Eagles, the.

American rock group. Formed in Los Angeles in 1971, they were

the most important and successful country-rock group of the
1970s. Don Henley (b Gilmer, TX, 22 July 1947; drums and
vocals) and Glenn Frey (b Detroit, 6 Nov 1948; guitar and vocals)
left Linda Ronstadts back-up band to form the Eagles with Bernie
Leadon (b Minneapolis, 19 July 1947; guitar and vocals) and
Randy Meisner (b Scottsbluff, NE, 8 March 1947; bass and
vocals). Influenced by other southern California bands like the
Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Eagles blended strong
songwriting, lush harmony vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar and
distorted lead guitar to extend the country-rock style more toward
hard rock than other groups had done. The groups debut
album, Eagles(Asylum 1972), contains three hit singles
including Take it easy and Witchy Woman, which are
representative of the groups early approach. The
albums Desperado (Asylum 1973), On the Border (Asylum 1974),
and One of These Nights (Asylum 1975) continue in much the
same style; Don Felder (guitar and vocals) joined the band in
1974. Leadon was replaced in 1976 by Joe Walsh (guitar and
vocals), and the quintets 1976 album, Hotel California (Asylum),
marked an even stronger turn toward hard rock and rhythm and
blues. The album spent eight weeks at number one in America and
featured two number one hit singles,New Kid in Town and Hotel
California. The next album, The Long Run (Asylum 1979), was
equally successful, marking the bands fourth consecutive number
one album, as well as their last studio project. Frey, Henley and
Walsh pursued successful solo careers during the 1980s; the band
regrouped briefly to record Hell Freezes Over (Geffen 1994) and
tour.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
J. Sims: The Eagles Take it Easy and Soar, Rolling Stone (17
Aug 1972)
C. Crowe: Chips Off the Old Buffalo: the Eagles, Rolling
Stone (25 Sept 1975)

C. Charlesworth: Where Eagles Dare, Melody Maker (11

Dec 1976) [interview]
C.M. Young: Hell is for Heroes: the Eagles Slow Burn in Rock
and Roll Inferno, Rolling Stone (29 Nov 1979)
M. Shapiro: The Long Run: the Story of the
Eagles (London, 1995)
JOHN COVACH