we get off the stage."

These were the final events that broke the band up. Frey quit the group & the others went their separate ways. A live album was released in 1980 & the linear notes said Thank You & Good Night.

Trivia: Some of Frey's biggest Eagles songs in which he sung lead were- Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Already Gone, Tequila Sunrise, Lying Eyes, New Kid In Town, Heartache Tonight, James Dean, Teenage Jail & How Long.

After the Eagles break up in 1980 the members went on to solo careers. Frey no longer donned his long hair, mustached rock star look & had now became a short haired, muscular framed, clean cut looking eighties guy. Frey would have major Eighties hits with "The Heat Is On" (from Beverly Hills Cop) & "You Belong to the City" & "Smugglers Blues" (from Miami Vice).

Overall he had 12 charting hits as a solo artist. Mets fans remember "You Belong to the City" was featured in the Mets 1986 A Year to Remember video.

Glenn & Cindy Frey

Frey would also have success in acting, he had a popular guest appearance on the Miami Vice  TV show in its hey day. The shows title Smugglers Blues inspired the song. Frey would also appear with actor Don Johnson (Miami Vice) in poplar 1980's Pepsi commercials. Frey would also appear on Nash Bridges, Arlis & was to star in a show called South of Sunset that never made it.

In the movies had a big role in 1986's Lets Get Harry with Robert Duvall & Gary Busey. Later on he played owner of the Arizona Cardinals football team in Jerry Maguire in 1996.

Glenn Frey married his wife Cindy in 1990 at a video shoot, she was a dancer & choreographer, they have two sons & a daughter.

Frey said people thought he & Henley hated each other but that wasn't the case. They got along fine but he said, but during interviews when asked when the Eagles were getting back together, they'd reply "When Hell Freezes Over".

the Eagles 1995

It froze over in 1994 as the Eagles reunited with Frey, Henley, Walsh, Schmidt & Felder. An incredible tour did happen & was highly successful. In 2007 the band released an album of new material called Long Road Out of Eden & a tour followed.

the EAGLES 2013

On occasion they would tour & put on one of the best concerts money could buy. centerfieldmaz attended four of these Eagles tours & they were among the best shows ever attended.

In 2001 Don Felder was fired from the band, he & Frey would take out law suits against each other & Felder did not appear on any more tours. ThE 2013 tour featured Meisner & Leadon from the early days but no Felder. A great DVD History of the Eagles was also released that year as well.

The Eagles 2000's

The Eagles have issued the following statement: "Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community and millions of fans worldwide."

Frey & Henley

Quotes: Don Henley- “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".

“It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it. But, I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life. Rest in peace, my brother. You did what you set out to do, and then some.”

Bob Seger: "He had been in the hospital since November. He was in a coma, and he'd come out, but then he couldn't breathe. They'd put him back into the coma," Seger told the Free Press. "They were trying like hell to keep him alive. He'd been at Columbia University Medical Center since November. (Eagles manager) Irving (Azoff) pulled every ace out of the hole — he had the eight best specialists working on Glenn. About a month ago, they had to throw up their hands."

Frey with Paul Stanley of KISS

KISS Paul Stanley: SHOCKED to report the death of GLENN FREY. Eagle & brilliant songwriter. We shared some memories at RRHOF. Shocked

KISS Gene Simmons: our condolences to friends and family. Rest In Peace.

Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue): R.I.P. Glen Frey....Thank you for all the great songs and powerful lyrics...Jesus can the reaper please take break for awhile

Sheryl Crow: Sad day. My heart goes out to Cindy and the members of the Eagles and his entire family of friends and fans who loved him so.

Carole King: R.I. P. Glenn Frey. Deepest condolences to his family and Eagles.

Don Felder: "He was funny, strong and generous. At times, it felt like we were brothers and at other times, like brothers, we disagreed. Despite our struggles and difficult moments together, we managed to create some magical songs, recordings and live shows. His charisma on stage was felt and loved by millions of people all over the world. Glenn was the James Dean of the band, He was the leader that we all looked to for direction and by far the coolest guy in the band."