Emerging during the 1970s, The Eagles rank as the preeminent mainstream American rock band of that decade. Beyond outpacing contemporaries in record and ticket sales—Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) and Hotel California rank among the all-time top sellers—they embodied the decade’s evolving cultural mood, transitioning from lingering country-rock hippie influences of the late 1960s into the polished, costly, and expansive Southern California pop/rock sound that dominated by decade’s end. Don Henley and Glenn Frey first crossed paths with co-founders Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner while backing Linda Ronstadt in 1971. On-stage and studio rapport prompted the quartet to launch the band, issuing their self-titled debut in 1972. Early hits arrived quickly, yet peak fame arrived mid-decade once One of These Nights achieved blockbuster status in 1975. Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) soon enshrined those formative years, followed by 1976’s Hotel California, an album synonymous with every facet of 1970s extravagance. Lineup changes had already occurred by then, with Leadon and Meisner departing alongside Leadon’s successor Don Felder; guitarist Joe Walsh and bassist Timothy B. Schmit stepped in, yet the expanded roster struggled under the weight of enormous fame. One final studio effort, 1979’s The Long Run, preceded the breakup, after which Henley and Frey both enjoyed substantial solo careers throughout the 1980s. Reunion came in 1993 via the acoustic Hell Freezes Over concert, succeeded by Long Road Out of Eden in 1997; regular touring persisted thereafter, continuing even following Frey’s 2016 passing.
Four Los Angeles-based musicians, each having relocated to the West Coast from elsewhere, formed the band. Singer/bassist Randy Meisner arrived in 1964 with a group first known as the Soul Survivors—distinct from the unrelated East Coast act that scored a Top Five hit via “Expressway to Your Heart” in 1967—before it became the Poor. He co-founded Poco in 1968 yet exited prior to their debut to join Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band. Singer/guitarist/banjoist/mandolinist Bernie Leadon reached L.A. in 1967 via Hearts and Flowers, later moving through Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Singer/drummer Don Henley settled in Los Angeles during June 1970 alongside Shiloh, whose lone self-titled Amos Records album preceded their dissolution. Glenn Frey, after local performances and sideman work for Bob Seger, arrived in summer 1968, forming Longbranch Pennywhistle with J.D. Souther; the duo’s self-titled 1969 Amos release followed their signing.
Frey and Henley joined Linda Ronstadt’s backing band in spring 1971. Meisner and Leadon also supported her summer tour, though all four shared only a single Disneyland performance that July. They did contribute to her subsequent Linda Ronstadt album. In September 1971 the four signed with David Geffen, committing to his forthcoming Asylum Records; they soon chose the name the Eagles. February 1972 found them in England recording Eagles with Glyn Johns over two weeks. Issued that June, the album climbed into the Top 20 and earned gold status within roughly eighteen months, propelled by Top Ten singles “Take It Easy” and “Witchy Woman” plus the Top 20 “Peaceful Easy Feeling.”
The band opened shows throughout 1972 and into 1973 before returning to England for Desperado, a concept album centered on outlaws. Again produced by Johns and released April 1973, it reached the Top 40, attained gold within under eighteen months, and yielded the Top 40 “Tequila Sunrise.” Though never a single, the title track grew into one of their signature songs and later appeared on their initial hits compilation.
Post-Desperado touring led to another Johns session for a third album. Preference for harder rock conflicted with his country-rock vision, prompting a split after only “You Never Cry Like a Lover” and “The Best of My Love” were tracked. Following an early 1974 tour opened by Joe Walsh, the band enlisted Walsh’s producer Bill Szymczyk to finish On the Border. Szymczyk introduced session guitarist Don Felder, a Leadon acquaintance whose playing earned him full membership.
On the Border appeared March 1974, turning gold and entering the Top Ten by June—their quickest ascent yet. “Already Gone” became a Top 20 single that same month, yet “The Best of My Love,” issued November, proved the breakthrough, topping easy-listening charts by February 1975 and the pop listings one month later.
