The Eagles have announced on their website that founding member Glen Frey died today. He had been ill for some time, suffering from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, according to the statement. Frey, along with Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Bernie Leadon, formed a backup band for Linda Ronstadt in 1971 that became The Eagles. The band sold over 150 million records, and their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) was the best-selling album of the 20th century in the U.S. CNN has more.
Frey saw solo success with the 1982 release "No Fun Aloud." He hit the top 40 with "The Heat Is On," "You Belong to the City," "True Love," and "Soul Searchin.'"
He also tried his hand at acting with a guest spot on "Miami Vice" and a small role in the 1996 film "Jerry Maguire," among other credits.
Don Henley released a statement that read, in part,
“We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow. We brought our two-year ‘History of the Eagles Tour’ to a triumphant close at the end of July and now he is gone. I’m not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet. 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.
Glenn Frey was 67.
(Image credit: Steve Alexander)