One of These Nights arrived June 1975 as an immediate smash, certifying gold instantly and reaching number one by July. Three Top Five singles emerged: the chart-topping title track, “Lyin’ Eyes,” and “Take It to the Limit.” “Lyin’ Eyes” captured the 1975 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus, while the album and single earned further nods for Album of the Year and Record of the Year. A headlining world tour commenced domestically before expanding to Europe. On December 20, 1975, Bernie Leadon’s departure was announced; Joe Walsh, previously of the James Gang and a solo artist, replaced him and joined the tour’s Far East leg in early 1976.
Extensive roadwork delayed new recordings, leading to Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) in February 1976. The compilation unexpectedly dominated charts and achieved enduring commercial dominance, moving beyond 45,000,000 copies while becoming a streaming staple.
Eighteen months after One of These Nights, Hotel California surfaced December 1976. Certified platinum within a week, it hit number one by January 1977 and ultimately exceeded 10,000,000 sales. Singles “New Kid in Town” and “Hotel California” reached number one; “Life in the Fast Lane” reached the Top 20. “Hotel California” earned the 1977 Grammy for Record of the Year and a Song of the Year nomination; the album itself contended for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus. A March 1977 world tour opened with U.S. dates, continued through Europe and the Far East, then returned stateside for May stadium shows. Randy Meisner exited at tour’s end in September; Timothy B. Schmit, another Poco alumnus who had earlier replaced Meisner there, took his place.
Work on a new album began March 1978 and stretched nearly eighteen months. The Long Run appeared September 1979, topping charts, certifying platinum within four months, and accumulating multi-platinum status. Lead single “Heartache Tonight” reached number one, while “I Can’t Tell You Why” and “The Long Run” both entered the Top Ten. “Heartache Tonight” won the 1979 Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. A 1980 U.S. tour yielded Eagles Live, recorded across multiple Santa Monica Civic Auditorium shows and released November 1980. The double LP climbed to Top Five, earned multi-platinum certification, and featured the Top 40 single “Seven Bridges Road.”
Inactivity followed the 1980 tour, with the split formally declared May 1982. Throughout the remainder of the 1980s, reunion overtures were declined despite substantial offers. Frey and Henley resumed writing together in 1990 and performed with Schmit and Walsh at spring benefit shows. Full reunion speculation proved premature until spring 1994, when an MTV concert special was taped, launching a tour that ran through August 1996. The broadcast aired October 1994; November brought Hell Freezes Over, which topped charts, moved multi-million units, and produced the Top 40 pop hit “Get Over It” plus the number one adult contemporary single “Love Will Keep Us Alive.”
The five current members joined past members Leadon and Meisner for a January 1998 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction performance. A December 31, 1999, millennium concert at Los Angeles’ Staples Center was captured for the November 2000 box set Selected Works: 1972-1999. Internal tensions culminated in Felder’s February 2001 dismissal, triggering extended litigation as the remaining quartet persisted, issuing The Very Best of the Eagles in 2003 and scoring modest success with “Hole in the World.” Felder’s suit settled out of court in 2007, the same year the double-disc Long Road Out of Eden arrived and swiftly attained multi-platinum status. The 2013 documentary History of the Eagles preceded touring that concluded mid-2015. Six months later Frey fell ill and died January 18, 2016, at age 67. Slightly over a year afterward the band resumed with Deacon Frey assuming his father’s role and Vince Gill joining on guitars and vocals. Appearances at the Classic West and Classic East festivals followed in July 2017, with further roadwork throughout 2018. Year’s end brought the Legacy box encompassing the complete discography.
Touring extended into 2020 before COVID-19 halted activity. Return came in 2021 and continued through 2022. September 2023 launched The Long Goodbye Tour, a farewell run featuring Henley, Schmit, Walsh, Gill, and Deacon Frey alongside supporting musicians that carried into 2024.
